The Montreal Canadiens trade rumors are reaching unimaginable levels after their recent trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Some are suggesting trading some of their young stars for someone like Sidney Crosby to get the team over the hump. However, its important for those people to realize the Canadiens have no worries about getting over the hump. They weren't even supposed to make the playoffs this season, and if anything, they are ahead of schedule.
The Canadiens shouldn't be trading any of the young pieces of their rebuild for an aging veteran. If anything, they can trade one young piece for another piece, but the main objective will be to acquire someone who can grow along with the core. It'd be smart to add a veteran through free agency, much like the Jonathan Toews rumors, but any trade where they're moving out prospects should include someone who aligns with the current age of the roster.
Marco Rossi is a perfect example of that. The Canadiens could trade Cole Caufield for Crosby as Denis Gauthier suggested, but it wouldn't make much sense in the grand scheme. Now, if we're talking about trading a first-round pick and a piece of their crowded blue line to acquire Rossi, that is something that most fans will get behind.
Chris Johnston: Possible Minnesota Wild move on from RFA centerman Marco Rossi this summer - Chris Johnston Show
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Martin St. Louis would immediately insert Rossi into the second line with Patrik Laine and Ivan Demidov. That line has the potential to be dangerous behind the first-line, and the Canadiens have plenty of valuable bottom-six pieces to create a balanced, young forward group. Rossi is someone who can develop chemistry with players like Demidov and carry that over for a long time. In that scenario you also keep Caufield and don't blow up the first line.
The Canadiens could be looking for someone like Rossi with the 16th or 17th overall pick. Wouldn't it make sense to trade one of those picks to get Rossi, as you know what you're getting with the center from the Wild. Another draft pick is good if it hits, but the Canadiens have so many hits in the draft that they can afford to trade a pick to get a sure-thing.