Four Steps To A Perfect Montreal Canadiens Trade Deadline Day

3. Shed Cap For Next Season

The Canadiens are slowly building a much better roster each year. A lot of this will come with natural growth from the team's younger players who will get better with age and experience in the league.

But, to take a quicker jump up the standings, the Canadiens could look to add a big piece via free agency or trade this offseason. In order to do that, they need the cap space to sign a star free agent, or bring in a highly paid skilled forward that will help the team have more than one scoring line.

That would be a lot easier to do if the team can clear out some of the cap space that is being eaten up by underperforming players next season. Even if they get little in return, finding a taker for Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak or Josh Anderson would go a long way toward making room for a player that can help the team get a lit better next season.

2. Finally End The Three Goalie Experiment

Another way to save a little cap space for next season, and make things a lot easier for the two young goalies who could be here for a long time, is to trade Jake Allen.

At this point, there can't be a huge market for him, but finding a way to finally end the three goalie system and let Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau run with the crease for the remainder of the season would be a huge benefit.

None of the three have dominated in their games, but both Montembeault and Primeau look much better than previous seasons and need as many reps in goal as possible.

The fact we are still talking about the three goalie system in March is crazy and the Canadiens need to find a way to finally end this today.