I normally wouldn't give any cadence to an anonymous hockey insider on social media. However, this account, @HockeyyInsiderr, which has nearly 30,000 followers and has hit on trades and signings in the past, is reporting that the Canadiens and Blue Jackets could be working on a trade involving Christian Dvorak or Josh Anderson.
#BreakingNews the @CanadiensMTL and @BlueJacketsNHL are looking to connect once more after the Laine trade. Being told Columbus is looking to add a veteran forward from Montreal. Several names are being discussed including Dvorak and Josh Anderson.
— Hockeyy Insiderr (@HockeyyInsiderr) September 12, 2024
Before we disregard the rumors that he is spreading, let's remember that he also predicted the Laine and Harris trade weeks before it happened. We may not like to prop up accounts that try to get clout from random rumors and questionable content, but we also have to give him props for hitting the biggest trade of the summer.
#breakingnews the @CanadiensMTL and @BlueJacketsNHL are very close to finalizing a deal that would send Laine to Montreal . Being told Jordan Harris is one of the 2 main pieces that would be going to CBJ along with a pick . At the current time , no mention of salary retention.
— Hockeyy Insiderr (@HockeyyInsiderr) July 30, 2024
So, does this anonymous account have a source inside the Canadiens or Blue Jackets front office that could make these Dvorak and Anderson claims true? We broke down a possible Dvorak trade in a recent article, acknowledging that there may not be a place for him in the lineup, and some cap savings could come from dumping his contract.
if the Laine deal works out for the Canadiens, it's safe to say that it will be looked upon as a steal. It's baffling that the Blue Jackets would give the Canadiens another friendly deal to dump cap space, but they do need to grab a couple of contracts to get over the salary cap floor.
Anderson makes more sense for the Blue Jackets to acquire since he is familiar with the city after starting his career there. The Canadiens likely see more upside in Anderson turning his career around, so I predict that the impasse is Columbus wanting Anderson and the Habs wanting to trade Dvorak.