Montreal Canadiens: Five Players Habs Could Buy At Trade Deadline

The Montreal Canadiens struggled for the past two seasons and entered this 2023-24 campaign as clear rebuilders. They were not fooling anyone into thinking they were a Stanley Cup contender right now, and many predicted a bottom five finish and an almost guaranteed last place showing in the Atlantic Division.

But, that's why they play the games they say. To see who actually fits where and the Canadiens have proven to be better than anticipated.

After walking out of Winnipeg with a W on Monday night, the Canadiens had 32 points in the standings with 31 games played. It put them on a pace for 85 points on the season. That doesn't knock anyone out of their chair (or off the toilet where most people read this stuff) but it is better than we thought two months ago.

Especially when you consider Kirby Dach played about a game and a half this season, Alex Newhook suffered a long term injury, Aber Xhekaj and Jordan Harris were injured and David Savard missed most of the season as well. Who would have thought the Canadiens had the depth to withstand those injuries?

Yet, they left Winnipeg just two points back of a playoff spot. We are approaching the midpoint of the season and Cole Caufield hasn't even gotten going yet. How is it possible the Canadiens are a breath away from a playoff spot?

There has been talk since the beginning of the season of trading veterans for draft picks and adding another high end prospect at the NHL Draft next spring, but are the Canadiens actually pretty good right now?

They have been lately and if they can keep it up for two more months they could be looking to buy at the deadline instead of sell. Of course, this isn't the year to sell top prospects and first round picks, but they could look to add some depth scoring at a reasonable price or try their hand at a low priced player with some upside.

Who could be on the shopping list if the Canadiens hang around the playoff race for a while? Let's take a look at five options.

Samuel Blais

Even though the Canadiens are hanging around the playoff picture longer than we thought they would it doesn't mean they are going shopping for a big fish at the trade deadline. We are not going to see them deal a first round pick for Elias Lindholm, they just aren't there in their rebuild. At least not yet.

However, a depth winger who could play on the third line, or perhaps even the second line if they find their scoring touch would make sense. Especially if the asking price is low. One play that could fit that description is Samuel Blais.

The 27 year old from Montmagny, Quebec has had some ups and downs in his NHL career. After the 2020-21 season he was traded from the St. Louis Blues to the New York Rangers for Pavel Buchnevich who was coming off a near point per game season.

However, injuries and a lack of production would see his value tumble. In 54 games with the Rangers, split over two seasons, he scored zero goals and just nine assists. After being shipped back to the Blues last season he would finish the season with nine goals and 20 points in 31 games. This season, he is back to just one goal and six points in 25 games.

There is some upside as he is still a couple years shy of 30 and has had a couple spurts of producing like a second liner. He is also a hard nosed player that battles and stands in at 6'2". It is possible he would get a boost from joining his hometown team and become a tough player to play against at the Bell Centre.

With his lack of production, and the fact he is a pending unrestricted free agent, the Blues couldn't expect a big return for him. Something like a 4th round pick to add a potential impact winger to the middle six would be worth the small price for a team hanging around the playoff picture.

Victor Olofsson

The Canadiens are not likely to make big trades with a division rival, but there are times when it can make sense. This one would only make sense if the Canaidens stay within a couple of points of the playoff race and the Sabres continue to lose like the.... well like the Sabres always do.

If the Sabres do fall out of the playoff race, one player they will be looking to move is Victor Olofsson. He is a real threat to score on the power play with his incredible one-timer and would give the Habs another option with the man advantage that could help them win a few extra games down the stretch.

Though he scored at a nearly 30 goal pace for each of the past four seasons, he is not having the same success this season. With a plethora of younger options making their way to the NHL in Buffalo, Olofsson isn't getting the same role he did in the past. In his reduced role, Olofsson has four goals and 11 points in 26 games this season.

A move to Montreal could provide Olofsson a chance to play on the top power play with Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Sean Monahan and Mike Matheson. He can put the puck in the net when he gets the chance and he would get chances on that man advantage. It would also open up more opportunities for Caufield as there would be another lethal shooting threat from the opposite side of the ice.

His struggles this season make him a low cost, hopefully high reward type of target, but that makes sense for a team like the Canadiens just trying to move from bottom feeder to playoff contender.

It really shouldn't take more than a third round pick, or a later pick and a defense prospect like William Trudeau that is buried on the Canadiens depth chart. Worth the risk for a guy who can fill the net with pucks.

Jack Roslovic

The Columbus Blue Jackets are a mess this season. They fired their head coach before he ever coached a game, they can't get their high priced veterans like Patrik Laine and Johnny Gaudreau to produce at the rate their paycheques suggest they should and they can't win at all.

I'd be less surprised to see the sun rise in the north tomorrow morning than I would be to see the Blue Jackets enter a playoff race. They will be sellers for certain, but they don't really have a lot to offer.

Jack Roslovic is one player that is a pending unrestricted free agent and should be moved ahead of the trade deadline. He is a versatile forward who can play center or the wing and has eight points in 14 games this season. He has been out since November 13th with a fractured ankle, but should be back on the ice soon.

Roslovic scored 11 goals and 44 points for the Blue Jackets last season and had 22 goals and 45 points the season prior. He wouldn't come as cheap as others on this list, but with the ability to play center, he would ensure Jake Evans stays on the fourth line instead of the second line later in the season.

It might not make sense for the Canadiens to deal a second round pick or a simialrly valued prospect for a pending free agent, but if they really want their young players, especially that group of defensemen to gain some expereince by playing in big games, it wouldn't be the worst idea. Especially if the team finds itself in a wildcard spot on trade deadline day.

Anthony Duclair

The Montreal Canadiens often have trouble luring players in free agency, and could use this situation as a way to give potential free agent targets a trial run together. No one expects the Canadiens to be in the running for the very best rentals on the trade market.

The best player they could realistically target is Anthony Duclair. He has the potential to be a top six impact player on the team, is from the province of Quebec so he could be enticed into signing a long-term contract if things go well, and he is off to a bit of a slow start to his season so it would be a good time to scoop him up at a reduced rate.

The Pointe-Claire native is playing in his first season with the lowly San Jose Sharks and has six goals and 11 points in 27 games. That is not phenomenal but he looked pretty good in the playoffs last season as he scored 11 points in 20 games and helped the Panthers reach the Stanley Cup Final.

The 28 year old winger is among the fastest skaters in the league, which could see him fit well on a line with Newhook, or Josh Anderson, and he can put the puck in the back of the net. He was injured for a stretch of games last season but scored 31 goals in 74 games the previous season.

In parts of three seasons with the Panthers, he averaged a 59 point pace over an 82 game season. The Canadiens could use a player that puts up close to 60 points a year. The Sharks acquired him in the offseason for fourth line center Steven Lorentz and a fifth round pick from the cap-strapped Panthers.

It would cost the Canadiens more than that, but realistically, probably a second round pick, and they have an extra one of those in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Penguins. If they think he would fit well with Newhook and give the Canadiens a second line that can score, and also give them an inside track on signing him to an extension, it would be worth the deal.

That is, of course, if the Canadiens find themselves in a wildcard spot in the new year. It seems unlikely, but no one expected them to be this close to a playoff spot now. so why not?