Montreal Canadiens: 4 Habs Already Packing Bags 4 Weeks From Trade Deadline

The Montreal Canadiens are sellers in case anyone was not sure yet. They already traded Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets for a first round pick, signalling the start of their selling phase.

Unfortunately for us Habs fans, this isn't a new space for the Canadiens. They were sellers two years when they traded Tyler Toffoli to the Calgary Flames for a package that included a first round pick. They also shipped out Ben Chiarot that year for a first round pick in addition to other assets.

Last season was quieter, but saw them continue to tinker and continue in their selling and rebuilding state. This season, they are somewhere in between since they have already moved their biggest piece of trade bait in Monahan.

What will come next? Well, with the team having secured 50 points in 50 games, they are far from an embarrasment that needs to completely revamp the organization. They have some good young pieces in place that are going to be key components of this team when it is rebuilt. These players are already keeping the team afloat and on pace for 82 points in a rebuilding season.

This isn't the Chicago Blackhawks that has a roster of Connor Bedard and 22 placeholders that need to be replaced and improved upon in the coming years.

As such, we are not going to see a gigantic firesale in Montreal in the coming weeks. However, as a rebuilding team that is far enough outside the playoff picture they will continue to look to sell assets.

The trade deadline is on March 8th and is now exactly four weeks away. There are some Canadiens players who are far more likely to move than others. Let's take a look at the four Canadiens who are already packing their bags with four weeks to go until trade deadline.

Lucas Condotta

Lucas Condotta is not likely to be traded by the Canadiens before the trade deadline. So, why is he packing his bags already? Well, Alex Newhook is due back in the lineup any day now and someone is going to lose their roster spot.

Condotta has played fine for the Canadiens, but someone has to go down when Newhook returns to the lineup and Condotta is the logical odd man out. He plays a strong two-way game for the Laval Rocket and they are in a playoff hunt themselves and can use the services of Condotta to help them get there.

The 26 year old has played three games with the Canadiens so far, and had 13 points in 40 AHL games with the Rocket to begin the season. He should be prepared to head back down to the AHL as soon as Newhook is back.

Tanner Pearson

When a team is struggling and become sellers ahead of the trade deadline, the most logical moves for them to make are to trade away their pending unrestricted free agents. You are going to lose these players for nothing in the summer anyway, so you may as well trade them for something now instead.

Well, the Canadiens do not have many UFAs to toss out there on the trade market right now. In fact, their only players who are about to hit the open market this summer are Chris Wideman who has not played this season and Tanner Pearson who just returned from his own injury.

Pearson played well to start the season on a veteran third line with Sean Monahan and Brendan Gallagher, but cooled off quickly. He is still a trusted veteran who skates well and is good defensively. No one can ever take his Stanley Cup winning experience away from him which makes him a desirable asset for contending teams.

However, his $3.25 million cap hit and eight points in 31 games will ensure the Canadiens can't get a big return. If they retain half of his cap hit, they will find a team that can use an experienced fourth line winger for a 5th round pick in return.