Jake Allen
The most obvious trade candidate still on the Canadiens roster is Jake Allen. The team has been carrying three goaltenders all season long and it just isn't a situation that works for any of them. The team has likely been trying to trade one of their goalies since before the season began but still haven't found a trade partner.
With Sam Montembeault signing a three year contract extension and Cayden Primeau being nearly ten years younger than Allen, it makes sense to have on to the younger duo and move Allen to a contending team. He would make a perfect backup or even 1B option for a team making a playoff push.
Allen has posted a 3.43 goals against average and a .901 save percentage in 17 games. This certainly doesn't put him in the Vezina Trophy conversation, but those are respectable numbers considering he is playing on a bottom ten team with a very young defense and would have much better numbers on a better team.
There is a considerable trade market for goaltenders out there as well. The Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs are all Stanley Cup contending rosters that have question marks in goal.
Allen's $3.85 million cap hit, that runs through next season, does not make him an easy fit on a new team. However, the level of desperation, both from good teams needing goaltenders and the Canadiens needing to move a goaltender is eventually going to lead to a trade to a contending team