3 under the radar trades the Canadiens must make by the deadline
The Canadiens playoff hopes may be slipping away, rendering them surefire sellers at the 2024 trade deadline.
With just 52 points through February 20th, it’s clear the Montreal Canadiens will have a tough time seeking out a playoff berth in 2024. But that shouldn’t worry too many fans, as the Habs are still relatively early in their rebuild.
However, it also means Montreal will sell at the trade deadline, and there are quite a few under-the-radar talents who could draw the interest of other teams. Sean Monahan already left for Winnipeg, and with a recent hat trick to his resume, it’s safe to say he’s faring well for the Jets.
So, which under-the-radar talents could provide a boost for the NHL’s contenders as the trade deadline approaches and the playoff race intensifies? Here are three names who the Canadiens can move before the deadline who won’t be around for most of this team’s rebuild.
Jake Allen makes for a tremendous backup goalie for several contenders
With Cayden Primeau playing relatively well in the net, the aging Jake Allen is arguably the most expendable Canadiens player at the moment. Allen’s 0.894 save percentage and 3.66 GAA aren’t impressive, but he won’t be asked to do much more than to provide insurance for a team that lacks goaltending depth, and that will be important should anything happen to a starting netminder.
It’s also hard to blame Allen for his inconsistencies, given the 33.3 shots on goal he’s facing per game in Montreal. His 0.474 quality starts percentage also isn’t awful, and it shows that he’s put together some rather sound performances throughout the regular season for a young Canadiens team.
Overall, Allen isn’t a goalie contenders want to see start in every game. But given his past success as a member of the St. Louis Blues and experience in the playoffs, at the absolute least, he makes for a solid locker room leader and a capable backup.
Tanner Pearson is a former Cup winner who can enter a leadership role
Leadership is a recurring theme here, and Tanner Pearson is another player whose veteran presence would work well with a team that needs experience on the lower lines. Like Jake Allen, Pearson has playoff experience and a Stanley Cup on his resume, so those two factors alone would benefit younger teams looking to break into the NHL Playoffs and overachieve.
He’s also a physical player who, when healthy, isn’t scared to finish checks or to get in front of pucks. Pearson is also someone teams looking for skaters comfortable with seeing a lot of ice time in the defensive zone could utilize. This season, Pearson’s offensive zone starts sit at 42.3 percent at 5-on-5. And since his Corsi and Fenwick For percentages rest well under 50, it’s safe to say defense is his game.
The winger’s simple game will attract contenders with the same approach, or even offensive-minded teams looking to add balance to their lineup. Pearson won’t offer much in the way of scoring, but his value will shine if he goes to a team that will allow him to play his game and simply put them in a better position to snag a playoff spot.
David Savard would offer leadership and a sound game for a contender
Once again, a team looking for one more leader would benefit from David Savard, especially a young group. Savard was part of that unprecedented 2018-19 Columbus Blue Jackets team that snuck into the playoffs and stunned the Tampa Bay Lightning in the First Round of the postseason, so he knows a thing or two about adversity.
He also won his first Stanley Cup two seasons later in 2021, ironically with the Lightning and against the Canadiens. Since then, Savard has made a living in Montreal on the top-four, and he’s kept up his physical game with 237 hits and 400 blocks across 157 contests as a member of the Habs.
At 33, Savard could even drop to the bottom-pairing for a team looking for a defenseman who plays with an edge. Someone willing to block shots and finish hits, and can also play on the top-four should injuries strike. Savard checks those boxes, and the stay-at-home blueliner can also pitch in as a member of the penalty kill.
Overall, Savard offers little value to the Canadiens at this point in his career, given this team’s transformation into a younger group. However, for a contender currently a few rungs higher than the Canadiens, Savard makes for a sound addition down the stretch.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference as of February 20th)