3 recently traded pending free agents who would ignite the Canadiens in 2024-25
It’s not likely, but the Montreal Canadiens could add some established talent to their team in 2024-25, and perhaps that talent comes from a few recently traded players.
While they don’t have and won’t acquire an ideal amount of cap space before LTIR, there are quite a few recently traded players who could serve as a huge help for the Montreal Canadiens in 2024-25 and at a reduced price. No, those mentioned in this article wouldn’t be with the team long if signed, but the idea here is to help move the Habs along while those who will be ready to see more ice time in the NHL later can keep developing.
This concept, if you noticed, has been relatively similar in many previous posts regarding free agency, with potential stopgaps mentioned in the past. But we haven’t talked much about players who had been traded back in March, many of whom may be looking for a short-term landing spot in July.
Jason Zucker could come at a reduced price and bring some defense
Jason Zucker could be the most talented defensive forward listed who meets the criteria for this piece and would come at a price general manager Kent Hughes could afford. The Habs were relatively physical last season, registering roughly 22 hits per game, and Zucker could transform them into an even edgier bunch.
His overall defense-first mentality is also something the Habs can use, as they also gave up way too many shots on goal last season - 33.4, to be exact. He wouldn’t completely turn around Montreal’s so-so at best play in the defensive zone, but his plus-1.6 possession quality in Arizona and Nashville this past season shows he can be an effective puzzle piece for inconsistent teams.
As is the case with each player on this list, Zucker adds the presence of an experienced veteran. And that, too, will suit a team that could be getting even younger for the upcoming season.
Anthony Duclair could move about the lineup as the Canadiens keep growing
Anthony Duclair would make for a versatile puzzle piece regardless of whether he re-signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning or if he ended up with another team that may not contend for the upcoming season. While signing with someone like the Canadiens could be a last resort for Duclair, his ability to hold certain spots in the middle-six would work well for the Habs.
As younger players eventually make their way to the Canadiens or, if applicable, expand their respective roles with the big club, Duclair would join a contingent like Joel Armia, Jake Evans, and Christian Dvorak, who would ultimately move down the lineup.
As was the case with the Sharks this past season, Duclair is also a player Kent Hughes could end up moving should a team in contention need a potentially high-scoring winger. For most of his career, Duclair has provided impeccable scoring value even when playing for the worst teams, so there’s no doubt that trend continues even if he landed in Montreal for a while.
And that would, at times, lead to Montreal snagging more wins and points than they otherwise would have earned this past season. Remember, this is a team that finished 26th in goals scored, so if they climbed only a few rungs in the scoring department, quite a few potential losses would be flipped around into wins.
Ilya Lyubushkin would put forth an underrated yet physical game
As mentioned earlier, the Canadiens were rather physical last season, but that physicality still has room for growth. Jason Zucker is one option for Kent Hughes, but the underrated Ilya Lyubushkin makes for another, and he, too, wouldn’t mind signing a short-term contract and reaching the triple digits once more in hits.
While the Canadiens wouldn’t sign him unless they either, for some reason, opted not to re-sign restricted free agent Arber Xhekaj or if they (more likely) traded David Savard, Lyubushkin would factor in as an incredible seventh defenseman. When used in the event of injury or to inject more physical play for a game, he will prevent multiple plays from setting up, leading to a few more scoring chances.
The only downside with bringing in a player like Lyubushkin is that he’s proven multiple times that he shouldn’t be a full-time blueliner. Should Hughes target Lyubushkin and bring him to Quebec, he would still need a contingency plan if injuries hit the rotation too hard.
Recalling prospects and keeping Lyubushkin as a seventh d-man would work best in the organization’s favor. And when he’s on the ice, Lyubushkin will always bring an unprecedented level of physicality, something we saw during his 19 appearances in Toronto.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)