A Winning Habit
Fansided

5 seemingly unreasonable offseason moves that would make sense for the Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens have a great program going for them thanks to general manager Kent Hughes’ approach, but there are still moves to be made.

By Todd Matthews

Apr 15, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring in the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring in the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports / Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next

Signing Jack Roslovic

Yep, Jack Roslovic wouldn’t be a half-bad signing in Quebec, thanks to several different factors. He wouldn’t be an ideal signing everywhere, and to be honest, even a potential home in Montreal also wouldn’t be considered perfect. But Roslovic’s experience from this past season would make him a solid, experienced forward for a Canadiens team that could use one more versatile player. 

Roslovic won’t be playing in the top-six in Quebec, something that was the case with the Columbus Blue Jackets when he logged 16:33 of average total ice time. He also showed he could be a decent complementary points producer in Columbus, where he put up 23 points and six goals in 40 games before Roslovic went to the New York Rangers and recorded another eight in 19 contests. 

He would be a serviceable talent who would also find himself in a familiar with the situation in Quebec. But Roslovic was also part of a winning culture this season with the New York Rangers, who are in the Eastern Conference Championship as I write this. Few have seen it from both sides of the equation better than Roslovic, and that, along with his serviceable play, would make him valuable in Montreal. 

Trading Brendan Gallagher

Here’s the situation: Brendan Gallagher is heading into his age-32 season, and he’s got another three seasons left on his deal. The deal carries an AAV of $6.5 million, and the Canadiens are on the hook to hand him $9 million this season. But there is good news: Gallagher’s base salary falls in each of the last two years of his contract, which would make him more than attractive as trade bait. 

Because that salary falls to $6.5 million next season and $4 million the following year, a potential trade involving Gallagher could even negate the Habs need to retain anything. But why would it make sense to trade someone like Gallagher in the first place?

You can argue that it makes zero sense, considering his status as alternate captain and that he finished fifth on the team in goals scored. Gallagher was an effective asset in the middle-six and is a great leader. But there’s hardly any chance he will be in Montreal long after this Canadiens team starts winning, so the better option would be to move him elsewhere so a younger talent can take his place. 

Home/Habs News