Trading for Alexandre Carrier might be Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes most underrated trade

Ever since the Canadiens hired Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes to run hockey operations for the Montreal Canadiens, they've done a pretty impressive job. They've developed a young core by drafting guys like Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson. He's also surrounded this young core with star players like Patrick Laine and Noah Dobson. The two have built a roster that looks to be one of the best up-and-coming teams in the NHL.

However, one move people overlooked was the acquisition of Alexandre Carrier. In December of 2024, the Canadiens sent Justin Barron to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Carrier. In his 59 games as a Canadien, he has racked up three goals and 17 assists for 20 points. He also has the flexibility to play up and down the lineup. You can make the argument that the acquisition of Carrier has been one of the best moves of the Gorton-Hughes regime.

Alexandre Carrier help turn the Canadiens defensive core around

At the beginning of last season, something felt off with the Canadiens' defensive core. They would have some games where they look like a solid, cohesive unit. But in other games, they looked lost and made plays that cost Montreal games. But when Carrier was brought in, he helped bring more consistency to the lineup. His defensive play helped solidify their defence and kept the Canadiens in games.

His role is only more critical this season. The top pairing of Dobson and Mike Matheson is being touted more for their offensive abilities, though they sometimes lapse on defence. The second pairing isn't much better, as while Jayden Struble is good defensively, Lane Hudson's production comes from his offence. Carrier, along with Arber Xhekaj, creates a physical shutdown pairing that can go in and shut down an opponent's offence. They are perfect to play late in a tight game.

The stats back up how strong this pairing has been. According to Moneypuck, in the 48 minutes they've been on the ice, they've only allowed four goals. While their metrics do not look great, this may be due to the small sample size. Once these two build more chemistry and log more minutes, the advanced metrics will better reflect the type of play they've been providing all season.

Barron has not been nearly as effective in Nashville. In 52 games with the Predators, he's registered five goals and eight assists for 13 points. He's also more of a work in progress than Carrier. He still needs time to develop and find his role in the NHL. With the Canadiens trying to compete this season, they need more established pieces and guys they know will be productive.

The Carrier trade will never receive the praise it deserves. There are other moves that Gorton and Hughes made that had a much greater impact and will be discussed further. However, if the Canadiens can sustain success, Carrier will be a big reason.