While the Montreal Canadiens have made roster changes over the summer, there's more work to be done. Which players are most likely to be moved before the trade deadline?
When Geoff Molson hired Jeff Gorton as Executive Vice President in November 2021, it was clear that the organization was gearing up for a significant transition. While the team has been shy to use the term 'rebuild,' actions speak louder than words.
Gorton brought in Kent Hughes as the general manager to broker transactions and rebuild the roster. Hughes has had a busy summer in the trade market, completing four deals. All four moves were significant as they involved regular NHL players.
Hughes said that the goal is to build a team that will contend annually. The general manager is not close to achieving his objective.
I expect Hughes to continue being active in the trade market this season. In an ideal world, the four remaining years of Brendan Gallagher's $6.5 million annual cap hit would be off the books. Unfortunately, it's easier said than done.
Here's a list of five players that I think are the most likely of being traded before the March 2024 trade deadline.
Crowded Crease
Casey DeSmith was acquired on August 6th as part of the three-team trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks that also included Jeff Petry coming to Montreal.
With Jake Allen and Samuel Montembeault set to be the starting goaltending duo, DeSmith, 32, finds himself in a crowded position.
DeSmith is in the final year of a $1.8 million contract. Given that he must clear waivers to be sent to the American Hockey League (AHL), it's likely he'll be moved before the regular season begins.
Despite unimpressive numbers last season with the Penguins, his affordable cap hit could attract other teams. There won't be a significant return for the Rochester native. Hughes might wait as close as possible to the start of the regular season should another team need a backup goaltender due to an injury during preseason games.
Making Room
Sean Monahan and Christian Dvorak are two veterans who won't be around when Hughes reaches his objective. Moving the two forwards would open up spots for prospects to gain NHL experience.
The Canadiens acquired Monahan in August 2022 with the intention of using him as a trade asset before the deadline. He started the year producing 17 points in 25 games before injuries prematurely ended his season.
Monahan is a versatile player known for his reliability in the faceoff circle, playmaking ability, and leadership qualities.
This summer, Monahan signed a one-year deal with the organization for a modest $1.985 million. If the 28-year-old remains healthy and produces offensively, other teams will be interested in acquiring him.
Dvorak's 2022-23 season was cut short due to a knee injury requiring surgery. Although the organization initially stated he'd be ready for the new season, reports suggest he might need more time to recover.
In 2022-23, he collected 28 points in 64 games and had 52 percent success rate the faceoff circle. It was the sixth consecutive season that Dvorak won more than half of the draws.
In addition to being a force at faceoffs, Dvorak is a two-way player and an asset on the penalty kill. With a contract running through 2024-25, his value could rise closer to the trade deadline.
Sweeteners
In addition to Gallagher, Hughes is likely looking to move forwards Josh Anderson and Joel Armia from the roster. The general manager mentioned last season that he receives a lot of phone calls for Anderson, but there hasn't been a deal that makes sense from the Canadiens perspective. Anderson's contract runs through the end of the 2026-27 season and that certainly makes him a risky acquisition.
Armia is entering the third year of his four-year deal that comes with a $3.4 million price tag. The forward's inconsistency likely lowers the interest level around the league. Armia has recorded 14 points in each of the last seasons, while playing 41, 60, and 43 games respectively.
To move the two forwards, Hughes might need to sweeten the deal by including a young prospect with potential. The general manager recently used that approach when Ryan Poehling was included in the trade that sent Petry to the Penguins in July 2022.
The two names that I feel the Canadiens would be willing to include as part of a bigger deal are Justin Barron and Jesse Ylonen.
Barron started last season in Laval before before being recalled to Montreal after the holiday break. He might begin the year with the Rocket once again as the abundance of defensemen and being waiver exempt work against him.
At 21-years-old, Barron has potential to be a full time NHL player. He's a good skater, moves the puck well, and has the necessary tools to become a regular on the power play.
In the pipeline, the Canadiens notably have Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher on right defence.
Ylonen divided his time between the AHL and the NHL last season. He collected 32 points in 39 games with Laval and 16 points in 37 games with Montreal.
Ylonen has a strong and accurate shot that the Rocket used as a weapon on the power play during his stint. He's also responsible defensively and a good skater.
The 23-year-old was a restricted free agent and signed a one-year two-way contract over the summer for the league minimum on July 31st. Ylonen's deal was the last one that Hughes signed in the off-season.
The amount of time it took for an agreement raises caution flags for me. The Finnish forward saw Michael Pezzetta and Rafael Harvey-Pinard each sign two-year, one-way contracts and may have felt that he earned one as well.
If the relationship between both parties suffered during the negotiation process, Hughes might give Ylonen an opportunity to continue his development with another organization.