Towards the trade deadline | Eight bargaining chips for the Canadian

There are only a few days left before the trade deadline, scheduled for Friday, March 8. The Canadian having already struck a major blow by acquiring a first round pick in return for Sean Monahan, we can expect a fairly quiet week for Montreal. The Press nevertheless reviews the organization’s potential bargaining chips.

Salary space

By placing Carey Price on the long-term injured list at the end of training camp, the Canadian has been swimming in salary space all season. Now is the time that it could be useful to him. According to the Cap Friendly site, the team can absorb the equivalent of a salary of 5.7 million: it would therefore be able to acquire a bad contract from a team which wishes to give itself room to maneuver.

A salary deduction

Each season, clubs can withhold a portion of salary from up to three contracts. There is still one free space left at the Tricolore. Given the salary space he has, Kent Hughes could therefore offer his counterparts to act as a third party in a transaction, as he did last year with the exchange of Nick Bonino. However, we imagine that the CH’s last retention box will be preserved as long as possible to exchange a player – for example Jake Allen.

Jake Allen

The famous menage a trois in front of the Montreal net could finally end if Jake Allen was traded. It will, however, take a buyer who has faith. Or who is taken badly. Or both. The veteran got off to a great start in October; however, since 1^er November, he was one of the worst goalies in the NHL statistically. His five-on-five numbers remained encouraging for a long time, but this argument eroded as the defeats piled up. Enjoying a good reputation across the league, Allen also has the advantage of being one of the few goalkeepers available on the market. But since he will earn $3.85 million next season, Kent Hughes will have to do his part and another GM will be convinced that he can improve his team. It’s not done.

David Savard

According to various sources, defenseman David Savard is attracting interest from a few NHL teams. We can understand why: he is a leader who has already won the Stanley Cup, he plays more than 20 minutes per game on average, he is right-handed, he blocks shots… So many elements prized by clubs which are preparing to enter the playoffs. We could also understand if the Habs decided to trade him before his decline accelerates. The advanced statistics make him look very bad, and at five on five, he is a player who has found himself on the ice for an opponent’s goal almost every night for four years. However, the prices paid in recent days for Chris Tanev and Ilya Lyubushkin suggest that no one will give the moon for Savard. In this context, given the role of mentor that he exercises within an inexperienced defensive brigade, the CH could prefer to live with his deficiencies for one more year.

Joel Armia

Do not laugh. He is not and never will be a big star. However, he is, objectively, the Canadian’s best defensive attacker. He has also found some offensive touch this season – he is the only forward outside the first line to have scored at least 10 goals. At five against five, he is only ahead of Nick Suzuki in the scoring column. What did he also find? Smile. His game is certainly more liberated than in the last two years, and his good performances are no longer overshadowed by long slumps. He also looked good in his last two appearances in the playoffs. As with Savard, it would not be worth getting rid of without an interesting return.

Jordan Harris

With all the young defenders already playing in Montreal and Laval, and knowing that another delivery is planned soon — David Reinbacher, Lane Hutson and Adam Engström — Jordan Harris appears as the most likely player left over at short or mid term. This agile and intelligent skater is disadvantaged by his lack of uniqueness, he who is not a great offensive contributor without being a strictly defensive back. However, his profile does not correspond to that which is usually sought at this time of the year. If the CH decided to exchange him, the return would probably be modest.

Johnathan Kovacevic

A 6’5″, 223-pound right-handed defenseman who is effective on the penalty kill, if available, would certainly attract attention as the playoffs approach, especially if he earns as little as $766,667 under ‘a contract valid for another season. That being said, Johnathan Kovacevic probably wouldn’t bring in a lot of money either, but he could find a buyer if we wanted to quickly vacate a position. Perhaps, too, we will want to keep him in Montreal given the lack of depth and experience on the right flank of the defense.

Tanner Pearson

Versatile forwards with playoff experience and Stanley Cup wins are in demand. Tanner Pearson, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent, would probably be on his way out if not for his $3.25 million salary. It is indeed difficult to see which club will pay to acquire this player who should rather earn 1 million, or even less. It is also doubtful that Kent Hughes will agree to withhold part of his salary. But a trade deadline wouldn’t be complete without at least one incongruity. Pearson for a seventh-round pick wouldn’t be the most incongruous trade we’ve seen.