The Canadiens have had a rather unremarkable start to their season, and they need to improve quickly if they hope to remain competitive for a playoff spot. Time is of the essence.
If the team continues to struggle in the coming weeks, General Manager Kent Hughes will consider shifting to a selling mode, assessing his roster to determine which players may be traded.
According to insider Elliotte Friedman, three Canadiens players could draw interest as the trade deadline nears. These players are David Savard, Joel Armia, and Christian Dvorak, all of whom will be unrestricted free agents next summer.
While Savard is likely to attract attention from several teams, it’s unclear if Armia and Dvorak are currently on the radar of scouts at the Bell Centre, especially given their average performances to start the season. However, if they perform better, they could raise their trade value.
Another aspect that may enhance the appeal of these two veterans is the relatively weaker trade market this year compared to previous seasons. There’s still plenty of time before the March trade deadline, but unlike Savard, who could fetch a notable return, there are no expectations for a deal as significant as the one involving Sean Monahan that netted a first-round pick for the Canadiens.
In summary, this is a situation to keep an eye on, and despite Kent Hughes’ desire to avoid such actions, it increasingly appears that Montreal may find itself in a selling position as the trade deadline approaches.
