The Montreal Canadiens find themselves at the bottom of the NHL standings, leading to the possibility of tough decisions if the situation persists. Betting odds and Canadian casinos foresee another challenging season for the Canadiens, potentially positioning them as sellers once again.
While it may seem premature to consider trading players in November, a glance at the available options as the NHL Trade Deadline approaches reveals a complex scenario for the team. They aim to remain competitive throughout the season, but some players’ timelines do not align with the team’s rebuilding efforts.
Notably, the Canadiens have four significant pending free agents: Jake Evans, Christian Dvorak, David Savard, and Joel Armia. Among them, Evans and Savard are likely to attract interest from playoff-bound teams.
However, with the current trade market conditions, Savard might present the most challenging decision for Canadiens management. General manager Kent Hughes has previously highlighted that acquiring right-shot defensemen is particularly tough, as teams are reluctant to part with them and often overpay for such players during Stanley Cup runs.
Pending free agents tend to be highly sought after by contending teams, as they do not require long-term commitments beyond the current season. The available right-shot defensemen this year are notably scarce compared to prior seasons, with many key players likely remaining with their teams.
This leaves players like Savard, Cody Ceci, Dante Fabbro, Jan Rutta, Erik Johnson, and Will Borgen as potential options. Among these, Ceci and Savard stand out due to their playoff experience, positioning the Canadiens similarly to last season when they dealt Sean Monahan during a lackluster rental market for centers.
Monahan fetched a 1st-round pick, which aided in drafting Michael Hage for the Canadiens in the 2024 NHL Draft. Similarly, Savard could potentially secure a 1st-round pick, but this would likely necessitate retaining half of his $3.5 million salary, bringing it down to $1.75 million to facilitate a deal. Trading Savard was discussed last year, but teams were hesitant to take on the additional year of his contract, which runs until summer 2025.
The Canadiens held off on trading Savard until the end, but teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and New York Islanders weren’t able to accommodate another capped salary. The Canadiens also benefited from Savard’s presence in mentoring younger defensemen like Lane Hutson and Arber Xhekaj.
As a true rental player this season, Savard is expected to draw more interest, particularly as teams have fewer options compared to last spring.
Will the Canadiens actively shop Savard before the trade deadline? It’s uncertain, but given their previous decision to trade Monahan for the sake of their rebuild, it seems likely they will eventually part ways with Savard. At 34, he does not exactly match the team’s competitive timeline, yet he remains one of the few veteran right-shot defensemen available.
The Canadiens are reportedly in the market for a top-4 right-shot defenseman to replace Savard with a player more aligned with their core’s age structure. As they approach February, the Canadiens will evaluate the trade market and make decisions accordingly.
Considering Savard’s experience as a Stanley Cup champion, the possibility of retaining his salary, and the shortage of right-shot defensemen available, there is expected to be considerable interest in him.
