MAJOR-NEWS: Montreal Canadiens Are Going All-In on a “Hard Sell” – Major Trades Coming Before Deadline!

There has been some buzz around the potential trade of Jake Evans, especially if a new contract isn’t signed soon. Other players like David Savard, Christian Dvorak, Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, and Joel Armia have also been mentioned in trade rumors.

So, are the Canadiens in a “soft sell” or a “hard sell” ahead of the March 7 NHL trade deadline? After a rough stretch of 1-7-1 in their last nine games and falling six points behind the wild-card playoff spot, with four teams between them and the Detroit Red Wings, the Canadiens are now firmly in a “hard sell” position.

As GM Kent Hughes stated in his mid-season press conference, the team’s focus remains on rebuilding and creating a roster capable of competing for the Stanley Cup in the years to come. At the time, there were still 22 games left before the deadline, and a lot to learn about the team. Since then, Hughes has realized this group isn’t good enough to contend for a playoff spot this season.

Evans, Armia, Savard, and Dvorak are all set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, and it’s now expected they will all be traded. Gallagher, at 32, has two seasons remaining on his contract with a $6.5 million cap hit, which makes him less likely to be moved. Anderson, 30, with two more seasons at a $5.5 million cap hit, may still attract some interest, but Hughes isn’t likely to move him without a good offer.

Earlier in the season, there was talk of keeping the unrestricted free agents for a playoff push, but that now seems unlikely. Meanwhile, the Laval Rocket are leading the AHL standings, so why not retain those UFAs unless Hughes receives an offer he can’t refuse? Trading them would open up space to call up key Rocket players, such as Owen Beck, Logan Mailloux, and Jakub Dobes.

For Hughes and executive vice-president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton, the top priority is the future of the Canadiens and what’s best for the long-term success of the team. Right now, the best move is to trade the UFAs and bring in valuable assets for the future.