3 Players The Canadiens Should Move at the Deadline

And why Savard should be traded over Matheson

The Montreal Canadiens have a unique road ahead: nine points from a wild-card spot and eight points from drafting fifth overall at next year’s NHL draft. Leaping six teams to scratch into the playoffs is highly unlikely, and getting close enough within the next five weeks to become buyers at the deadline is also highly unlikely.

It is more likely that they stay in the top ten for drafting and finish the season anywhere from 27 to 23rd overall in the standings, which means they will be sellers differently at the deadline. The Habs have a few players they can move and get back quality assets; here is a look at them and where they could end up.

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Jake Allen Should Be on the Move

The Canadiens have been rolling with three goalies for the entire season, and although it hasn’t hurt their play, trying to get game time for all three does take away from their sharpness and momentum. This is one of the reasons the team has been playing around .500 all season and not going on any long winning or losing streaks, for that matter. The goalies on the roster also take up a spot for an extra forward or defencemen. With the gluttony of defencemen, Montreal sometimes has seven or eight defencemen and has played a forward short to dress seventh defencemen.

To accommodate the goalies, they need 12 forwards or six defencemen on the roster, which is not optimal for a hockey team. The best way to elevate that is to either send Cayden Primeau down to the Laval Rocket or trade one of their goalies. The Habs won’t put Primeau in Laval because he would have to be placed on waivers, and they feel he would get claimed, resulting in losing a promising young goaltender for nothing. This leaves only one option, and that’s to make a trade.

Jake Allen, Montreal Canadiens (Amy Irvin/The Hockey Writers)

Sam Montembeault has emerged as the Canadiens’ number-one goalie, so it’s safe to say he won’t be the one moved unless a “can’t say no” offer comes Montreal general manager (GM) Kent Hughes’ way. If Primeau were the one moving, it probably would have been done by now; he wouldn’t garner a significant return, and with many teams struggling for goaltending depth, he would have been easily moved. That leaves the logical choice being Jake Allen.

Allen has the experience and can be a reliable backup and share much of the workload. He can also be the starter for stints when a team’s primary goalie is several periods. Several teams with goaltending issues are in the playoff picture, like the Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche. The Leafs made a supposed offer for Allen, but it was rumoured to be a late-round pick. Hughes has a return in mind for Allen, and he will not budge until he gets close to what he wants.

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