Habs’ Clock is Ticking, a Handful of Potential Trade Targets

It’s undeniable that Montreal Canadiens’ General Manager Kent Hughes has kicked off the summer with a bang. By selecting the incredibly talented Ivan Demidov with the fifth overall pick at this year’s NHL Draft, and then trading up to grab Michael Hage at number 21, Hughes has added two offensive powerhouses to the roster. These young forwards have the potential to make an NHL impact sooner rather than later.

But Hughes didn’t stop there. He secured long-term deals for two of the team’s promising young stars. Juraj Slafkovsky was signed to an eight-year, $60.8 million extension ($7.6 million cap hit), and shortly after, Kaiden Guhle followed with a six-year, $33.3 million extension ($5.5 million cap hit). Both players had a year left on their entry-level contracts, so their new deals won’t start until the 2024-25 season.

In addition, Hughes chose not to re-sign pending RFA Jesse Ylönen, but he did lock in two young defensemen, Arber Xhekaj ($1.3 million cap hit) and Justin Barron ($1.15 million cap hit), to two-year contracts.

Still work to do

After a season where the Canadiens ranked 26th out of 32 teams in goals per game, Hughes acknowledged the need to boost the team’s scoring for next season. Although he couldn’t land the right deal at the Draft, there is still plenty of time to make a trade. With most UFAs signed, several teams facing salary cap constraints will be looking to offload contracts before the season starts. This is how Hughes managed to acquire Sean Monahan on August 18, 2022. Additionally, Patrik Laine, with his $8.7 million cap hit, remains on the trade block as of now.

Here are some potential trade targets from teams under cap pressure:

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – $-829,763

Ryan Johansen (32) scored 13 goals and 23 points in 63 games for Colorado before being traded to Philadelphia on March 6. The Flyers tried to reassign him to AHL Lehigh Valley, but Johansen’s injury status prevented the move. Philadelphia is responsible for $4 million of his $8 million cap hit (through 2024-25), with Nashville covering the other half due to a previous trade with Colorado. If Johansen can’t play in 2024-25, he might be placed on long-term injured reserve, but if he can, the Flyers will face a $4M cap hit. This situation resembles the Monahan trade.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS – $595,801

With recent additions (Stamkos $8M, Marchessault $5.5M, Skjei $7M, and Carrier’s raise to $3.75M), the Predators are tight against the cap. Right-handed defenseman Dante Fabbro (26) has one year left at $2.5M before becoming a UFA. Acquiring Fabbro would allow prospects like Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher, and Lane Hutson to start in the AHL. The Canadiens would have Savard, Barron, and Fabbro on the right side, with Savard and Fabbro both pending UFAs and potential trade assets if the team is out of playoff contention.

NEW YORK RANGERS – $623,476

The Rangers attempted to trade captain Jacob Trouba this summer and had a deal lined up with Detroit, but Trouba blocked it by adding the Red Wings to his no-trade list. Trouba’s no-movement clause shifted to a 15-team no-trade list after June 30. This situation highlights Kaapo Kakko (23), who has one year left at $2.4M before becoming an RFA with arbitration rights. Jeff Gorton, now with the Canadiens, was the Rangers’ GM when Kakko was drafted 2nd overall in 2019. While some may hesitate to acquire Kakko, it’s worth noting that many doubted Alexis Lafreniere before his recent breakout. Perhaps Martin St-Louis could unlock Kakko’s potential if the price is right.

FLORIDA PANTHERS – $766,666

I will be first in line to second guess putting his name on this list, but goaltender Spencer Knight (23) has two years left with a cap hit of $4.5M remaining before becoming a RFA with arbitration rights. This means that Florida is spending almost $15 million on goaltending for the next two years. Still, with Bobrovsky having two years left to his contract as well, the Panthers will likely want to retain Knight’s services for their future.

And it is believed that the Canadiens are amongst the teams talking to the Columbus Blue Jackets about Laine. While some people seem dead set against it, it seems like the Pros outweigh the Cons for the Canadiens to make his acquisition… at the right price of course. Laine has recently been cleared to return from the NHL/NHLPA Players Assistance Program and can now talk to the Blue Jackets (and other teams if given permission).

Clearly, there’s still plenty of time for Kent Hughes and the Canadiens to make more moves. Stay tuned, as the wheeling and dealing isn’t over yet.