RWJC Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Canadiens Shopping Multiple Depth Wingers March 4th, 2024 at 9:57am CST • By Josh Erickson The Canadiens’ offense hasn’t done much this year outside of their top line of Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and Nick Suzuki, ranking 27th in the league. As such, Montreal GM Kent Hughes is open to moving out multiple wingers – a group highlighted by two-time 20-goal scorer Josh Anderson – ahead of the March 8 trade deadline, reports David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. According to Pagnotta, Hughes is also shopping solid shutdown winger Joel Armia and pending UFA Tanner Pearson. It’s not like the Canadiens have a bunch of youngsters chomping at the bit to take their spots—prospects like Sean Farrell and Emil Heinemanneed some more minor-league development time—but it does behoove them to free up some roster space and gain some assets as they continue their rebuild. The Canadiens still need de facto retired goaltender Carey Price‘s $10.5MM LTIR relief to remain cap-compliant, although their cap hit has been exacerbated by some injuries this season. Still, contracts like Anderson’s (a $5.5MM cap hit through 2027) aren’t ideal for a rebuilding squad, especially for his level of dwindling production. Once a highly sought-after developing power forward, the 6-foot-3 Anderson has tanked this season with eight goals and 17 points in 57 games despite still seeing some top-six minutes, averaging 16:05 per game. He is shooting far below his career average at 7.1%, but his possession metrics are also among the worst on the team – no Canadien has a worse expected rating than Anderson’s -9.7. Given his low shooting percentage, though, there is hope for some positive goal-scoring regression, which was always one of the more attractive aspects of his game. Anderson may still have some trade value if the Habs are willing to slash his cap hit down to $2.75MM by retaining 50% of the remainder of his deal. That’s much closer to what he would earn on the free-agent market if he were a UFA this summer. While Montreal would also likely need to retain some of Armia’s $3.4MM cap hit through 2025, he probably has the highest trade value out of their three forward assets. After being buried in the minors to start the year, injuries re-opened an NHL opportunity, and he’s responded well. His 11 goals on the campaign make him the only active non-first-line player with double-digits on the year, and he’s managed a 48.2 CF% at even strength (sixth among full-time Habs forwards) while logging first-unit minutes on their penalty kill. Add in his solid postseason performance with Montreal on their run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, and he appears a solid pickup for any contender looking to add some defensive acumen to their fourth line. Theoretically, Pearson’s expiring deal makes him the easiest to move, but it’s hard to imagine much interest in the 31-year-old’s services. Now relegated to a fourth-line role with the Canadiens, he has five goals and 11 points in 42 games with a -11 rating. Hughes would again need to retain some of his $3.25MM cap hit to move him out. Those retention caveats highlight a crucial problem with the Canadiens’ deadline plans. They’re still retaining salary on the contracts of Joel Edmundson and Jeff Petry, meaning they only have one slot left for an additional retained salary transaction. With none of these players likely to get moved at full price in-season, the Habs will likely only be able to move one or enlist a third party to retain 50% of a contract on another. https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/03/canadiens-shopping-multiple-depth-wingers.html#ref=home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HKSR Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Anderson please. Buy low PA/JR. Buy low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 3 minutes ago, HKSR said: Anderson please. Buy low PA/JR. Buy low. Hard pass. That contract is horrible. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HKSR Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 3 minutes ago, Dom said: Hard pass. That contract is horrible. Article talks about a retained amount on that contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Just now, HKSR said: Article talks about a retained amount on that contract. Still hard pass. Would much rather Bjugstad/Greenway/Duhaime. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HKSR Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 2 minutes ago, Dom said: Still hard pass. Would much rather Bjugstad/Greenway/Duhaime. None of those guys have the offensive ability of Anderson though. Anderson is having a down year, otherwise he has pretty consistently been around a 20 goal power forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Integra250 Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Hard pass on Anderson. 17 points in 57 games making 5.5 million until 2027?? Even with a 50% retention he is no better than Sam Lafferty. He'd be effectively buried on our 4th line. Use that money instead to sign Joshua. 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HKSR Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Just now, Integra250 said: Hard pass on Anderson. 17 points in 57 games making 5.5 million until 2027?? Even with a 50% retention he is no better than Sam Lafferty. He'd be effectively buried on our 4th line. Use that money instead to sign Joshua. 21 goals in 69 games last year -- 25 goal pace 19 in 69 the year prior -- 23 goal pace 17 in 52 before that -- 27 goal pace This is a down year for him IMO. He would probably be back in that 20 to 25 goal range playing next to Petey. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rekker Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 18 minutes ago, HKSR said: Article talks about a retained amount on that contract. At half, I'd be all over Anderson. Of somehow we can offload Mik and add Anderson, we would be a better team imho 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HKSR Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 1 minute ago, Rekker said: At half, I'd be all over Anderson. Of somehow we can offload Mik and add Anderson, we would be a better team imho Even at say $4M AAV, he'd be good value. I can't seem him not getting 35 to 40 points playing with Petey on a nightly basis. He'd open up the ice for sure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Integra250 Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Man Montreal has some ugly looking contracts. Some players got paid during the Covid Cup run which is going to hurt them for the next few years still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 27 minutes ago, HKSR said: Even at say $4M AAV, he'd be good value. I can't seem him not getting 35 to 40 points playing with Petey on a nightly basis. He'd open up the ice for sure. If we're trading for Josh Anderson with the intent to play him with Pettersson, we have much bigger issues with this team 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyone Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 would you do Myk for Anderson, if they retain say 2-3 million and we throw in a 5th or 6th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HKSR Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 15 minutes ago, Warhippy said: If we're trading for Josh Anderson with the intent to play him with Pettersson, we have much bigger issues with this team Why? The guy would be perfect as a powerforward next to Petey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pears Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 3 minutes ago, HKSR said: Why? The guy would be perfect as a powerforward next to Petey. Only if we send Mikheyev and get them to retain 35% MINIMUM, we'll send an early pick and a C level prospect for their troubles. Anderson at 5.5 million for the next 3 years is gross. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HKSR Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 2 minutes ago, Pears said: Only if we send Mikheyev and get them to retain 35% MINIMUM, we'll send an early pick and a C level prospect for their troubles. Anderson at 5.5 million for the next 3 years is gross. For certain Mikheyev would be moved out to accommodate. I think the goal for PA/JR this TDL is to move out Mikheyev and bring in a top 6 guy. Probably why Guentzel is still a target. Frees up future cap commitment. So unless Montreal retains a good chunk on Anderson, I wouldn't count on the Canucks being interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain insano Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Only way I’m taking Anderson is if mikheyev is going the other way (full salary) and Anderson salary is retained 50% and that’s gunna cost us way to much…… pass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionized27 Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 6 hours ago, Dom said: Still hard pass. Would much rather Bjugstad/Greenway/Duhaime. If management were to add a "project" player for Tocchet and the coaching staff, I would love to see Greenway join. Depending on the ask, of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyCuddles Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 Anderson has 3 more years AFTER this year at 5.5mil. At 50% retained there should be interest. Physical presence and everyone is willing to give size multiple second chances. I'd rather just try keep Joshua at 2.5mil-3mil. At least we know he works here. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cripplereh Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 (edited) 11 hours ago, Captain insano said: Only way I’m taking Anderson is if mikheyev is going the other way (full salary) and Anderson salary is retained 50% and that’s gunna cost us way to much…… pass! Doubt it,send them Mik, Karlson, Aman and a 6th For Anderson 50% and Armia So we get two hard to play against players, replace Mike with Armi on pk,plus have extra cap to go after another D if we want. Edited March 5 by cripplereh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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