Ordering Montreal Canadiens Defensemen Expected to Be Traded Before the Trade Deadline
The Montreal Canadiens head towards the trade deadline as clear sellers, but without any obvious assets up for grabs.
In the National Hockey League, practically every player is available for the right price or if a compelling offer arises. However, there are few standout trade candidates currently on the Canadiens’ roster.
Sean Monahan emerged as the most probable player to be moved, and indeed, he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets. This transaction made sense for the Canadiens, especially considering they now possess an additional first-round pick in the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft. Monahan’s impressive six goals in his first nine games with the Jets underscore the success of the deal.
With Monahan’s departure, the Canadiens must explore more innovative trade opportunities. Their pending unrestricted free agents, Tanner Pearson, Colin White, and Chris Wideman, are not anticipated to garner significant interest on the trade market, thus ruling out any potential moves before the upcoming trade deadline.
Given their surplus of defensemen, including emerging talent, the Canadiens may contemplate trading a veteran to accommodate younger players on the blue line. Alternatively, they might entertain the idea of swapping a young defenseman to address gaps in their forward lines.
As the dynamics on the blue line are poised to evolve to accommodate newcomers like Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher, and Logan Mailloux, decisions about roster composition become more pressing. Jayden Struble’s recent rise to prominence, alongside promising talents such as Jordan Harris and Arber Xhekaj, further complicates the situation.
With these considerations in mind, it becomes pertinent to rank the ten defensemen who have featured for the Canadiens this season, based on their likelihood of being traded in the imminent week.
