NHL Rumors: 2 Montreal Canadiens Not Expected To Be Traded

While the Montreal Canadiens have been actively discussing trades on several of their key free agents and even some players with term like we saw with the Tyler Toffoli trade to Calgary, the Habs do have a couple of forwards who they prefer to keep in their mix. 

Dreger on TSN690 says the Gorton/Hughes have a "like to move list" and "don't want to move list", believes Gallagher and Anderson are on the "don't want to move list", says you do need competitive players around even during a rebuild. #GoHabsGo

— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) February 16, 2022

While Toffoli has already been dealt and it's only a matter of time until the likes of Ben Chiarot, Cedric Paquette and Brett Kulak get moved, two names you can scratch off the trade market are Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson. 

The two forwards are both signed long-term and sure, maybe a touch on the expensive side but they are veterans who are still in the prime of their careers and can make positive impacts on the franchise moving forward regardless of the team's direction. A full rebuild isn't expected in Montreal and more so a "re-tool" is what is coming. Both Gallagher and Anderson have modified no-trade protection but at this point have not been asked for a list and it doesn't appear to be heading down that route anytime soon.

As for other Canadiens who have recently been discussed in trades, those names include goaltender Jake Allen who is nursing an injury, and forwards Artturi Lehkonen, Jonathan Drouin, Christian Dvorak and Mike Hoffman. Expect the Habs to be very busy leading up to the March 21 trade deadline and while there could be as many as six trades coming from Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes, don't expect to see Anderson and Gallagher included in the transactions.

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