3 Montreal Canadiens Trade Candidates Heading Into 2024 Offseason

The Montreal Canadiens are expected to take a big leap this offseason and be focused on re-tooling instead of rebuilding. GM Kent Hughes will be aggressive at the NHL Entry Draft as the Canadiens own two first-round picks, one second and two thirds.

While draft picks could be shipped out for NHL talent, expect to see Hughes try and move out some contracts as well as Montreal only has roughly $9 million in projected cap space for next season. Here's who the Canadiens could be trading this offseason:

Josh Anderson

Anderson's signed for three more seasons at $5.5 million and unfortunately is not producing up to his contract. He's collected just eight goals and 18 points in 69 games this season and hasn't met expectations with his play in Montreal. His modified no-trade clause goes down to just five teams this summer, giving Hughes some more flexibility to make a move. The market will be thin so Montreal may need to sweeten the pot with a prospect or one of their higher draft picks if they want to move Anderson off the books.

Joel Armia

Another winger who hasn't necessarily been lighting up the score sheet, Armia has one season left on his deal at $3.4 million, however does not have any trade protection. This season through 57 games, Armia's recorded 13 goals and has even spent time in the AHL with the Laval Rocket. This move would likely just be a bit of a salary dump and there's speculation that Hughes would accept a mid-to-late round draft pick to get Armia moved this summer.

Christian Dvorak

Dvorak's tenure with the Habs has been littered with injury troubles and he's never played more than 64 games in a Canadiens uniform in one season. This season he's at 25 games and currently on the shelve. Dvorak's 28 years old, with one season left on his deal at $4.4 million and does own a modified no-trade clause that covers him from eight teams. Look for Hughes to try and give Dvorak a change of scenery this summer as it hasn't worked out at all in Montreal for the former second-round pick.

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