Montreal Canadiens: Top 5 players they should trade at the deadline
The Montreal Canadiens will most likely be sellers at the 2020 NHL trade deadline. Here’s a look at three players they should consider trading.
Last season, the Montreal Canadiens didn’t make the playoffs despite picking up 96 points, which was more than three teams in the Western Conference who made the postseason. This gave them hope for the 2019-20 season. Unfortunately, this season hasn’t gone as planned for the Canadiens.
They’ve had two separate losing streaks of at least eight games and will enter the All-Star break 10 points out of a coveted spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Canadiens will have to decide whether they want to be buyers or sellers. This is an easy choice, as the latter is the clear answer.
Even if the Canadiens add to their roster, it won’t make them any less flawed. Sure, adding Ilya Kovalchuk has undeniably helped them. But they’re still not close to being a playoff team. Ergo, the Habs will likely listen to offers for several of their players as the trade deadline approaches.
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Which players should the Canadiens be listening to offers for? Who should they trade? Here’s a look at three players the Canadiens should trade, or at least entertain offers for, by the NHL trade deadline on February 24.
Tomas Tatar
If the Canadiens are going to be sellers, they need to listen to offers for just about anyone. Yes, that includes Tomas Tatar, who has been brilliant for the Canadiens this season. Entering the All-Star break, he leads the team in goals (17), assists (26), and points (43), as well as power play goals (7).
Tatar has one year left on his deal after this one, so the Canadiens shouldn’t be in a rush to trade him. They can always revisit a trade in the offseason or wait until next season if they can’t work out an extension. That said, Tatar is their only roster player who would fetch a significant return in a trade. Refusing to listen to offers for him would be negligent. Trading him for anything less than a huge return would be negligent as well.