After dealing his team’s captain to the Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes met with the media to discuss the trade and answer questions. As part of the press conference, Hughes was asked about winger Josh Anderson, who has recently become the subject of trade rumors. Hughes was transparent about the situation, saying that they have had “many” teams call about Anderson, both around the trade deadline and more recently. Hughes said that while he wouldn’t be actively seeking to trade Anderson, he would be listening to any deal that could help the Canadiens.
While Anderson didn’t have a season to remember in 2021-22, it’s not hard to see why he would be of interest to contending clubs. The former 27-goal scorer has the rare combination of speed and power in his game that many GM’s covet, and he’s under contract through 2026-27. While the way Anderson’s contract will age as he accumulates more wear-and-tear on his body and gets deeper into his late twenties is an open question, it’s clear that GM’s are willing to look past those potential issues in order to acquire the unique player that Anderson is today. Whether a trade will actually happen, though, is unknown. But what we did learn from Hughes today is that the possibility of an Anderson trade is very much real.
Now, for some other notes regarding the Montreal Canadiens:
- One of the other Canadiens players often mentioned in trade rumors is defenseman Jeff Petry. Hughes has previously attempted to accommodate Petry’s desire for a trade, but has been unable to find a deal so far. Today, Hughes was asked about Petry’s situation and clarified that it’s unlikely to be a deal that gets consummated at this stage of the offseason. Hughes noted that teams are still “evaluating their needs,” and as a result, it could be harder to move the defenseman, especially given that he is 34 years old and carries a $6.25MM cap hit. While Petry undoubtedly had a down season in 2021-22, he did play better after the Canadiens hired Martin St. Louis. Under St. Louis, Petry had 21 points in 30 games and flashed the high-end form he displayed in 2020-21, when he had 42 points in 55 games. So while he’s certainly not an untradeable asset, Hughes’ comments indicate that the contract situations of fellow right-shot offensive defensemen such as Dallas’ John Klingberg may need to reach their conclusions before Petry’s can be solved.
- It was previously reported that Canadiens assistant coach Luke Richardson had interviewed with the Chicago Blackhawks for their head coaching vacancy, and Hughes confirmed as much in his media availability, stating that Richardson and the Blackhawks had met within the last 48 hours. Hughes also noted that Richardson was “in line” for a second interview with the Blackhawks and that he would not leave the Canadiens for anything other than a head coaching job. While the Canadiens’ coaching staff looks set for next season, the departure of Richardson, the most experienced coach on the staff, would create a hole that would need to be filled. With little NHL experience shared between head coach Martin St. Louis and assistants Alexandre Burrows and Trevor Letowski, the departure of Richardson would likely mean that the Canadiens would enter the market for an experienced assistant to help their young coaches handle the challenges that come with NHL life.
Well … Anderson didn’t have a *terrible* season. But let’s not get excited over him having had a 27-goal year once either. That was four seasons ago now, and it’s the only year in his career where he reached 20 goals. Whatever “speed” or “power” he allegedly has in his game, his defensive metrics are mediocre, his playmaking near-to-nonexistent, staying healthy’s a problem, and he’s making $5.5MM AAV for five more seasons. “Speed” and “power” absent from *production* isn’t a whole lot of good, whether the guy is a “unique player” or otherwise.
So in Hughes’ skates, if some sucker of a GM wants to offer me a hefty package for him, I’m like to say Yippee!
A whole lot of teams would be ecstatic to get Anderson look at all the teams with skill but no heart or grit! The leafs come to mind but Anderson is a very valuable asset and if moved will get a great haul
Not on the contract he’s on.
5.5 million for a 20 goal scorer that brings much more? There are a whole lot of worse contracts around the league hence why Hughes is getting lots of calls on Anderson by people that know a little more about the game than you and i
Yea my worry is the wear and tear and the injury history.. if someone comes to me with an offer i say yeppers. I think this is a ploy on behalf of hughes to get gms to offer max value for him cuz hes “not interested” in moving him.
The impossible contract to move will be gallagher… 5 years at 6.5 for a broken down injury prone tiny winger.. if he doesnt change his style of play he doesnt survive next year and will be forced to retire.
People have been doubting Gallagher for 15 years. He had a short off-season last year. I suspect he’s gonna rebound.
I don’t know: Gallagher HAS been battered and injury prone, he just had his worst professional season by far, and he’s 30 years old. Guys who’ve had the first two factors don’t generally improve if the third’s in play. The notion that he’s in decline isn’t self-evidently stupid.
Gotta think Petry would be the Pen’s backup plan if they lose Letang.
And Montreal would need to move at least one of their 58’s if they did sign Letang, so makes sense all around.
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, obviously.
Pretty clear evidence that they need to make Plan A (keeping Letang) work when this is Plan B.
I don’t see Pittsburgh losing Letang, myself, unless they go out of their way not to attempt to sign him. He’s been loyal so long, he’s take a hometown discount he wouldn’t accept (or need to accept) from anywhere else.
But as much as anything else, MONTREAL sign him?? Why? They DO have Petry, and under contract for three more seasons. They need to do a teardown and rebuild, and you don’t go after 35 year old guys when you do that.
Letang is from Monteal and his agent WAS Kent Hughes before he became GM.
The Habs are the only team we fear taking Letang.
But, him staying is most likely…yinzer tears be damned.
What made Anderson a good or at least promising player was his willingness and ability to bang. His shoulder injuries have taken some of that away and he’s not the “budding Tom Wilson” people predicted he’d be 3 years ago.
Anderson trade rumours are flying high these days.
Apparently a trade is being cobbled up by the Devils, Habs and Blue Jackets that includes Anderson and the Habs 2022 #26 draft pick, the Devils 2022 #2 draft pick and Zacha and the Jackets’ #6 and #12 2022 draft picks. Intriguing to say the least.