The Canadiens were relatively quiet on trade deadline day with their only move coming late in the day when they moved Jake Allen to New Jersey. However, ESPN’s Kristen Shilton notes that Montreal did have interest in wingers Tanner Pearson and Joel Armia but not to the point where GM Kent Hughes was compelled to make a move. The Canadiens only had one available retention slot which was used on Allen which likely limited the market for Pearson, a pending unrestricted free agent. Meanwhile, Armia has rebounded relatively well after clearing waivers at the beginning of the season and has 11 goals in 48 games so far. However, he also has another season left at $3.4MM so teams likely would have been asking Montreal to retain salary or take back another contract to help facilitate a deal.
Elsewhere around the NHL:
- Blue Jackets forward Justin Danforth is dealing with a concussion and will be out longer than day-to-day, team reporter Jeff Svoboda relays (Twitter link). The 30-year-old missed Saturday’s game against Nashville with what was called an illness at the time. Danforth is in the middle of a career year, notching 10 goals and 11 assists through 63 games so far. Danforth inked a one-year, $1.1MM contract extension back in October meaning he won’t be eligible for unrestricted free agency until the 2025 offseason.
- Kings GM Rob Blake recently told reporters including Andrew Knoll of the Los Angeles Daily News that there haven’t been any discussions about a contract extension with pending unrestricted free agents Viktor Arvidsson and Matt Roy. Arvidsson has been limited to just four games this season due to injuries so the hesitance there certainly makes sense. However, Roy has been a key cog on the back end for Los Angeles for several years now so it stands to reason that they’d like to keep him around even with him almost certainly eyeing a sizable raise from his current $3.15MM AAV. However, it appears those talks may have to wait until after the season.
Montreal’s rebuild has officially stalled, They don’t have one single franchise type player the team can build around, The head coach is a novelty act cheerleader, It looks like the road to nowhere.
Habs have a great build going you look at the sens their rebuild is a mess they have been rebuilding for 7 years and are behind the habs this late in the season
No need to bring Arvy back since he’s too injury prone, even on a low dollar option.. Roy on the other hand can be resigned once we clear out Kaliyev, Spence, Lizotte, Grundstrom and one of the goalies and have more room to move under the cap going forward..
I’m a-ok w/Blake’s moves, and his patience at the deadline since it’s next year we need to really turn the corner and dominate in the West.
#GoKings
I don’t see them moving Spence or Lizzo. Spence is a top 4 d-man and they love what Lizzo brings every night.
Lizzo & Grunny most likely gone, with Turcotte, Fagemo and Thomas taking over. Will have to see what Arte does the rest of the season before giving up on him. If Roy gets signed, Spence will most likely be traded, but he makes about $850k so he could stay as a #7. Love Arvy when he’s healthy, but his money will be going to Byfield!
Spence’s recent play hasn’t done him any favors with Clarke waiting to jump in full time next season… That’s why I feel he’ll be moved/sign elsewhere after this season is over.
Poor Kaliyev asked for a trade and since has been given some looks to plead his case, but hasn’t delivered, so I don’t see him even wanting to come back w/or without Hiller behind the bench.
Fagemo and Thomas, maybe even Chromiak could get some longer looks since they’ve been biding their time in Ontario waiting for slots to open up. We’ll see!
#GoKings
I prefer Fagemo on the top line LW right now instead of Turcotte playing 5-7 minutes a night. Turcotte will most likely step into #4 Center next year and would benefit playing Center in the top 6 in Ontario 15+ minutes every game with PP & PK time!