Major transaction for the Canadiens: It would be likely between two veterans according to Frank Seravalli
With December upon us, trade rumors are heating up around the NHL, and the Montreal Canadiens are no exception.
Usually, this is the point in the season when teams start to move to fill certain needs, now that they have a better idea of where they stand in the overall standings.
According to the renowned Frank Seravalli, two CH players are particularly attracting attention on the market:
Mike Matheson in the crosshairs of trade rumors
To everyone's surprise, even though he still has one season left on his contract, Matheson is among the 10 players in the league most likely to be traded, according to the source.
This statement is surprising, because the Quebec defenseman is considered a pillar of Montreal's defensive brigade.
However, what is most interesting is that Kent Hughes could find himself in a position where he would have "no choice" to trade him, due to the high value he could have on the trade market.
That's what Seravalli said.
The Canadiens may not have a choice given that his value will probably be at its highest by the deadline." - Frank Seravalli
Of course, losing Matheson would be a big blow for the Canadiens. However, with a rebuilding perspective, Hughes could prefer to maximize his assets for the future.
So this is a hot topic to watch in the coming weeks.
At the same time, David Savard would also be in the hot seat, according to the Daily Faceoff journalist.
His contract expires at the end of the season, after which he will become an unrestricted free agent. To avoid losing a veteran with no return, Hughes could choose to trade him before the deadline.
Seravalli suggests that Hughes will likely have to choose between trading Matheson or Savard, as it would be unlikely that either would leave.
The organization likely wants to keep a veteran to support the young defensemen.
The bottom line is that one of the two is expected to leave the club in the coming months.
In my opinion, Matheson is more likely to be traded because of his high market value, contract and style of play.
Also, given that he is a left-handed player, the Canadiens may prefer to keep Savard, who offers a more complementary defensive style to the team. Lane Hutson could then take over the offensive duties on the blue line.
And who would you like to see leave in a Kent Hughes-orchestrated trade?
| POLL | ||
Who would you most like to see leave in a Kent Hughes-orchestrated trade? | ||
| David Savard | 101 | 62.3 % |
| Mike Matheson | 61 | 37.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
