Which veterans are leaving Montreal, and does it make sense for Kubalik and/or Strome to be traded

Back with more trade rumours again and here are 3 things that I want to discuss.

 #1) Which Canadiens should be dealt

The Canadiens are heading to a rebuild or at least a retool and are getting younger after finishing last in the NHL this year and now could be looking to move more veterans this year and I will give my opinion on who could be out of Montreal this year. The Canadiens started their rebuild by trading Toffoli, Lehkonen, Kulak and Chiarot before the trade deadline and are going to continue into the offseason for sure, but I am going to say who gets traded in the offseason in my opinion. Their are six veteran forwards who I think could be traded and I would say that three of them should be traded. First I would say that Dvorak is a very likely trade candidate for Montreal after putting up 31 points this year and is still one of the best 2 way forwards in the NHL and getting out of Montreal would be good for him in my opinion and he has 3 years left on his contract at $4.45 Million dollars per year and is still a solid 2nd line Center. Next I would say wingers Hoffman and Drouin should be moved by Montreal after their seasons this year. Drouin is entering the final year of his deal and has had 20 points in 34 games this year and while his $5.5 Million dollar is a tad expensive for a middle 6 forward, if Montreal retained some salary I would suspect their is a decent amount of interest in him. As for Hoffman he only had 14 goals in 66 points but in my opinion could still be better. I feel Hoffman could still score 20-25 goals in a season, and with him only having 2 years left on his contract at $4.5 Million, I will say that he is likely to be traded. The other three forwards who could be dealt but I don’t see it would be Armia, who is a decent 3rd line winger and versatile, but his $3.4 Million dollar cap for 3 seasons might be hard to move, as well as Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson who both have 5 years left on their contract at $6.5 and $5.5 Million dollars respectively, Anderson is a bit less likely then Gallagher due to the fact that he is more of a middle six forward and Gallagher is more of a top 6, and Anderson is a bit younger and I believe that the Canadiens could want to keep him, and with the physicality that Gallagher brings I think that he would be more likely. Now I could see Carey Price getting shipped elsewhere but a few things have to be confirmed first, 1 is that he wants to leave, 2 is that a team could take on his entire cap hit it Montreal would have to retain, and 3 is his injuries healed up or is he still injured. If all of these questions are answered then I suspect Price in a different uniform next season, while if these aren’t then I would say it is a given that Allen is moved as I think he only stays if Price is going and on top of that is a cheaper backup that can put up good numbers and will be entering the final year of his contract so their should be no shortage of teams interested, and finally I believe that it is a forgone conclusion that Petry will not be in Montreal next season, because even though he has 3 years left on his contract at a pretty expensive $6.25 Million dollars per year, the Canadiens are getting younger and he said he would welcome a fresh start and he’s numbers were not good this year so if a good deal comes for petty then I would pull the trigger, so their are 6 forwards, 1 defensemen and 2 goalies who I could see leave the Canadiens organization via trade in the offseason.

 #2) Should Gibson be moved by the Ducks.

Nearing the trade deadline and ever since there have been multiple reports that have stated that Gibson could be moved by the Anaheim Ducks. Now the Ducks before the deadline sold off multiple pending UFA’s in Deslauriers, Rakell, Manson and Lindholm for a lot of picks and prospects and could seek off more prices in the offseason. Some people think that after Lindholm (who was Anaheim’s best defender) was moved that Gibson could see how serious the Ducks were about going into yet another rebuild and that he may not want to be around for another rebuild so while he hasn’t asked for a trade yet, he could in the near future or just be willing to accept a fresh start elsewhere. Now Gibson had a okay season but definitely not one of his better ones putting up a 3.21 GAA (career low) and a .904 SV% and played in 55 games this season and will still have 5 years on his contract at $6.4 Million dollars. Now Gibson’s contract could get tough to work with in the final year or two of that contract but Gibson in the right situation would be one of the best NHL goalies and with the return the Ducks could get for him I would say that they should trade him. The Ducks have a couple of goalie prospects who could take over for Gibson and non more NHL ready then Dostal who could be ready for a NHL role in my opinion, but if the Ducks could get a 1RD or 2RD pick and a decent prospect and maybe a 3rd piece as well then I think they would definitely consider it and eventually maybe around the draft they will trade him but they have to be confident that Gibson wants out, Dostal is ready for the NHL, and that the trade package is acceptable for a starting goalie who can be a top 10 NHL goalie.

 #3) Should Chicago move Strome and/or Kubalik.

The Blackhawks started a tear down of their team this season before the trade deadline by moving Hagel and Fleury and could two pending RFA’s in Kubalik and Strome. Now these two players are both younger players and could bring in decent hauls to Chicago if they are traded but would moving them help Chicago. In the case of Kubalik he is a former 30 goal scorer who could only get could only muster 31 points this season and has a qualifying offer of $4 Million dollars. Now I don’t think he is quite a $4 Million dollar player right now but does have the potential to be and while they could be giving up on a former 30 goal scorer I believe a fresh start for Kubalik would be best. There was talk about him being moved for a 2RD pick at the deadline and if they can get a 2RD pick and either a mis level pick or prospect then I would do that deal if I was Chicago and I believe Kubalik has to go but I am not sure about Strome. Strome is coming off a career year in goals by breaking 20 for the first time in his career and seems to be a top 6 player again but I wonder if Chicago would consider trading him. Now he is owed a $3.6 Million dollar qualifying offer in the offseason and the way he played this year and being younger then Kubalik I believe he does desserve the qualifying offer, but his point production could be due to him Centering Kane and DeBrincat for most of this year and if Kane and possibly DeBrincat were traded could Strome keep up the point production and I would say it’s not impossible but would be extremely difficult, so if he is willing to sign a 4-6 year extension then I would probably keep him but if he wants a short term deal then I believe he will be traded in the offseason and if he is traded I could see Strome fetching a decent prospect and high 2rd pick. So in my opinion Kubalik will be moved and it is possible Strome moves but not as likely as Kubalik.

And here is a list of all signings for the Atlantic since the trade deadline or MAR 22 to APR 11th. 

Atlantic 

Boston 

Goalie Brandon Bussi who was a undrafted free agent signed a 1 year entry level contract with the Bruins  worth $.825 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will kick in next year.

Left Winger Georgi Merkulov who was a undrafted free agent signed a 3 year entry level contract with the Bruins worth $.925 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will start next year.

Center, Right Winger Oskar Steen and the Boston Bruins have agreed to a 2 year extension with a AAV of $.800 Thousand dollars per year and the deal will start next year. Steen has moved up the Bruins depth charts in recent years and played a grand total of 19 NHL games this and put up 6 points but I could see him being a regular bottom 6 player in a few years time.

Buffalo

Left side defender Owen Power who was Buffalo’s 1st round pick and the 1st overall pick in 2021 signed a 3 year entry level contract with the Sabres worth $.917 Thousand dollars per year and the deal will begin this year.

Montreal

Left side defender Jordan Harris who was a 3RD draft pick in 2018 by Montreal signed a 2 year entry level contract with the Canadiens worth $.843 Thousand dollars per year and the deal starts this season.

Right winger Joshua Roy who was a 5RD pick in 2021 of Montreal’s signed a 3 year entry level contract with the Canadiens worth $.858 thousand dollars per year and the deal will start next year.

Left Winger Lucas Condotta who was a undrafted free agent signed a 1 year entry level contract with the Canadiens worth $.830 Thousand dollars per year and the deal will kick in next year.

Left winger Emil Heineman who was a 2020 2RD pick of the Panthers signed his 3 year entry level contract with the Canadiens worth $.898 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will kick in next year.

Ottawa

Left side defender Jake Sanderson who was a 1RD pick in 2020 of Ottawa’s signed his 3 year entry level contract with the Senators with a AAV of $.925 Thousand dollars per year and the deal will begin this season.

Tampa Bay

Right side defensemen Nick Perbix who was a Lightning 2017 6RD pick signed his entry level contract with the Blues for 1 year and has a AAV of $.843 Thousand dollars per year and the deal kicks in next year.

Toronto 

Center Curtis Douglas who was a Dallas 4RD pick in 2018 signed a 2 year entry level contract with the Maple Leafs worth $.838 Thousand dollars per year and it will begin next season.

Center Nick Abruzzese who was a 2019 4RD pick of Toronto’s signed his 2 year entry level contract with the Maple Leafs that caries a AAV of $.850 Thousand dollars per year and the deal will start next year.

Left side defender Mikko Kokkonen who was a Toronto 3RD pick in 2019 signed his 3 year entry level contract with the Maple Leafs that caries a AAV of $.847 Thousand dollars per year and the deal will begin next season.

Right Winger Max Ellis who was a undrafted free agent signed a 2 year entry level contract with the Maple Leafs and has a AAV of $.839 Thousand dollars per year and the deal starts next year.

Right side defender Axel Rindell who was a Toronto 6RD pick in 2020 signed his 2 year entry level contract worth $.839 Thousand dollars per year and the contract will start next year.