As the March 7th NHL Trade Deadline approaches and the Canadiens aren’t getting closer from playoff contention in spite of back-to-back wins, trade speculation is ramping up. Many believe GM Kent Hughes will take a hybrid approach—selling off some pending UFAs while keeping others.
This strategy serves two key purposes:
- Maintaining veteran leadership to support the development of young players.
- Keeping the Laval Rocket competitive as they push for an AHL playoff spot.
With that in mind, here are some of the most talked-about names in trade discussions:
Jake Evans
According to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports, Evans is seeking a five-year contract worth north of $3.5M per season, with reports indicating his demands are between $4.5M–$5M annually. This aligns with expectations set months ago, despite initial skepticism. Multiple sources report that contract talks have now stalled.
During the 4-Nations break, Evans even spoke about his time in Montreal in the past tense:
“It’s been an honour. It’s such a fun place to play, it’s such a great place to live, and I’ve just really enjoyed it. It’s truly an honour.”
Verdict: The odds of Evans being traded are high—around 90%.
Joel Armia
There hasn’t been much buzz around Armia, aside from NHL Insider Frank Seravalli ranking him #12 on his Trade Bait board. However, reports suggest that if the Canadiens can’t secure a first-round pick for Evans alone, they may package Armia with him to get that return. This would give Montreal three first-round picks, which Hughes could leverage to acquire a young, established player at the draft.
Armia has been a steady presence since his AHL stint, contributing defensively while chipping in the occasional goal. Martin St-Louis continues to trust him in key situations.
Verdict: A trade is possible, with odds around 60%.
Pierre LeBrun on RDS, with credit to Arpon Basu, reports that the Habs are talking to certain teams to package both Jake Evans and Joel Armia in a trade.
— /r/Habs (@habsonreddit.bsky.social) 2025-02-25T23:31:00.505Z
Christian Dvorak
Dvorak leads the Canadiens in faceoff efficiency at nearly 57% and is the team’s only reliable left-handed center for strong-side draws. If the right offer comes along, he could be moved—but Hughes would likely need to use his last salary retention slot to cover half of Dvorak’s $4.45M cap hit to facilitate a deal.
The question for Hughes is whether trading two veteran centers before the deadline is worth it. Does the return justify the impact on the lineup for the rest of the season?
Verdict: The likelihood of a trade is relatively low—about 35%.
David Savard
The veteran defenseman is ranked #24 on Seravalli’s Trade Bait list. Once a key piece of the Canadiens’ blue line, Savard has slowed down this season and is now best suited for third-pairing minutes and penalty-kill duties.
Despite this, his leadership remains valuable—just this weekend, Arber Xhekaj credited him for his own development. Given what the Canadiens might receive in return, is moving him worth it?
Verdict: A trade is unlikely, with odds around 30%.
Way too often, do we read fans downplaying the importance of quality leadership for young, developing players. Here's what Arber Xhekaj had to say about David Savard:#GoHabsGo #Habs
— JD Lagrange (@jdlagrange.bsky.social) 2025-02-24T22:41:31.333Z
Mike Matheson
Matheson has struggled at times this season, particularly since shifting to the right side as a left-shot defender—an adjustment some fans downplay, but one that is significant in today’s game.
With Kaiden Guhle out, Matheson’s veteran presence is crucial. He remains the Canadiens’ most trusted defenseman and is relied upon heavily by the coaching staff.
Verdict: Unless a team makes an overwhelming offer, expect Matheson to remain Montreal’s No. 1 defenseman through the season. A summer trade is more plausible. Current trade odds: 5%.
Conclusion
Some have also speculated about Josh Anderson being on the move, including Seravalli. But consider this—if Montreal were to trade all the players mentioned in this article, they would lose six of their eight most-used penalty killers, leaving only Alexandre Carrier and the injured Kaiden Guhle.
How would that impact a penalty kill currently ranked 7th in the NHL? Hughes must carefully weigh short-term consequences against long-term gains before making any final decisions.
