According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Montreal Canadiens are actively exploring trade options for veteran players Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak, and David Savard.
This development comes as little surprise to many Canadiens fans, given the team’s struggles early in the season. After hopes for significant improvement, the Canadiens have instead found themselves at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a 4-9-2 record through 15 games. The team is tied with the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks for the fewest points in the league, and has the worst goal differential in the NHL at -23, trailing only the Sharks (-20).
Just weeks ago, Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes was rumored to be pursuing a top-four defenseman and a forward, signaling intentions to strengthen the roster. However, with the season slipping further away from playoff contention, it seems Hughes’ priorities may be shifting. The Canadiens are unlikely to make a playoff push this year, leading to a reevaluation of the team’s strategy moving forward.
Friedman’s report indicates that Hughes is now focused on moving veterans with expiring contracts—Armia, Dvorak, and Savard—while also considering offers for enforcer Arber Xhekaj, who has been the subject of trade speculation since last season.
Given that all three veterans are in the final year of their contracts, it would make sense for Hughes to look to trade them sooner rather than later, particularly with the trade deadline approaching. Contending teams are likely to show interest in their services, given their experience and ability to contribute in specific roles.
While this is not the scenario Hughes envisioned for the season, the Canadiens GM is now looking to maximize value in what has quickly become a rebuilding year. The coming weeks and months will reveal how this situation unfolds as the team navigates through a challenging season.