The Montreal Canadiens find themselves in a familiar position as the NHL trade deadline approaches: listening to offers for power forward Josh Anderson. This isn’t exactly breaking news, though. Remember, about eighteen months ago, NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that teams were practically begging to acquire the hulking winger. With the benefit of hindsight, it feels like maybe then-GM Kent Huighes missed the boat on maximizing Anderson’s trade value.
Josh Anderson’s Value: A Tough Equation for the Canadiens
So, what’s the situation now? Seravalli recently reignited the Anderson trade chatter, pointing out the obvious: a player with Anderson’s size and physicality is always going to be attractive to contenders looking for a playoff X-factor. He can be an absolute force when he’s on his game, wearing down opponents and creating havoc in front of the net.
But here’s the rub: Anderson carries a hefty $5.5 million cap hit for two more seasons after this one. And while he’s capable of putting up points (15 in 40 games so far this year), he’s not exactly lighting up the scoresheet. Teams are going to be hesitant to take on that kind of contract, especially if the Canadiens are demanding a significant return.
From my perspective, the Canadiens are in a tricky spot. They’re on the bubble of a playoff team, and Anderson doesn’t necessarily fit their long-term timeline. However, they also can’t afford to give him away for pennies on the dollar. It’s a delicate balancing act.
If I were Kent Hughes, I’d be exploring all options. Perhaps there’s a team out there willing to overpay out of desperation. Or maybe a creative deal involving retained salary could make sense. One thing’s for sure: the next several weeks will be interesting to watch as the Anderson trade saga unfolds.
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What pennies on the dollar? Columbus gave us a 2nd rounder to take on Laine’s contract for 2 seasons.
Sometimes the best return is being rid of $5.5M on your team cap.