Top Trade Candidates For The Montreal Canadiens In 2023-24

The Montreal Canadiens are slowly getting better, but they aren't yet at the level to compete. This means they are likely going to be a team selling at the trade deadline. The Canadiens have the players to move and more ready to come into the lineup. Let's take a look at the top trade candidate for the Canadiens in 2023-24.

Sean Monahan

The Canadiens were hoping to flip Sean Monahan at the trade deadline last season after acquiring a first round pick to take his contract on in the offseason. After a strong start, it looked like he was in line to bounce back. But after an injury in the first half of the season, it ruined the team's chances of getting anything for him at the deadline. This might have helped them because the Canadiens re-signed him for much cheaper and more teams could have interest this season. He's not in the long-term plans of the Canadiens and the only logical thing for them to do is trade him if he's healthy.

Tanner Pearson

The Canadiens acquired Casey DeSmith from the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of a three-team trade to dump contracts and get a couple assets. As one of the many moves this past offseason, the Canadiens then took advantage of the lack of goaltending help in Vancouver and sent DeSmith there for Tanner Pearson. The Canadiens took on Pearson's contract so that the money could work. He'll play in the bottom-six and the team hopes he can contribute enough to get them any asset later this season. He's also not in the plans after this season.

David Savard

The Canadiens have a lot of good young defenseman coming. While not all of them will stick with the Canadiens due to lack of space, David Savard, a veteran, will gain a lot of trade interest this season. He has one more year after this one left of his contract at a fair cap hit. He is very solid defensively and would help a team push deep into the playoffs. There are lots of internal options to replace him in the lineup if this move is executed, and there is good value.