5 Montreal Canadiens Who Won't Be Traded This Summer
The Montreal Canadiens are a team to watch this upcoming offseason as general manager Kent Hughes has a ton of resources at his disposal and is looking to re-tool on the fly. The Canadiens are done with rebuilding and want to get back into the playoff picture next season.
Hughes is likely to be active in trade discussions at the NHL Draft next month. The Habs have four first-round picks in the next two drafts and there's certainly a chance Hughes dangles a pick to see what type of impact player a top pick could fetch.
While there's certainly a chance the Canadiens look to move on from Josh Anderson's contract, there's also several players who aren't going anywhere. Here are five players in Montreal who won't be moved this offseason:
The Obvious Choices - Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield & Samuel Montembeault
Up front the team will continue to be built around their captain Suzuki and Caufield. Both went through their own ups and downs last season but in the end, ending up having strong seasons for the Habs. Both are making under $8 million and signed to long-term deals so expect to see Hughes try to do his best to find some complimentary pieces to surround them with as these two won't be able to carry the offense on their own. Montembeault was handed an extension and shortly after Jake Allen was moved to New Jersey. The team was thrilled with the 27-year-old's development this season and it's become obvious he's the goaltender of now and the future in Montreal.
David Savard and Lane Hutson
Hutson joined the final weeks of the season and showed off his unlimited tool box. The former second-round pick has all the tools to be a top-pair defender and will be given a much bigger role next season. At just 20 years old, he's the future of the Canadiens defense which is absolutely loaded with prospects. Savard, on the other hand, was of interest to several playoff-bound teams before the March 9 deadline but because the Canadiens have so many young defenseman ready for NHL action, the organization felt Savard was the perfect veteran for the group to learn from. He only has one season left on his deal but don't be surprised if the 33-year-old blueliner signs and extension this summer.
Juraj Slafkovsky and Kaiden Guhle get honorable mentions as cornerstone pieces, meanwhile the likes of Anderson and Brendan Gallagher could be on the block this summer.
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
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