Montreal Canadiens Should Take Advantage of Teams up Against the Salary Cap – The Hockey Writers – Montreal Canadiens

Over the last few days, two trades sent a clear message to the rest of the league: there is value to be found in cap-troubled teams, and the smart organizations are taking advantage. The Dallas Stars sent forward Mason Marchment to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a third- and fourth-round pick. Marchment, 30, was coming off a season where he scored 47 points in 62 games, a highly productive middle-six winger with one year left on his contract. The New Jersey Devils also moved veteran forward Erik Haula to the Nashville Predators for a fourth-round pick and a prospect. Haula was certainly less productive this season, but brings a strong two-way game. Two decent playoff performers for relatively minor assets.

These are exactly the kinds of moves the Montreal Canadiens should be looking to make this summer.

Montreal has spent the last few years focused on rebuilding, accumulating prospects and draft capital. But with more cap flexibility, a strong prospect pool, and clear needs in the middle of the lineup, the Canadiens are in a position to weaponize their cap space, not just to take on bad contracts, but to add quality NHL players at a discount. A Marchment-type acquisition would have been perfect.

Why the Canadiens Should Jump In

There are several reasons Montreal should follow the model we saw this week. First, they have the cap space to do it. General manager Kent Hughes and vice president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton have the room to take on a contract of $3 to 5 million without disrupting their internal structure. That gives them a massive edge over most contending teams, especially those trying to juggle expensive cores and pending extensions.

Second, they have the assets to make it happen. The Habs own a surplus of draft picks in the next two years, including multiple third-rounders and a deep pool of young prospects. If the return for players like Marchment and Haula is a mid-round pick, Montreal can easily outbid other teams without hurting their long-term plans.

Third, these types of veterans offer short-term value with little long-term risk. A player like Marchment, for instance, had one year left on his deal. If it works out and the Canadiens are in the hunt, great, he can help push them toward a playoff run. If it doesn’t, Montreal can flip him at the trade deadline, potentially for more than they paid,…