Joel Edmundson: it could be a long time before he's traded

Joel Edmundson’s name has been circulating in trade rumors for several months now. With the CH making a youthful shift, trading a defenseman like #44 (whose contract expires at the end of next season) is not a bad idea to make room for the youngsters.

The blue line is already congested, so getting out a guy like Edmundson could allow the Tricolore to play all its young defensemen.

At nearly 30 years of age and a final-year salary of $3.5 million, he’s got what it takes to help a Stanley Cup contender. After all, he already won it in 2019 and helped the Canadiens reach the finals in the summer of 2021.

However, according to Arpon Basu, that doesn’t mean he’ll be traded tomorrow morning. In fact, we can expect it to be a while before he’s traded (if he leaves this summer, of course).

A little Canadiens offseason primer with some information gathered at the combine and elsewhere. His name is sadly missing here, but @MAGodin was a huge part of the reporting process: https://t.co/vEDYbl7dPf

– Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) June 14, 2023

In fact, a June deal seems rather unlikely. Basu explains that the market for the defenseman isn’t very active at the moment and that we shouldn’t expect to see him leave at the draft.

In fact, he’s always just a phone call away from being traded, but it’s unlikely at the moment.

That said, once the free-agent market opens, we’ll have to start keeping an eye on him. With few quality defenders on the market(and with Damon Severson already signed), Edmundson could quickly attract the interest of clubs that won’t find a bargain on the market.

The club wanted to improve its blue line… and it’s not doing things by halves → https://t.co/1W1PFTK16f

– DansLesCoulisses (@DLCoulisses) June 9, 2023

And the good news for the CH is that Vegas winning the Stanley Cup could increase interest in the defenseman.

Why would that be? The reason is simple: the Golden Knights were banking on a defensive brigade made up of big-bodied defensemen, which could prompt GMs to seek out defensemen like that to fine-tune their current group on the blue line.

It’ll be something to keep an eye on, but barring any surprises, nothing is imminent. In July, on the other hand, expect to see his name circulating everywhere (and, if the state of his back doesn’t worry other GMs too much, to possibly see him leave).

Remember, however, that he has a partial no-trade clause, so he can give a list of 10 teams he doesn’t want to be traded to. Stay tuned.

In brief

– Interesting.

Friedman on 32TP talking next round of expansion: “Houston, I have heard, there are some challenges, just someone said to me you’re going to have to do your own work on that, but they just said there are some challenges there if it’s not with the Rockets”

– NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) June 14, 2023

I would just like to add San Diego has been near the top of average AHL attendance last few seasons, and I believe they might have been #1 in the league, the seasons before COVID, would have to look into that, but definitely top 10 last few seasons.

– NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) June 14, 2023

– Mike Hoffman and Jeff Petry among NHL’s worst contracts. [The Athletic]

– Indeed.

“When William lifted the Stanley Cup, it was all the hard work behind the results! It really touched me!”

Listen to Alexandre Carrier, brother of William Carrier of the @GoldenKnights with @LangloisMario!👉 https://t.co/Kef8gc3MGO pic.twitter.com/XvNA4IHjPP

– 98,5 Sports (@985Sports) June 15, 2023

– Ouch.

The Oilers selected first overall in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015.

The four players selected second overall in those four drafts have now each won the Stanley Cup.

– Mike Gould (@miketgould) June 14, 2023

– Great read.

Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield back together for Grand Prix https://t.co/ec41rzxDDN pic.twitter.com/jOxzfxOdwk

– Field hockey Inside/Out (@HabsIO) June 15, 2023

– Wow!