![Josh Anderson versus Ryan Graves: Bleacher Report’s (strange) idea](https://cdn.buminteractif.com/2024/08/GettyImages-2149263293-675x450.jpg)
Things can change (especially for long-term contracts)… but right now, things are looking promising.
Among the pacts that are likely to bug the Habs for some time to come, however, is that of Josh Anderson. The forward, who will earn $5.5 million a year for the next three seasons, has the potential to bounce back… but right now, he’s not playing up to his salary.
That’s why some hope to see him bounce back this season… but others don’t really believe in it, and would prefer to trade him.
Writing for Bleacher Report, Adam Gretz takes a stab at coming up with realistic trade proposals for the league’s worst contracts… and his idea for Anderson’s is for the Habs to trade him to Pittsburgh. In return, Ryan Graves would head to Montreal.
We’re talking about a guy who got thrown under the bus by Kyle Dubas at the end of last season.
Kyle Dubas on Graves: “With Ryan, there’s no dancing around it. He was a very good player in Colorado and New Jersey… He came in and from the beginning, I thought, ‘it happens’. Did I expect it to go the whole year? No. Part of that is on us as an organization, but it’s as much…
– Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 19, 2024
For those less familiar with him, Graves is a 29-year-old player who, prior to arriving in Pittsburgh last year, enjoyed good years in Colorado and New Jersey. His annual salary ($4.5 million) is lower than Anderson’s… but he still has five years left on his contract.
In reality, trading Anderson wouldn’t be a bad thing for the Habs, and such a trade would provide some immediate salary flexibility. That said, the Habs aren’t at the point where they need to free up $1 million annually… especially if it means spending two more years with a bad contract on the books.
It’s mainly around 2026-27, when Anderson’s contract expires, that the Habs will need money. And with such a deal, they’d have $4.5 million to pay until 2028-29.
The author explains his point by saying that the Habs need help on defense, and that a change of scenery could do Graves some good. The problem is that the “defensive help” the Habs are looking for will ideally come with the progression of their youth group.
“If we’re always thinking about the future, it’s going to get tough for veterans” → https://t.co/x1gnBlJWUj
– DansLesCoulisses (@DLCoulisses) August 9, 2024
Going after Graves, who would take a spot on an already congested defensive brigade (especially on the left side), would be a disaster for the development of some youngsters. The young forwards aren’t growing yet: it’s the young defenders who are.
For the Penguins, it’s a deal that makes a lot of sense. But for the Habs, it’s nothing more than a slight financial relief at a time when the club doesn’t need it, and would have a detrimental effect on the development of the young core.
And no, trading Anderson isn’t that high a priority.
In Overtime
– News from Joshua Roy.
NUMBER 97, JOSHUA ROY
Hockey in August
#GoHabsGo | @kevinraphael21 pic.twitter.com/H2xrBAIJ8s
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) August 10, 2024
– The Habs had been champions… of the West. An extremely bizarre season.
The 2020/21 season:
– Chicago and Florida were in the same division
– Montreal won the Western Conference
– Brad Marchand finished 3rd in the NHL in points
– Alex DeBrincat finished 3rd in the NHL in goals
– Connor McDavid had 105 points in 56 games (154pt pace)
– McDavid became… pic.twitter.com/HBmSV3YQp3– Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) August 10, 2024
– A fine program.
Big program in Montreal tonight starting at 18:30 :
Sinner [1] vs Rublev [5] followed by
Arnaldi vs Nishikori pic.twitter.com/vNdWRu3jyy
– TVA Sports (@TVASports) August 10, 2024
– Logic was respected.
Basketball | USA take gold against France https://t.co/1PIjmBXApt
– La Presse Sports (@LaPresse_Sports) August 10, 2024
– Not to be missed.
Are you at the stadium tonight? Our @MTLAlouettes return to the foot of the mountain! Kick-off 7pm and a half-time visit from the Vanier Cup Champions, the@UMontreal @Carabins. Not got your tickets yet? https://t.co/akHZCPOFlK #GoAlsGo #Alouettes https://t.co/Lptmtz3A3Z pic.twitter.com/YyXQOEtyq0
– Pierre Karl Péladeau (@PKP_Qc) August 10, 2024