Clearing bloat for 2026 playoff push

Team: 2024-25 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 23, 2024

Published: Apr. 23, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Clearing out players who will not return and opening up spaces for young players to make a mark. This team is still a step away from a big push, especially with teams like Florida, Boston, and Tampa in the way, as well as pressure from Buffalo and Detroit. It may be wise to take another season to get everything together before pushing the chips in the year after.

Hope should be to find a way out of Anderson's contract in the 2025 offseason and supplement with veterans. Give different players elevated looks in the AHL and utilize no waiver players to rotate in and out.

Players like Mesar, Farrell, and Beck who show high upside get a chance with big minutes in the minors, while lower upside players can try to fill roles in the Habs bottom 6.

TRADES:
EDM - This is basically the Henrique trade but it's made in the offseason. Kovacevic is an NHL quality bottom pair RHD at a low cost. This gives the Oilers a lot more versatility especially if they can move out Ceci.
CGY - Flames can realistically look to get back in the playoffs next year. They're going to want to move out vladar to allow Wolf to take the backup spot, whether the starter is Markstrom or someone else. Vladar needs a fresh start in the minors to find his game after a rough couple seasons in Calgary. Habs can use him as a third goalie if Primeau faulters

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