Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens Linked To Calgary Flames, Options For Trade

Published

1 year ago

November 13, 2022

The Calgary Flames are looking for some scoring punch and could be a logical partner for the Montreal Canadiens, having shown significant interest in one of their forwards in the past.

On a recent segment of 32 Thoughts, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned how the Calgary Flames continue to be on the lookout for scoring help, especially amid their slow start to the season.

According to Friedman, it’s an area of significant need, as the Flames have had trouble keeping up offensively with the rest of their rivals and could use the boost to better even out their lines at the moment.

“I heard this week that the Flames are looking for a scoring forward,” said Friedman on the situation with the Flames.”I’ve been told that’s been going on since August.”

The Flames have had some calls in the last month, with one NHL source confirming the Montreal Canadiens have been one of those teams; but, as of yet, nothing has materialized.

Calgary’s Interest In Josh Anderson

One scoring forward that has been of high interest to the Flames in the past has been Josh Anderson.

TSN’s Salim Valji confirmed the Flames’ interest in Anderson in a tweet on Friday; stating that he’s been a player of interest for a long time, but couldn’t find the right deal to get it done.

Anderson would make a ton of sense in Calgary for many reasons; his size, speed and toughness. The only issue is his $5.5M price tag and whether general manager Kent Hughes would even consider letting him go.

To make such a move, the Canadiens would likely have to take back a significant short-term contract like that of Milan Lucic ($5.25M) that would expire at the end of the year, or a combination of players to make the move work fiscally.

If the Canadiens were ever to move Anderson however, it would take a haul for Hughes, who has refused offers in the past that have included 1st round picks.

You would have to think that Hughes would ask for Jakob Pelletier or Matthew Coronato and the Flames’ 1st round pick in 2023 as a starter, but is general manager Brad Treliving at that point of desperation yet? Unlikely.

This is a player the Calgary Flames have, in the past, had very real, significant interest in, and I wonder if they re-visit Josh Anderson (salary retained by Montréal) as they search for more finishing up front. https://t.co/M7TMZb4EEf

— Salim Nadim Valji (@salimvalji) November 11, 2022

Could Mike Hoffman Be A More Logical Target?

One player that could make a ton of sense for the Flames, who are in a win-now situation, is Mike Hoffman.

The Canadiens veteran has woken up from his early season slumber and has become one of the more dangerous forwards on the team as of late, potting four goals in his last three games and looking like a player transformed as of late.

Hoffman would fit in exactly what the Flames are looking for as a pure goal-scorer with playoff experience that is in the “win-now” part of his career and heating up at the right time.

He can play both wings and could be a big help to their power play at the same time and would cost notably less than Anderson on the NHL trade market.

From a salary cap perspective, Hoffman’s $4.5M contract, valid until the end of the 2023-2024 season, is far less of a long-term risk and easier for the Flames to incorporate within their structure.

It might take some gymnastics, as the Flames have under $50,000 in cap space at the moment, but the Canadiens have the flexibility to make such a deal work.