Canadiens & Senators Still Linked On NHL Trade Market

It’s a poorly kept secret the Ottawa Senators have been sending a curious number of employees to Montreal Canadiens games.

And with the holiday roster freeze on the horizon, a deal may come sooner than later, seeing as teams will no longer be able to trade, waive or assign players to the minors between Dec.19 and Dec.29.

The Senators sent five players to the Bell Centre on Nov.29, which was the last home game for the Canadiens until Dec.10.

Trade Bait

As for possible players involved, Josh Anderson has been linked to several teams this year, including the Calgary Flames and Ottawa Senators.

Anderson has scored five goals and 2 assists in 21 games this season and is pointless in his last six games.

Seeing as Anderson has struggled to adapt to Martin St-Louis’ system, the Canadiens should not hesitate to explore options on the trade market, especially since Anderson’s rough-and-tumble style of play seems to be in high demand for teams attempting to bolster their playoff roster or teams like the Senators that are trying to get back on the right track following an underwhelming start.

It’s worth mentioning Jim Clark, the Senators’ director of professional scouting, has attended several games, indicating there’s a strong possibility that things are getting serious.

But the biggest clue when it comes to deciphering a potential trade has been the presence of Senators general manager Pierre Dorion in Montreal. He’s been seen alongside Senators assistant general manager, Ryan Bowness, as well as professional scout Rob Murphy.

It’s not unusual to see general managers, head scouts, and multiple members of one team attend a game, but at this point, it seems to go beyond just performing regular scouting duties.

The Senators seem to have significant interest in a member of the Montreal Canadiens, and their continued interest via important members of the organization may just be an indication that the negotiations have progressed to a point where the Senators must perform due diligence.