Trade Montembeault and Monahan ASAP and keep Allen

Team: 2023-24 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Nov. 26, 2023

Published: Nov. 26, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

In my opinion, if Montreal could trade Montembeault and Monahan right now, they should do it. They should keep Allen.
Montembeault seems to be playing better (quite a bit better??) than Allen lately, so the return in a trade for Montembeault should be higher, especially since he is cheaper.

Keeping Allen increases the chances of Montreal losing games (I firmly believe that another year of tanking and getting a high draft pick increases the chances of long term success).
Montembeault is replaceable. He has been good, but not great. It is not like they would be trading Patrick Roy or Carey Price. Fowler or Primeau (??) make up the long-term goaltending plans in Montreal.
Monahan started quite well with points production but has cooled down recently. I think it is best to trade him while his traditional stats still look good. If not, there is the injury risk or the risk that he turns into a 45 point player on the year rather than a 65 point player.
Personally, my biggest goal for Montreal this year is to add good assets for the rebuild (which is only a few years in) rather than landing in the “mushy middle “ and trying to sneak into the playoffs.
Montreal is not trading its core young talent (I just don’t think Montembeault qualifies as “core young talent”) so even if they lose the trades in the short-term, their improved draft position only helps them in the long term.

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