When getting called up is a negative lol

Team: 2023-24 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 9, 2024

Published: Apr. 9, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I was always hesitant to believe Barron was actually on the market. Us Habs fans can speculate with the depth chart who is over who, where Barron fits in the prospect pool, etc. But his most recent call-up really convinced me that Barron is all but gone this offseason.

But usually getting called up is a positive, right? Not in this case. A priority at the moment for the Habs organization is to get the AHL Laval Rocket into the playoffs, so their prospects can play meaningful games. It's the reason MTL opted to send back Gignac to Laval and waiver claim Colin White (Gignac is way better than White). Gignac is the leading scorer for Laval and is needed in the AHL far more than with the playoff eliminated Habs.
Now, because of injuries to Guhle and Xhekaj, Habs need to make a call-up. If they were to go off of merit, there's really no debate that Mailloux has earned a chance in the NHL, kid has been great in his 1st pro season. You can even argue Reinbacher, in his limited number of games with Laval, has earned a call-up since he's already proven to be the most defensively reliable Dman on that team.

But no, it's Barron who's called up... why? Because he's the one who would hurt Laval THE LEAST in trying to make the playoffs!.... ouff that one stings lol MTL could've even called up Trudeau instead if they believed Barron could better help Laval over him, but nope!


Some people have said that this is another shot (or his last chance) to prove himself in the NHL to Habs management, and that he belongs. I disagree. Hughes and Gorton don't need a handful of meaningless NHL games at the end of the season to know if they want to keep Barron or not. That decision has been made by now. If they were fully committed to Barron's development, he would've stayed in Laval (see Mailloux as the perfect example, fully deserving of a call-up but is better served with Laval for his development).




So with the high chance of Barron being moved this offseason, what's the best- and worst-case scenarios for a return? Best case is a Nils Lundkvist type trade, Where NYR essentially got back their draft capital in a late 1st rd pick for him. Or MTL is able to package Barron with other picks and prospect and try to land a big fish on the trade market. Worst case is there's no market for Barron (highly unlikely) and MTL sell him for pennies on the dollar.
I don't see MTL keeping him if he's truly on the market, because if they don't see him making their NHL roster next season over other guys they currently have (or might add in the offseason), Barron is almost guaranteed to be claimed on waivers.