Montreal only take Barrie for cap reasons. Lavoie and 2nd isnt gonna get you Anderson. He has been very good for Montreal including huge goals in the playoffs, and is one of the few players that have shown up during the past two seasons during collapses during the season. He is closer to being captain than probably anyone not named Suzuki.

Anderson is a cap dump. Why would Edmonton give up assets for him?

6 points in 22 playoff games is very underwhelming. And nobody is giving up assets for a player who is making $5.5M x 5 and has produced 37 points this season and last combined.

Look at it from Edmonton's POV: they just signed 2 UFA wingers for similar money, Hyman ($5.5M) and Nugent-Hopkins ($5.125M). Here's how all 3 players have performed in the past 12 months:

RNH: 80, 19-41-60
ZH: 69, 26-26-52
JA: 77, 24-13-37

Montreal doesn't do that trade anyway, but you're comparing two players on one of the top scoring teams, to someone on one of the bottom teams.
Hyman has 26 goals playing with McDavid. Anderson has 24 playing with lesser players. Big difference in expectations.

Just because the Oilers were able to sign Nugent-Hopkins to a steal contract doesn't mean that all the "lesser players" making similar money are cap dumps.

Since the beginning of 2020-21

Even-strength goals/60
Josh Anderson 1.03 EVG/60
Zach Hyman 0.96 EVG/60
RNH 1.16 EVG/60

Even-Strength points/60
Zach Hyman 2.03 EVP/60
Josh Anderson 1.58 EVP/60
RNH 1.16 EVP/60

Most common teammates
Zach Hyman (2021-22) - C. McDavid, J. Puljujärvi, E. Bouchard
Zach Hyman (2020-21) - M. Marner, A. Matthews, M. Rielly
RNH (2021-22) - L. Draisaitl, K. Yamamoto, C. Ceci
RNH (2020-21) - C. McDavid, D. Nurse, J. Puljujärvi
Josh Anderson (2021-22) - C. Dvorak, J. Drouin, J. Petry
Josh Anderson (2020-21) - N. Suzuki, J, Drouin, J. Petry

Quite a difference here.

Hyman has played with McDavid less than 25% of the time listed, try again.

Anderson had one decent year in Columbus (27 goals, 47 points), other than than he's never scored more than 30 points in a season! Montreal overpaid in the trade and then doubled down on the mistake by handing him a massive, unmovable contract. He's a cap dump.

Anderson is a good player. He does what kassian is supposed to be doing and is very valuable in the playoffs.

Sorry, forgot you pulled numbers from last year. Matthews and Marner doesn't change the point.