Josh Anderson has been a part of trade rumors for multiple years; ever since the Canadiens made their run to the final, Anderson has been viewed as a valuable asset on a competitive team.
For Canadiens fans though, the relationship has started to sour. Andersons' cap hit of five and a half million dollars is not a cheap price for a player who is seen as flashy at best. The former Blue Jacket was acquired in October of 2020 by former Canadiens gm Marc Bergevin and was signed to a seven-by-seven.
Since signing with the Habs, Anderson has amassed 70 points in 160 games. He has scored 47 goals and is a -47. With a salary of seven million dollars, most fans would have expected much more.
Standing at 6'3 226 pounds, Josh Anderson fits the model of power forward perfectly. He's an extremely strong skater whose speed is his greatest asset; he is not a finesse player. His hands are good but not great, and his defensive play is not as good as you would want it to be.
The problem lies in the results of the eye test. Some nights Josh Anderson will be the most noticeable player on the ice, creating chances and chaos for his team. On other nights he will be worse than invisible; his highlight reel will consist of lost puck battles and missed defensive assignments.
At 28, Josh Anderson appears to be past his prime. He is performing even worse than last year. Last season he averaged .46 points per game, and this season, that number has sunk to .36. He is currently on pace for 29 points this year, which would be his lowest full-season total since his rookie year.
The Habs cannot let Anderson finish this career-low year in Montreal. Teams will still see value in Anderson even with this sample size of poor and unproductive play. If Anderson finishes this season with 82 games played and less than 30 points, he will no longer have any trade value.
Andersons' contract lasts until he is 33 years of age. For a power forward, the mid-thirties are the beginning of the end, if not simply the end. Look at Wayne Simmonds if you have any doubts. In four years, the Habs will not be able to afford to pay five and a half million dollars to a fourth liner. Andersons' contract has the potential to be a team crippler.
A fire sale is the most logical course of action. If the Canadiens can package a duo or trio of players for a single first-round pick, it would be a massive win for the organization.
The Canadiens have assets to spare in forward and on defense. Players like Joel Armia and Mike Hoffman still have value as role players on competitive teams, and the Habs have cap space to retain salary.
Currently, the Habs have a large number of veterans on expiring contracts. Multiple teams have expressed interest in Joel Edmundson, and names like Hoffman and Monahan still hold weight. Ideally, Monahan will be able to stay with the team but looking toward the future needs to be the main focus.
A team like the Edmonton Oilers should be Hughes' first choice. A package of Edmundson and Anderson with salary retained should be something Ken Holland wants to see come deadline day. A gritty, physical forward and a good defensive defenseman are what the Oilers need to take the next step (I'm not sure whether Anderson and Edmundson are the best options but they are the ones relevant to the Habs).
Unfortunately, the Oilers have less than a million dollars in cap space, and their books are a complete mess, filled with buyouts and incoming extensions.
The only sure things are that Josh Anderson needs to be moved ASAP and that Hughes' has his work cut out for him if he is going to succeed.
Go Habs Go
The Beer League Benchwarmer
Will Shoukri
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