Evaluating the Canadiens' trade deadline chips

After trading Tyler Toffoli to the Calgary Flames on Monday, it appears the last-place Montreal Canadiens are open for business. New general manager Kent Hughes hasn't said the team will enter a full-on rebuild, but dealing Toffoli, who quickly became a fan favorite upon his arrival last season and had two additional years remaining on his contract, means very few players should feel safe. A fire sale shouldn't be out of the question.

The Habs are just one season removed from appearing in the Stanley Cup Final. And while the club lacks star power, it possesses several players who could serve as vital supporting cast members on contending teams.

Below, we evaluate all the notable players Montreal may be willing to trade and offer our prediction on the likelihood of a deal getting done before the March 21 deadline.

Rentals

Ben Chiarot

Age: 30
Position: LD
Cap hit: $3.5M
Expires: 2022

Among players who are surefire locks to be dealt, Chiarot is Montreal's biggest trade piece. Big, physical defensemen who log top-four minutes are always hot commodities at the deadline. Chiarot will be no different, even if his underlying numbers are suspect.

Chance of deadline deal: ★★★★★

Brett Kulak

Age: 28
Position: LD
Cap hit: $1.85M
Expires: 2022

Contending clubs are typically willing to pay big for defensemen at the deadline, so it would only make sense for the Canadiens to dangle Kulak in talks. He isn't the most exciting player, but he certainly gets the job done. Also, playoff teams can never have too many blue-liners.

Chance of deadline deal: ★★★★☆

Artturi Lehkonen

Age: 26
Position: LW/RW
Cap hit: $2.3M
Expires: 2022 (RFA)

Montreal doesn't need to trade Lehkonen since he's a pending restricted free agent, but the speedy two-way winger is an attractive bottom-six option for contenders. Teams could view him as a Barclay Goodrow-type piece. The 28-year-old helped put the Tampa Bay Lightning over the top in their Stanley Cup runs.

Chance of deadline deal: ★★★★☆

Tyler Pitlick

Age: 30
Position: RW
Cap hit: $1.75M
Expires: 2022

Pitlick hasn't done much of anything this season, and he likely won't garner much attention on the trade market. His cap hit doesn't match his current production, but he's proven in the past that he can be a useful bottom-six forward. Perhaps a team tosses over a late-round pick just for the depth.

Chance of deadline deal: ★★☆☆☆

Chris Wideman

Age: 32
Position: RD
Cap hit: $750K
Expires: 2022

Wideman doesn't possess the prototypical size and grit that playoff teams seek in depth defensemen. Still, a contender could snatch him up as a seventh or eighth blue-liner as insurance.

Chance of deadline deal: ★★★★☆

Cost-effective players with term

Jake Allen

Age: 31
Position: G
Cap hit: $2.875M
Expires: 2023

There are only a couple of teams vying for the playoffs that could be in the market for a goalie - mainly the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights. If Allen gets back to full health, he could be a hot commodity if the demand exists.

Chance of deadline deal: ★★☆☆☆

Joel Armia

Age: 28
Position: RW/LW
Cap hit: $3.4M
Expires: 2025

Armia is having a nightmare season (who on Montreal isn't?), but he's shown 20-goal potential in the past and is a big body at 6-foot-4. The Habs may not want to sell low, though.

Chance of deadline deal: ★★☆☆☆

Paul Byron

Age: 32
Position: LW/RW
Cap hit: $3.4M
Expires: 2023

Byron's contract is a bit rich for a bottom-six winger who has struggled to stay on the ice over the last few seasons. However, Byron uses his speed to play an effective energy role when healthy. The Habs will likely need to retain at least half of his salary if they hope to get anything in return.

Chance of deadline deal: ★★★☆☆

Jonathan Drouin

Age: 26
Position: LW/RW/C
Cap hit: $5.5M
Expires: 2023

Drouin has proven to be an effective player when he's in the lineup. There's no doubt he has the raw skill to be one of the better players in the NHL, and yet another change of scenery could be what he needs to really put it all together. His contract is a little pricey but ultimately fair, and with the added year, he could potentially fetch a good return.

Chance of deadline deal: ★★☆☆☆

Christian Dvorak

Age: 26
Position: C
Cap hit: $4.45M
Expires: 2025

The Habs surrendered a first- and second-round pick for Dvorak this past offseason to help fill the void down the middle left by the departures of Phillip Danault and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The move hasn't gone quite as planned, but two-way centers on affordable contracts are always in high demand. It's possible the Canadiens recoup a similar return they gave up if they're willing to move Dvorak.

Chance of deadline deal: ★★☆☆☆

Joel Edmundson

Age: 28
Position: LD
Cap hit: $3.5M
Expires: 2024

Edmundson has yet to suit up in a game this season, and his return doesn't appear to be imminent, so there's almost no chance a team will gamble on adding him at the deadline. A move in the offseason is much more likely and should net the Habs a good return.

Chance of deadline deal: ☆☆☆☆☆

Long-term gambles

Josh Anderson

Age: 27
Position: RW
Cap hit: $5.5M
Expires: 2027

Hulking power forwards like Anderson are few and far between in the NHL. Although he's underperformed his cap hit from a point-production standpoint, there will likely be no shortage of suitors if he's made available. Still, given the long-term commitment, it feels like more of an offseason trade, if he gets dealt at all.

Chance of deadline deal: ★☆☆☆☆

Brendan Gallagher

Age: 29
Position: RW
Cap hit: $6.5M
Expires: 2027

Gallagher is one of the most interesting trade chips in Montreal's arsenal. Every team in the league would kill to have a player like him in their lineup, but his contract will most likely be tough to swallow as the years go on. He's been the Habs' heart and soul for the last decade, but it wouldn't be all that surprising to see Gallagher get moved this summer if the two sides can mutually find a good landing spot for him.

Chance of deadline deal: ☆☆☆☆☆

Mike Hoffman

Age: 32
Position: LW/RW
Cap hit: $4.5M
Expires: 2024

Hoffman has a bullet of a shot, but not a whole lot else. Most of his production comes on the power play, and he's a defensive liability. The Habs will likely have to retain a portion of his salary to get anything in return.

Chance of deadline deal: ★☆☆☆☆

Jeff Petry

Age: 34
Position: RD
Cap hit: $6.25M
Expires: 2025

Petry's having an awful season by almost every metric, but it's fair to give him the benefit of the doubt that he's simply in some sort of a rut and not a complete downward spiral. He's been one of the league's top two-way defensemen over the last few seasons, and his cap hit is a great deal if he performs as per usual. It's a tough contract to move during the season, and teams might want to play it safe as an immediate bounce back isn't guaranteed. Still, Montreal has made it clear he's available, so there's a slight chance a team pays up.

Chance of deadline deal: ★★☆☆☆

Carey Price

Age: 34
Position: G
Cap hit: $10.5M
Expires: 2026

The Seattle Kraken could've had Price in the expansion draft without giving up anything, and they passed. If Price ever gets dealt, it'll almost certainly be an offseason move with the Habs retaining a significant portion of his cap hit. The fact he's missed all season with a knee injury adds to the improbability of an in-season trade.

Chance of deadline deal: ☆☆☆☆☆

David Savard

Age: 31
Position: RD
Cap hit: $3.5M
Expires: 2025

As previously mentioned, contending teams always covet veteran defensemen, but Savard's term will work against him for an in-season deal. His cap hit is manageable, and he proved to be a key addition to the Lightning at last year's deadline. However, guys like Chiarot and Kulak will surely be the primary targets teams focus on when calling the Canadiens for blue-liners this season.

Chance of deadline deal: ★★☆☆☆