The Montreal Canadiens' goal at the trade deadline is to continue the rebuilding process. Given the nature of the injuries to Sean Monahan and Joel Edmundson, who are not providing any information about a return to play, it seems increasingly complex that the two players could return in time to be traded by March 3rd. Kent Hughes has been clear about his desire to acquire a third first round pick and if Edmundson or Monahan cannot provide that return, it is very plausible that the GM will have to move another valuable piece of his roster right now. Among the players that are attracting a lot of attention in the NHL, there is certainly Josh Anderson. According to TVA Sports, the file of Josh Anderson is becoming more and more active. <q>Three teams in the thick of the derby for Josh Anderson, David Savard's name also circulates. - TVA Sports</q> Analyst and former Habs player Maxim Lapierre actually had this to say about Anderson: <q>I know there are mixed opinions on him. On one hand, I wonder if the low stats in the last 25 games affect his value. On the other side, I wonder if we really need this player. He's a guy who is big, skates, has a good shot and is capable of scoring goals. What is Josh Anderson's true value? I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is. I think he's a guy that's going to be like that his whole career. - Max Lapierre, The Blue Pocket</q> Right now, and given that Hughes has already turned down an offer for a first round pick last summer, all indications are that Josh Anderson's value would be huge. A power forward like this, who is signed long-term, can score goals and bring toughness in the playoffs, would be worth a lot right now on the market. <q>If we can trade him and go get something in return, I'm not just talking about a pick, I'm talking about a good, established NHL kid in addition to a pick. I think we've already turned down a first round pick for him in the last few months. We can go for more. - Max Lapierre</q> The 614-game NHL veteran has even made an offer: <q>The way I see it, it's heading to New Jersey, Calgary or Edmonton. You get to Edmonton and they give you a bad contract like Jesse Puljujarvi plus a defenseman who doesn't play much and makes two or three million, it's going to be a good deal for both sides. It's important to get draft picks right now. - Max Lapierre</q> In all honesty, I'm completely of the same mind as Lapierre. If the Habs have the opportunity to get their hands on a 2023 first round pick, a decent prospect and a contract to sell off in return, like a Puljujarvi, Hughes should definitely jump on it. An additional top-32 pick in the upcoming auction, even if it's between 20th and 32nd, could be a major coup for the long-term good of the organization. This draft is loaded with talent and if the Tricolore scouts have done their job right, the organization could get their hands on a gem, even late in the first round. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/TVASports/status/1623028558791643155?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1623028558791643155%7Ctwgr%5Eca560440781c2b49b022ea24c7781aaef68e2b7e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rumeursdetransaction.com%2FDeveloppement-majeur-dans-le-dossier-Josh-Anderson-206937'> </a></blockquote></div> Credit: <a href='https://www.habsetlnh.com/equipe-lnh/canadiens-de-montreal/Developpement-concernant-un-possible-echange-impliquant-Josh-Anderson-et-le-nom-de-David-Savard-serait-potentiellement-en-jeu' class='link_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>HabsetLNH.com</a>