Josh Anderson's transaction: An insider reveals information that could change everything

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MarcO
February 4, 2023 (4:17 PM)

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The Montreal Canadiens organization should continue its rebuilding work in the coming weeks, as we are now less than a month away from the trade deadline.

If Kent Hughes' goal was to add a third first round pick for the next draft, the injuries to Sean Monahan and Joel Edmundson may have thwarted his plan.

One of the other members of the roster that is getting a lot of attention on the market is Josh Anderson. Many feel that this is a great time to take advantage of his value, which is reportedly very high.

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However, a trade involving the power forward by March 3rd is unlikely according to reputable tipster Darren Dreger. Dreger says that Anderson is not expected to go anywhere unless Hughes receives an offer that cannot be refused.

"Dreger on Insider Trading says Josh Anderson is NOT in play unless a team makes an offer Hughes simply can't refuse. In the past, Treliving and the Flames have expressed interest, but the Tricolore would rather keep him, he has a good long-term contract."

Let's just say that it changes the situation enormously where finally the Habs GM will not look to monetize his valuable assets to add interesting pieces for the rebuilding of his team.

This season, number 17 has 19 points so far, including 14 goals in 49 games. Since his arrival with the CH, he has an average of 0.44 points per game with his 75 points in 170 games. Let's face it, for a player who is commanding $5.5M per season for four more seasons, that's not a very attractive return.

Anderson will be 29 years old at the end of this season and unless he is an exceptional player, it is often close to 30 years old that an athlete enters a phase of regression in his performances. Let's not forget that he plays a robust style of play that has caused him many injuries since the beginning of his career.

The Habs already have to absorb the heavy contract of Brendan Gallagher who is no longer playing due to his injury history, the organization cannot afford to have two identical cases in the lineup.

Will Hughes receive an offer that is impossible to refuse? It's always a possibility, given that the playoff race is particularly tight this year.

It's also possible that this is a negotiating strategy to boost Anderson's trade offers, something that has been seen before in the NHL. Any way to boost trade offers is good, even talking to reporters.

This will be an issue to watch in the coming weeks.

Credit: HabsetLNH.com

Previously on HockeyLatest

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Commissioner Gary Bettman reveals some great news to Canadian fans

The best prospect of the 2022 draft is now known and it is not Juraj Slafkovsky

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4 FEVRIER \| 276 ANSWERS Josh Anderson's transaction: An insider reveals information that could change everything WOULD YOU TRADE JOSH ANDERSON FOR A FIRST ROUND PICK IN 2023?
Yes	172	62.3 %
No	104	37.7 %
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