Will the Montreal Canadiens Shop Josh Anderson?

Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes said Josh Anderson isn't available to trade. But media speculation suggests a great offer could change his mind.

Leading up to last year's trade deadline, Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes shipped out key veterans such as Tyler Toffoli, Artturi Lehkonen and Ben Chiarot to bring in promising young assets for his rebuilding club. With the March 3 trade deadline on the horizon, there's speculation he could do the same with Josh Anderson.

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Anderson, 28, is on a long-term contract with a $5.5 million salary cap hit. The 6-foot-3, 218-pound right winger is a solid power forward who is reportedly drawing attention in the trade market.

During the Feb. 2 edition of TSN's “Insider Trading”, Darren Dreger said the Canadiens are receiving calls about Anderson, adding that Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving had previously expressed interest. However, he said the winger isn't available because the Habs like his contract and style of play.

Dreger believes the only way Hughes trades Anderson is if he gets an offer too good to refuse. Sportsnet's Eric Engels shared that view on Feb. 5 when replying to a reader's question about the big winger's trade status.

While Hughes may not be actively shopping Anderson, Engels doesn't consider him among the Canadiens' untouchable players. He felt the Habs GM could part with the winger for the right price, suggesting a 2023 first-rounder, a good prospect and a player on an expiring contract could prove too good to pass up. The Canadiens also wouldn't retain Anderson's salary in that deal.

Engels also mused over the possibility of using Anderson as a trade chip to land a player to accelerate the Canadiens' rebuild. He suggested using him as the centerpiece of a package offer for Pierre-Luc Dubois this summer if the 25-year-old center decides against signing a long-term deal with the Winnipeg Jets.