Hockey Analyst Suggests Blockbuster Trade Between the Canadiens and the Flames Eyeing Jonathan Huberdeau

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Daniel Lucente
November 1, 2024 (12:53)

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An NHL analyst has revealed that the Montreal Canadiens potentially have an interest in Calgary Flames' Jonathan Huberdeau, and a deal could be discussed shortly.

Well, it looks like a hockey debate is being stirred by no other than hockey analyst Jean-Charles Lajoie who is no stranger to having strong opinions. Upon appearing on TVA Sports and the 'Journal de Montreal', Lajoie stated that a bold trade, the swapping of Jonathan Huberdeau for Brendan Gallagher, would be well worth making.

This gets one to think about how well each player might fit with his new team and how it benefits both the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames.

"Why not take advantage of the situation to try and get Jonathan Huberdeau? I know, I know, Jo makes $10.5 million this season, and he'll keep making that for the next seven seasons until he's 38."

Jonathan Huberdeau could be a shining star for the Canadiens. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound highly skilled forward was born in Saint-Jerome, Quebec, just a few minutes away from Montreal, and can bring that much-needed creative and offensive flair that the Canadiens badly need in Montreal. The high-scoring winger has consistently proved himself to be an elite playmaker in the league, tabbing 727 points in 841 career NHL games thus far.

That ability of Huberdeau to be a game-changer is evident by his career-best season in 2021-2022, where he recorded 115 points in 80 games. Even though his point production has waned since coming to Calgary, the vision, passing, and offensive instincts of Huberdeau promise a big boost to a young Canadiens roster in dire need of more depth in scoring. Plus, the fans having a start player so closely tied to the Montreal area gives that much more incentive to acquire him.

Brendan Gallagher would likely bring something different to the Calgary Flames, and this wouldn't be the first time his name comes up in trade discussions.

Known for a gritty, relentless style of play, Gallagher's heart and determination are his calling cards. He's the type of player who drives his teammates with body contact, leadership, and unrelenting motor skills. While he has seen injuries chip away at his production throughout the last couple of seasons, Gallagher's tenacity to play in those dirty areas could be that type of spark the Flames may need.

The veteran could complement the skilled forwards of Calgary and add balance to their attack, a net-front presence, and a guy who can draw penalties. For his career, Gallagher has 222 goals and 209 assists in 763 games, being a mainstay on the Canadiens since 2013.

But the logistics of such a trade will, of course, be vital. Salary cap considerations play a big role therein, and to make this trade realistic, the Flames may need to retain part of Huberdeau's substantial salary in a trade while taking on Gallagher's contract in return.

For instance, both teams would have to really consider the financial impact it would have. In addition, there would be some possible prospects or draft picks added within the deal in order to make things even and balance things out. Of course, this is left to individual speculations as to who or what else could be involved to make the deal mutually beneficial, but that's the fun part about trades.

A proposed Jonathan Huberdeau for Brendan Gallagher swap is intriguing and carries risk simultaneously. The fact that Huberdeau has offensive talent might provide that extra oomph to the Canadiens, while Gallagher's tenaciousness could help the Flames.

Whether such a trade will benefit both teams or carry with it unforeseen challenges remains the question on every fan's and analyst's mind. Until the dust settles, this proposed trade brings a nice storyline to the hockey world that both Flames and Canadiens fans will keep a close eye on.