How a Flames and Canadiens deal helps both teams this offseason
All options seem to be on the table for what the Montreal Canadiens are able to do with restricted free agent Arber Xhekaj. It feels like they want him back, but also recognize that there may not be a spot on the roster, unless they decide to trade someone like Jayden Struble or Alexandre Carrier.
If they are not able to reach an agreement on a new deal, then trading him could be another direction they go. The Philadelphia Flyers have been a popular team as a potential landing spot for Xhekaj, and recently, another team has emerged.
According to Herb Zurkowsky of The Montreal Gazette, the Flyers and Calgary Flames had interest in Xhekaj at the trade deadline, and that interest has continued through the offseason. If that is true, and the Canadiens decide their only option is to trade him, the Flames could be a perfect trade partner that Montreal could address a major roster need in the process.
Morgan Frost would be the ideal trade target for the Montreal Canadiens
It is no secret that the second-line center is a major concern for the Canadiens, but they find themselves in an interesting position as they don’t necessarily need a long-term answer there. The general thought is that once Michael Hage signs his entry-level contract, he will be jumping right to the NHL and could fill that need.
The expectation is that this will happen at the latest sometime towards the end of the regular season, once Michigan’s season is over. That means the Canadiens need a short-term solution and Morgan Frost might be the perfect answer.
Last season, Frost played in all 82 games and set a career-high in goals with 22, along with 21 assists while also having a career best in faceoff win percentage at 56.8%.
He is now entering the final year of his contract and is rumored to be available for the right price. It makes too much sense from both teams’ perspective to get a deal done with the Flames rumored to be interested in Xhekaj and the Canadiens needing a center.
Now the value doesn’t line up exactly for a player-for-player swap, but the Canadiens could add in a mid-round pick that should be enough to get the trade across the finish line.
The reason this makes sense for the Canadiens is that Frost is entering the final year of his contract, so there is no long-term commitment. They could even trade him at the trade deadline to recoup some of that value and free up that spot for Hage if they believe he can immediately step into that Top 6 role.
If the Flames still have interest in Xhekaj and Morgan Frost is really available, this might be the best solution for the Montreal Canadiens at this point in the offseason.
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