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Canadian Team Looking To Weaponize Cap Space In A Future Three Team Trade


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Tyler Ball
January 5, 2024  (5:04 PM)
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Montreal Canadiens celebrating as a team after winning a home game in the Bell Centre.
Photo credit: Sportsnet

A recent transaction has lead sources around the league to believe one team could be the perfect candidate to be involved in a three-team trade this season.

Canadian Team Uses Injury Problems To Create Cap Space

This season the Montreal Canadiens have dealt with major injury issues. The latest in their string of major injuries occurred with Christian Dvorak. Dvorak has been placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve with a torn pectoral muscle.
This injury is devastating for the current lineup in Montreal. However, for the long-term plans in Montreal, it could actually be quite a helpful transaction to place him on LTIR. The transaction creates over 4 million in Cap Space. According to an insider this space could be used to make a major move.

Canadiens Looking To Weaponize Cap Space

A new report from NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period indicates the Canadiens already have a preferred plan on how to use their cap space. Pagnotta believes they will play trade broker and try to take on salary as a third-party facilitator.
«The Montreal Canadiens, already active in the trade market with the likes of Jake Allen and David Savard available, announced this morning that forward Christian Dvorak will undergo surgery tomorrow on a torn pectoral muscle and will miss the rest of the season. That could potentially free up an extra $4.15M in extra LTIR cap pace, and we all know the Habs aren't against weaponizing their cap space as a third-party facilitator.»

This is something that the Canadiens have done in the past during other seasons. If they believe they cannot add pieces that will help them get back in contention then using the space to add draft picks for the future is the next best use.

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