Contending teams calling Canadiens regarding pending UFA Ben Chiarot

The Montreal Canadiens lost yet again on Thursday night, this time at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche by a score of 4-1. It's hard to imagine this team going on a miraculous run to a playoff spot, and it's more likely that they'll sell off any pending UFA's they have leading up to the trade deadline.

During Thursday's edition of Insider Trading on TSN, Pierre LeBrun mentioned that contending teams have called the Montreal Canadiens in regards to defenceman Ben Chiarot, and he believes that the Habs could get a first-round pick in return.

"Ben Chiarot is a player who's high up on some trade boards now. It's way early, remember, the trade deadline isn't until March 21 but the Habs are obviously out of playoff contention already. And so Ben Chiarot, who is a pending unrestricted free agent, I spoke with a few contending teams today who value him greatly and here's a guy who can absolutely fetch a first-round pick given the dearth of rental defencemen available. He was terrific during the Habs' playoff run to the Stanley Cup Final last year," LeBrun said.

He added, "Now, we have to wait and see what Jeff Gorton, who has just got the job this week, is going to do with this Canadiens roster. But contending teams I spoke with are acting as if Ben Chiarot will be available between now and the 21st. He has a 10-team no-trade list. It's a 'no' list. That list was submitted last summer. Certainly it's not out of the question they try and re-sign him, but he's probably going to be dealt before the 21st."

Chiarot, 30, has arguably been Montreal's most consistent defenceman throughout the 2021-22 season. In 25 games, the Hamilton, Ontario native has six points (five goals, one assist), twenty penalty minutes, and is a minus-five.

Source: Pierre LeBrun - Insider Trading.

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