Massive Three-Team Trade Looming Between the Canadiens Canucks and Capitals

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Aaron
December 20, 2023 (7:21 PM)

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The NHL trade market is heating up as we approach January and the playoff picture becomes clearer.

Journalist Elliotte Friedman has just reported a significant development, indicating that the end may be near between Andrei Kuzmenko and the Vancouver Canucks. Kuzmenko has been scratched from the lineup several times this month and has also been demoted to the fourth line, despite scoring 74 points in 81 games last season (39 goals). He still has 17 points in 29 games this season.

"I think Washington is a team that has looked at Kuzmenko, but I just don't see a trade possibility with them, it's not like the Canucks are going to take Anthony Mantha" - Friedman

Essentially, the Capitals want Kuzmenko, the Canucks want to trade him, but for a deal to happen, Washington would need to give up Anthony Mantha for salary reasons. (and Vancouver doesn't have the space for that)

This is where the Montreal Canadiens could come into play, as Kent Hughes has done in the past.

"No (the Canucks can't take Mantha), but the Montreal Canadiens could. He has an expiring contract this summer at 5.7 million. I would absolutely absorb his contract to add more assets." - Costa Rontzocos

This is a very good point.

The trade would look like this:

TO MONTREAL:
- Anthony Mantha, for this season only
- A 1st or 2nd round pick

TO VANCOUVER:
- A pick/a prospect

TO WASHINGTON:
- Andrei Kuzmenko

Personally, we would definitely do it! What about you?