Montreal Canadiens have reached a mutual agreement to trade experienced veteran forward Christian Dvorak. As the team prepares for the 2024-2025 season, which begins on October 9, this move is part of a larger effort by Canadiens’ management to fine-tune their roster.
General Manager Kent Hughes and Executive Vice President Jeff Gorton have been busy throughout the offseason, but with training camp underway, further adjustments were expected. According to reports from The Hockey News via Ryan Szporer, Dvorak was seen as a likely trade candidate, potentially clearing room for younger players to step up.
Szporer noted, “The trade for Patrik Laine has created a logjam at forward, which makes it ideal for Hughes to explore trading Christian Dvorak. It’s one of the few remaining offseason priorities, as the team looks to offload an excess forward and make space for emerging talent.”
Dvorak, 28, was acquired from the Arizona Coyotes in September 2021, but his tenure with the Canadiens has been marred by injuries, limiting him to 150 games over three seasons. Despite flashes of potential, his production has declined since joining Montreal, making him a prime candidate for a trade. With the 2024-2025 season marking the final year of his contract, Dvorak’s current market value makes this an opportune time for the Canadiens to move him.
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Some insiders suggest the ideal scenario for Montreal would be starting the season with Dvorak as a third-line center. If he performs at a level justifying his $4.45 million annual salary, he could potentially attract a high draft pick in return, either now or at the trade deadline.
There are even rumors circulating about a possible trade involving the Pittsburgh Penguins. Dave Jenkins proposed a five-piece deal that could see Dvorak heading to Pittsburgh, though the details remain speculative.
For now, the Canadiens have made their decision, moving forward by trading the 28-year-old veteran to better position themselves for the upcoming season.
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