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The UFA Conundrum Written by Red Fisher - January 10th, 2022

There are rumblings that some of Montreal’s pending unrestricted free agents might be made available depending on where the team sits in the standings near the trade deadline.

The Montreal Canadiens currently sit in second place in the jampacked Eastern Conference thanks to a great top line of Connor McDavid, Kailer Yamamoto and Jaden Schwartz.  They also have the dynamic Tyson Barrie chipping in at nearly a point a game pace.  While Cory Schneider has platooned with Laurent Brossoit to give the Habs steady goaltending.  All this being said, it was a bit of a shock what was broadcast to a national audience on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday.

During a recent edition of Insider Trading on TSN, Pierre LeBrun mentioned that Montreal might be willing to move some or all of those players at the trade deadline. 

"Jaden Schwartz and Tyson Barrie are players who aren’t high up on trade boards now.  That says more about where the Canadiens currently sit, than that there’s no interest in those players.  If the Habs were down the standings aways, most assuredly other teams would be calling for Schwartz and Barrie especially, but Cory Schneider as well.  GM Ron Jones is said to be concerned about the prospect cupboards being fairly bare and losing all four players for nothing would seemingly be a lost opportunity.  Jaden Schwartz, is a quick, offensively-inclined forward who is able to produce in offensive situations. I spoke with a few contending teams today who value him greatly and here's a guy who can absolutely fetch a ton if he becomes available.  While the dearth of rental defencemen available and how good Barrie has been this season means the market could be brisk for him as well.  Ask yourself, what adding Schwartz and or Barrie would do for a contender wanting to go for a long playoff run," LeBrun said.

He added, "Now, we have to wait and see what Ron Jones, who has just got the job this month, is going to do with this Canadiens roster. But contending teams I spoke with are acting as if those players will NOT be available between now and the deadline. Certainly, it's not out of the question they try and re-sign all four of those guys, but Montreal might try to play kingmaker."

It will be really interesting to see what the team will do between now and the deadline.  Adding to what Pierre had said, we also asked our sources in the organization and right now they don’t expect anything big to happen.  But things can change quickly in a conference that sees a difference of only five points between first and out of the playoffs.

Jaden Schwartz, 29, has really gelled on a line with Connor McDavid throughout the 2021-22 season. In 22 games, the Wilcox, Saskatchewan native has 22 points (11 goals & 11 assists), zero penalty minutes, and is a plus-nine.

Tyson Barrie, 30, has arguably been Montreal's most consistent defenceman throughout the 2021-22 season. In 22 games, the Victoria, BC native has 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists), and is a plus-13.

Cory Schneider,35, has been a stabilizing presence in net. In 11 games, the Marblehead, MA native has six wins and only two out right losses. He also has a solid Sv% of .906 and 2.86 GAA.

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