It feels like the NHL Trade Deadline is here, but it is not. With the NHL Holiday Freeze happening on December 19th, the Montreal Canadiens get in on the action by trading defenseman Alexandre Carrier from the Nashville Predators for defenseman Justin Barron.
The Canadiens have acquired defenseman Alexandre Carrier from the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Justin Barron.
News release ↓ #GoHabsGohttps://t.co/eQ8yMQDwUp
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 19, 2024
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The Canadiens were looking to fill a need on the right side of their defense. Carrier fits the mould with three years left on his deal at $3.75 million; he brings a veteran presence to a team with many young defensemen.
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Montreal Canadiens acquire Alex Carrier from Nashville #gohabsgo #smashville @DcalabrettaTFP pic.twitter.com/Au2HzvRUBg
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) December 19, 2024
Carrier just signed a three-year extension with the Nashville Predators and had been the subject of trade talks going back to the last deadline season. Marc D’Amico of RG Media reported that the Canadiens wanted to add on the right side of their defense.
Montreal has that in Carrier. They also get a player with so much potential that might have been underutilized with the Predators.
Alex Carrier, acquired by MTL, is a top-four defensive defenceman. I’ve been a fan for a few years but he’s having a tough season in a difficult role. At his best he plays an effective disruptive defensive game despite his small size and contributes a bit offensively. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/B6iYAQdFe8
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) December 19, 2024
Alexandre Carrier has 69 points (11 goals and 58 assists) in 245 regular season games with the Predators.
Carrier is 28, shoots right and is in Year 1 of a three-year deal with a $3.75M cap hit. An obvious need filled, while trading a young player who hasn’t proven overly dependable in his time with Montreal. https://t.co/Qy6CNY9HWP
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) December 19, 2024
Meanwhile, the Canadiens can move out a player who has been unable to find his way. Remember, the Canadiens got Justin Barron in a package when they traded Artruri Lehkonen to the Colorado Avalanche.
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The Canadiens hoped to find a young defenseman to grow with the team. Unfortunately, others like Lane Hutson and Arber Xhekaj have passed him by. Barron had just signed a two-year, $2.3 million contract with an AAV of $1.51 million.
Canadiens pick up their experienced right-handed defenceman.
Justin Barron couldn’t find his footing in Montreal, and likely gets a fresh start with Nashville. https://t.co/nbzXSmomRw
— Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) December 19, 2024
Many wonder why Predators GM would trade away Carrier, whom he just signed an extension for Barron.
I need to meditate on Barry Trotz choosing not to trade Alexandre Carrier last deadline, signing him to a 3-year extension and then trading him for a 23-year-old that may not become anything close to Alexandre Carrier as an NHL defenseman…
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) December 19, 2024
However, the Predators do have a history of developing defenseman that have untapped potential.
From the Preds’ perspective, they’ve been successful developing young D and see upside in Barron. He’s younger, bigger and less expensive. https://t.co/0jaHkbC3tn
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 19, 2024
Trotz continues to reshape the Predators even after a win. Remember he put Dante Fabbro on waivers. He said if things did not turn around, he would get the young players a chance to play. He might not be done as they are looking for a second lien center.
The Canadiens get ahead of the game. Don’t forget the Montreal Canadiens have players like David Savard, Christian Dvorak, Jake Evans, and Mike Matheson; teams will covet moving forward.