According to TSN’s Chris Johnston, Montreal Canadiens’ defenseman Ben Chiarot is still at the top of the TSN Trade Bait board and expected to draw a lot of trade interest. A pending UFA on a team that has had an abysmal season, these are couple a couple of the reasons Chiarot will be a name to watch as the 2021-22 campaign rolls along.
Johnston notes:
“Well, let’s call this as it is. We are preposterously early on this because it’s not as though Ben Chiarot is being traded in the coming week or so. But, as we get closer to that trade deadline, he is going to be a very valuable commodity for the Montreal Canadiens.”
Johnston talked about how badly this season has gone for the Canadiens and that new management will be taking a close look at the roster and determining who fits moving forward, who doesn’t and what changes should be made. Part of that process will include seeing what players can be moved for a decent return and the prospect of getting a first-round pick (or more) for Chiarot is too attractive an option to pass up.
Because players like Josh Manson and/or Hampus Lindholm in Anaheim may not be available based on the surprisingly strong season the Ducks are having, it is not yet clear what other defensemen might be available at this deadline. Chiarot might be among the best of the bunch and that makes him an attractive asset for multiple teams. Like anything, when the supply is short but the demand is high, the price goes through the roof.
Johnston noted that when you compare Chiarot to a player like David Savard — who last year got the Columbus Blue Jackets a first and a third-round pick — the Canadiens think that that’s the kind of return Montreal can expect. Chiarot has a reasonable cap hit at $3.5 million and that shouldn’t be a concern for teams looking to fit him in under tighter salary cap restraints.
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