Habs linked to Oilers and Flames in trade talks

According to a report from Marco D'Amico of Montreal Hockey Now, Montreal Canadiens forward Josh Anderson could be on the trade block ahead of the NHL's trade deadline in March, and D'Amico sees both the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers as potential destinations for the big winger.

From D'Amico's latest column for Montreal Hockey Now:

This is not to say that Josh Anderson should be traded, which is up for debate.

It simply says that, given his resurgence in play and his value across the league, if a team steps with a monster offer the Montreal Canadiens simply cannot refuse, it could be a game-changer for the franchise.

The Canadiens could very well still hold on to Anderson and include him in the rebuilding process, but teams like the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers could present irresistible offers down the line that Hughes will have no choice but to consider.

- Marco D'Amico

Anderson has five goals and seven points in 18 games so far this season, having been mostly relegated to second and third line duty. He's a serviceable player who brings a lot of intangibles to the table, but the problem is that he's owed $5.5 million against the salary cap for the next four seasons beyond this season. As much as I like Anderson as a player, his type of game doesn't really age well and he's coming up on 30 years old pretty quickly here. 

He would certainly fit the mold of a player that the Oilers or Flames would be looking for, but I can't imagine that they would want to give up the necessary assets to acquire such a player. Between the two teams, I'm think that the Oilers would be most interested in Anderson as a temporary replacement for injured forward Evander Kane. Kane, of course, is out long-term after having his wrist sliced open by an accidental skate cute in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

So, while Anderson makes sense on paper, the dollars and cents of his acquisition simply don't add up. Unless, of course, the Oilers are looking to dump salary in a move.