While it took a while to be announced, the Habs did get one more trade done before the trade deadline, sending Nick Cousins to Vegas for a 2021 fourth-round pick.
Cousins signed with the Habs as an unrestricted free agent after the Coyotes declined to tender him a qualifying offer last summer due to his salary arbitration eligibility. (It’s quite possible that Montreal would have had similar reservations about him this summer where he’s once again a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.)
While the 26-year-old has had more power play time than anyone would have liked, he has had a decent season with Montreal, collecting nine goals and 13 assists in 58 games. He has moved back and forth between the third and fourth lines and is averaging 13:28 per game which is a pretty good return on the $1 million that the Canadiens gave him on the open market.
Montreal now has ten picks already for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft on top of the 14 they already have for the draft in June that they’re hosting.
In other news today, the Habs recalled Jake Evans from Laval and made the move after the trade deadline which means that he remains eligible to play with the Rocket but will count against Montreal’s post-deadline transaction limit. Karl Alzner was also sent down but has been recalled, presumably once again on an emergency basis. Considering how many players they’ve dealt without getting anyone back, there may be more recalls to follow.
