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The New Jersey Devils have only a handful of prospects they can trade at the deadline, but one who stands out is Xavier Parent. The forward is having a great season for the Utica Comets, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Devils, and he’s one of the skaters teams can look at and see his upside.
Related: Devils Have 4 AHL Comets to Watch Ahead of 2025 Trade Deadline
The Montreal Canadiens meanwhile might be sellers at the trade deadline. Yes, they are only a few points out of a wild card spot, but considering the number of teams they’ll need to leapfrog in the Eastern Conference, they might look to further strengthen an already great rebuild. It’s why they can put Brendan Gallagher on the trade block and flip him for a prospect like Parent.
Why the Canadiens Would Want Parent
Parent is one of the smaller skaters in the AHL and would be dwarfed at the NHL level. At 5-foot-8 and weighing only 170 pounds, he relies solely on his speed and skill to make an impact. That’s what the Comets are seeing firsthand as he has 11 goals and 13 assists, including the game-winner against the Bridgeport Islanders on Feb. 22, while proving he can be a reliable depth scorer.
The Canadiens have plenty of firepower and core players in their top six already. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky are the players leading this team back to contention. The question is where the scoring depth is going to come from, especially with a lot of the bottom six forwards in their 30s and on the decline. Adding Parent would provide a young scoring presence to the bottom six and round out the Canadiens roster.
Why Gallagher to the Devils Makes Sense
The Devils are a great team and will be in the playoffs by the end of the season despite their latest struggles, which include a 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Feb. 22. That said, they have glaring needs that will prevent them from making a deep playoff run. One of their big issues is the bottom six, specifically, they lack depth scoring. This offseason, they added physicality to the forward unit but now, they don’t have a lot of offense after the top two lines.
Gallagher is 32 years old but fills that need. He has 15 goals this season and has consistently added scoring to the later lines. He can slide into the Devils’ third line and take the offense, which has underwhelmed this season, up a notch. Better yet, Gallagher is not a rental, so the Devils can keep him on the roster for a Cup run this season and next season as well.
For Parent, the Homecoming Is a Bonus
Parent grew up in Laval, Quebec and unlike most AHL players, he was undrafted. Instead, he spent most of his years developing in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) before the Devils finally took a chance on him. After an impressive first season in the AHL, the Devils made him a key part of the Comets roster, and he’s taken the opportunity and proven he can play at the pro level. A trade to the Canadiens would allow him to play for his hometown team and one he grew up hoping to play for.
Where Both Teams Would Hesitate on the Deal
If the Canadiens are going to trade Gallagher, they might ask for more than just Parent. There’s no guarantee the 23-year-old will make it to the NHL and even if he does, he’ll most likely be a depth skater. He’s on an AHL contract but if the Canadiens acquire him, they’d have to sign him to an NHL deal, something that’s not a given considering his trajectory. It’s why they might ask for another prospect from the Devils’ system along with Parent.
The Devils meanwhile might want to look elsewhere if they want to upgrade the bottom six. Gallagher is a scorer, but if the Devils want to make a big move, they might look to make a bigger trade to get a skater who will play in the bottom six but has the capability of moving up to the top six if needed. It also doesn’t help that Gallagher has a high cap hit and the team would have to move some players around to fit him into the lineup.
On top of that, Parent is one of the prospects they might keep to play a bottom-six role considering his ability to create offense. A Gallagher for Parent trade doesn’t favor either side and isn’t a blockbuster trade. That’s why it’s one to watch and could happen at the trade deadline. If you think one team benefits from this deal, let us know in the comments section below!
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