Josh Anderson and Alex Carrier highlight tricky contract puzzle for Canadiens

Montreal’s 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs to open the season gave Martin St. Louis a result he welcomed, even if he wasn’t thrilled with every detail of the performance. What the Canadiens’ coach did like, beyond what he called an “excellent” night from goaltender Jakub Dobes, was how his depth players drove the win. At the front of that group were Josh Anderson and Alex Carrier, who each finished with a goal and an assist while underlining their importance to the roster.

Depth pieces set the tone in opening win

Anderson’s impact stretched well beyond the scoresheet. He generated multiple shots, delivered several hits and was a key part of a penalty kill that started the year with a spotless outing after its off-season overhaul. St. Louis said Anderson "played to his DNA," a description that fits Carrier as well, even though their styles couldn’t be more different.

Anderson brings size and power on the wing, thriving when the game turns physical. Carrier, a smaller right-shot defenceman, often absorbs that physicality yet remains steady and efficient. Both are experienced depth players who know exactly what they are, play with visible emotion and end up in the middle of games that matter for the Canadiens. Their performance in Toronto was simply the latest reminder of that.

Their tie to Montreal is also strong. Carrier, a Quebec City native acquired from the Nashville Predators in 2024, called playing for the Canadiens a childhood dream when he arrived. Anderson grew up in Burlington, Ont., in a family of devoted Canadiens fans, has ridden the team’s highs and lows since his 2020 trade from Columbus and recently took on an alternate captain role. He has spoken openly about his connection to the city, saying he "really do[es] see" himself staying in Montreal.

Free agency leverage versus Canadiens’ cap plan

All of this is happening as both players move through the final year of their deals. Anderson is in Year 7 of a contract that carries a $5.5-million average annual value and will hit unrestricted free agency at age 33. With the salary cap rising dramatically year over year, a power forward with his profile could attract significant money and term on the open market. Carrier is coming off a three-year deal at $3.75 million per season and will reach free agency at 30, also at an ideal moment to secure his long-term future.

For general manager Kent Hughes, the decisions ahead are delicate. He has constructed a core mostly between ages 20 and 28 and used careful cap management to push the Canadiens to the verge of a wide contention window. There is room to spend, but not necessarily enough to match what other clubs might offer a veteran winger with heavy mileage or a dependable second-pair defenceman on a longer deal.

A shorter, higher-paying extension in Montreal could make sense, particularly for Anderson, who has emphasized playing on a strong team and suggested he wants to be part of what the Canadiens are building. Still, until a pen hits paper, the lure of four or five years of security elsewhere will remain difficult to ignore for both players.

Blue-line depth adds another wrinkle for Carrier

The situation is even more complicated with Carrier because of Montreal’s defensive pipeline. His right-handed shot gives him an edge, but the Canadiens already see right-shooting prospects David Reinbacher and Bryce Pickford emerging. Neither has proven as reliable at the NHL level as Carrier to this point, yet their presence likely limits how far the team is willing to go on term.

For now, Anderson and Carrier have only one game in the books, but they were among Montreal’s most effective skaters in Toronto. If they stay healthy and continue to perform at that level, their future with the Canadiens will become a more pressing storyline with every passing week of the season.