Montreal Victoire acquire F Kaitlin Willoughby from Toronto for D Anna Kjellbin

The Montreal Victoire have made their second trade in franchise history at the PWHL Trade Deadline by acquiring forward Kaitlin Willoughby from the Toronto Sceptres in exchange for defender Anna Kjellbin, according to several reports and sources.

Willoughby, 29, has no points in 20 games this season for Toronto. She had one assist last season for the team in 23 games. She has often been a fourth line or 13th forward in her time with the team. She was a free agent acquisition after going through the 2023 Draft without being picked.

The Prince Albert, SK native has played five years professionally after graduating from the University of Saskatchewan in the CWHL with the Calgary Inferno and in the PWHPA. She will add depth and experience to Montreal’s forward group as they look for the right fit in their bottom three lines.

Kjellbin, 30, had one assist in 18 games this season and is her first in the PWHL. She was drafted in the sixth round, 35th overall by the Victoire in the 2024 PWHL Draft. Kjellbin was often used as a seventh defender in her time with Montreal.

This is a reversal from last trade deadline, when they badly needed depth on defence and traded Tereza Vanišová for Amanda Boulier. They had eight healthy defenders on the roster, plus two reserve defenders. Adding Willoughby adds a 13th forward to the roster, plus Alexandra Labelle on Long Term Injured Reserve, and Gabrielle David as a reserve player.

Montreal’s next game is Wednesday, March 19 on the road against the Boston Fleet.

Montreal Canadiens Face Decision With Veteran Forward

The Montreal Canadiens locked in Jake Evans, one of their free agents, last week. They inked the forward to a four-year, 2.8 million dollar deal which is a bargain. They now face another big decision with his linemate Joel Armia. The veteran forward has been with the Canadiens since 2018. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent and the team needs to decide whether bringing the 31-year-old back is in their best interest. While UFAs like David Savard and Christian Dvorak will likely hit the market, Armia is a more intriguing player for the Canadiens to hold on to. Montreal opted to keep him past the deadline, but will they resign Joel Armia beyond this season?

Montreal Canadiens Joel Armia

Joel Armia’s value

Armia’s play this season alongside Jake Evans has increased his stock, both for the team and on the open market. It was rumoured that the Canadiens were offered a second rounder in exchange for his services. Kent Hughes’ reluctance to trade him at that price is a testament to how much he is valued within the organization. Armia has registered eleven goals and 25 points, which ranks seventh on the Canadiens. However, he is also one of the league’s most efficient penalty killers.

With Jake Evans receiving just under three million, Armia could easily fetch this price as well, potentially closer to four million on the open market. However, if he wants to stay in Montreal, it will have to be on a team-friendly deal much like Evans. Even if Armia agrees to take a pay cut to remain a Canadien, other factors could prevent his return.

Young players poised to make Canadiens

The Canadiens have one of the NHL’s best group of young players. Many of these prospects are now ready to graduate to the NHL level. We have seen Owen Beck and Joshua Roy thrive in the AHL this season. Both have earned NHL callups throughout the year. Emil Heineman has also cemented himself in the Canadiens bottom-six with his play. Oliver Kapanen, who started the year with Montreal, has been dominant in the SHL this year. Finally, Ivan Demidov, the most electric prospect in the Canadiens system, is expected to come over to Montreal from Russia next season.

With all these young players in the mix, it may be difficult to find the room to justify a Joel Armia return. The veteran contracts to Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson also take up spots in the bottom six. These two deals would be hard to move this offseason and the team would eat a lot of money in a buyout scenario.

Verdict

Although the Canadiens likely would want to bring back Joel Armia, it seems unlikely. The forward has earned himself a payday on the open market, one which might be too rich for Montreal’s blood. With the abundance of young players, it is hard to see there being a spot for him next season. The only scenario where an Armia signing would make sense is if Hughes was able to shed one or both of the Gallagher and Anderson contracts.

The fourth line of Heineman, Evans, and Armia has been amazing for Montreal this year. Not to mention the penalty killing of Armia and Evans has helped the team reach the top 10 in that department. The first time in years that Montreal has been in the top 10 in any regard. Moving on from such an effective bottom six forward might not be ideal. However, with the abundance of young talent on the way, it is the right move for the Montreal Canadiens.