First Impressions
As highlighted previously, securing an experienced right-handed defenseman was a clear priority for Montreal to restore balance to their blue line—a ratio tilted too heavily toward left-handed shots. Alexandre Carrier was one of the names floated as a potential fit in an earlier piece.
That said, the trade does come with a caveat: while Carrier addresses Montreal’s need for experience, the Canadiens are still losing a right-shot defenseman in Justin Barron. In that regard, it feels like a lateral move. The key difference, however, lies in maturity and consistency. At 28, Carrier has solidified himself as a reliable top-four defenseman, something Barron struggled to achieve despite ample opportunity to seize the role.
Comparatives
In order to see if the Canadiens are a better team with Barron or Carrier, one simply has to look at how the two players currently compare so far this season.
| BARRON | STATS | CARRIER |
| 23 | AGE | 28 |
| 6’2″ | HEIGHT | 5’11” |
| 198 | WEIGHT | 174 |
| $1.15M until 2024-25 – RFA | CAP HIT | $3.75M until 2026-27 – UFA |
| 17 | GP | 28 |
| 1 | G | 1 |
| 0 | A | 6 |
| 1 | PTS | 7 |
| -4 | +/- | -14 |
| 8 | PIM | 12 |
| 14:43 | TOI/GP | 20:08 |
| 0:13 | PP TOI/GP | 0:08 |
| 1:09 | PK TOI/GP | 2:44 |
| 16 | SOG | 23 |
| 16 | HITS | 31 |
| 20 | BkS | 49 |
| 45.9 | CORSI | 46.5 |
| 45.5 | FENWICK | 45.8 |
A Solid Addition to the Top-Four
While perhaps not the flashiest move, the acquisition of Carrier is a practical one. He brings much-needed experience, slots comfortably into the second pairing and, already averaging over 20 minutes per game, can log valuable minutes on the penalty kill—areas where Barron was inconsistent. With two years remaining on his contract at a reasonable $3.75M cap hit, Carrier provides stability on the right side while younger prospects like Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher continue to develop.
Looking ahead, the trade could have further implications. If the Canadiens move pending UFA David Savard ahead of the trade deadline, Montreal could once again find itself thin on right-shot defense. Carrier, at least for now, serves as an important placeholder and a steadying presence for a young defensive core.
What About the Left Side?
The trade raises questions about playing time among Montreal’s left-handed defensemen. Previously, sitting Barron was an easy decision, but with Carrier in the mix, someone else will have to make way. Does Jayden Struble lose ice time? Would Arber Xhekaj, who has been phenomenal of late, find himself sidelined?
The Canadiens have undoubtedly improved their defense corps with Carrier’s addition, but the move also sets the stage for further decisions—and potential dominoes to fall—as the season progresses.