With Alex Galchenyuk’s transition to center looking like a long term solution, the Montreal Canadiens suddenly have plenty of depth at the center ice position. Lars Eller will return from his upper body injury tonight and take over his usual role as third line pivot.
This gives the Habs an extra middle man, and David Desharnais will play left wing tonight for the first time since his rookie season of 2010-11. Desharnais has played well since being removed from his usual first line role, where he was the setup man for Max Pacioretty over the past three and a half seasons.
Dec 18, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward David Desharnais (51) reacts with teammates after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
In his last three games, as the third line center on a line with Brandon Prust and P.A.Parenteau, Desharnais has scored twice to go along with a pair of helpers as well. Though it is just a handful of games, Desharnais is showing an ability to create offense away from Pacioretty, and is shooting the puck with far greater frequency.
It became painfully obvious over time that Desharnais did not quite have the chops to be an effective first line center, and his two goals in 29 games on the top line this season finally opened head coach Michel Therrien’s eyes to that as well.
The flaws in Desharnais game have been discussed repeatedly. He is a very small player, generously listed at 5’7” and 176 pounds and he rarely shoots the puck. He isn’t good enough to play on the top line and can’t handle tough matchups against big centers.
However, not enough attention is given to the things Desharnais does well on the ice. There is no question he is an excellent playmaker, a fast skater and he also plays an underrated defensive game. He is not behemoth, and he is not an ideal first line center, but Desharnais is still a good hockey player.
Nov 29, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens center David Desharnais (51) shoots on Buffalo Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth (1) as defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (55) defends during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
With him being moved to the wing for tonight’s game, I can’t help but wonder if the Canadiens would consider moving him in a trade. He has played center his entire career, but the Habs just have too many players looking to play the same position.
Desharnais will cost the Canadiens 3.5 million dollars toward the salary cap this season, and for the next two seasons as well. Having been usurped by Galchenyuk for prime ice time, it may be best for both the player and the team if he were traded to another organization looking for center depth.
The question is: Would there be a market for the Habs under-sized forward?
Teams are always looking to add a big, physical, two-way center. Desharnais certainly does not fit that description, but would there be a taker for a small, responsible, two-way center?
Nov 28, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Montreal Canadiens center David Desharnais (51) during the game against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Well, considering that the New Jersey Devils recently signed former Montreal Canadiens whipping boy and buyout Scott Gomez, I think there is a market for just about any player in the league. Under the right circumstances, there would definitely be interest in Desharnais on the trade block.
Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin was able to deal both Rene Bourque and Travis Moen this season without retaining any salary. If Bergevin can talk another GM into taking Bourque and Moen, he could start a bidding war for Desharnais that would have you thinking a future Hall-of-Famer is being dangled as trade bait.
Looking around the league at teams that would be interested in an offensive center, the first team that jumps out is the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers have the second lowest goals per game average in the league, and continue to rely on Mark Arcobello and an overwhelmed 18 year old Leon Draisaitl down the middle of the ice.
Sure, the Oilers have Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at the top of the center depth chart and reliable Boyd Gordon as the fourth liner, but wouldn’t Desharnais make a lot more sense as the second line center than Arcobello who has just nine points in 33 games?
In Arizona, there are rumours that Antoine Vermette may be on the move before the trade deadline. The Coyotes are already fairly thin down the middle, and would need to find someone to play in their top nine, especially if the return of Vermette is the typical futures for a rental type of trade.
Nov 15, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau (15) reacts with teammates Max Pacioretty (67) and David Desharnais (51) after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Capitals have had success with former Montreal Canadiens who are similar players to Desharnais. In one season with the Caps, Mike Ribeiro scored 49 points in 48 games, and Mikhail Grabovski had 35 points in 58 games with the Capitals last season. Washington hasn’t replace their former second line centers, and recently send youngster Andre Burakovsky down to the Hershey Bears, their AHL affiliate. Burakovsky started the year as the team’s second line center, but the 19 year old doesn’t appear to be quite ready to handle that role.
So, there would definitely be a few teams with interest in acquiring Desharnais from the Habs, but I doubt they would be banging the door down in such a way that the Canadiens will get a huge return.
When the Oilers decided to move on from Sam Gagner last summer, they dealt him to the Tampa Bay Lightning for big winger Teddy Purcell. Purcell had somewhat fallen out of favor in Tampa, but was coming off a decent 42 point campaign. Come to think of it, if Edmonton is interested in Desharnais, they may dangle Purcell to undo the Gagner trade that has left them devoid of talent down the middle.
The Washington Capitals dealt Mathieu Perreault to the Anaheim Ducks just over a year ago, and received a middling prospect in John Mitchell as well as a 4th round pick. Perreault’s return would lkely be less than what the Habs could get for Desharnais, but it would not be significantly different.
These are just a pair of recent trades involving players similar to Desharnais. It doesn’t guarantee that the return for Desharnais would not be much, but it also shows the Canadiens are not going to get a top flight prospect or a first round pick in exchange for the small center alone.
However, if the Canadiens feel it is time to move on from Desharnais and his contract, there will surely be a market for him out there, and they may be able to save significant cap space by moving him for a 2nd or 3rd round pick and a middle of the road prospect.