The Montreal Canadiens are planning on sending Mikhail Sergachev to the Windsor Spitfires. They will also be in the market for a top four defenseman according to reports on Sportsnet last night.
The Montreal Canadiens are off to a tremendous start to the 2016-17 season. However, a good start doesn’t stop the rumour mill from swirling and the Canadiens find themselves in the middle of trade rumours already.
Though they have a great record so far, the Habs haven’t found a perfect balance on their blue line. Rookie Mikhail Sergachev is the seventh defender right now, but at 18 years old, will likely be sent back to Junior. Zach Redmond also made the team as a depth defender, but he is injured and out long term.
The Canadiens are getting great hockey from number one defenseman Shea Weber. However, they have struggled to find the right partner to play with him.
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Nathan Beaulieu started the year with Weber, but didn’t stick. The pairing played fine together, but not great and Beaulieu was caught a few times with turnovers. Montreal Head Coach Michel Therrien switch Alexei Emelin with Bealieu to play with Weber.
Markov can’t handle burden of playing on top pair
Emelin has been playing good hockey this season, but isn’t a long term solution as a top pairing defenseman. The only other defenseman on the left side is Andrei Markov. Markov has been used on the top pairing in the past but the team is wisely trying to limit his minutes this season.
At 37 years of age, Markov doesn’t have the endurance he once did. He has not been great towards the end of the past few seasons and it was obvious that his usage was wearing him down. To pair him with Weber would force him into a role he can no longer handle.
This brings us to the “Saturday Headlines” segment on Hockey Night in Canada last night. Nick Kypreos reported that it was just a matter of time before Sergachev was sent back to the Windsor Spitfires. He also mentioned that this would put the Canadiens in the market for a top four defenseman.
Habs shopping, but no sellers on the market yet
The problem with shopping for a top four defenseman this time of year is there are not a lot of sellers on the market yet. No team has already decided to pull the plug on the season and sell off impending free agents.
One team that could be looking to make a move is the Anaheim Ducks. They just re-signed Hampus Lindholm to a $5.25 cap hit. This puts them extremely close to the salary cap. It has been speculated that they could be looking to move Cam Fowler.
To me, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for a team like Anaheim to deal Fowler for cap space. He is a top four defenseman for a team that is looking to win the Stanley Cup. They have much less desirable players making a lot of money that they will try to move first.
Ducks have bigger salary problems than Fowler
Kevin Bieksa and Clayton Stoner are two mistakes on the blue line making big money. There is no question Anaheim will try to deal one of these players, even if they have to retain salary, before moving Fowler.
Also, Simon Despres is now on injured reserve which buys the Ducks time before they actually feel the cap crunch. Speaking of Despres, wouldn’t they prefer to move his $3.7 million salary instead of Fowler’s $4.0 million?
Fowler would be a perfect fit in Montreal. However, he would come at a huge price of prospects and picks. Also, Anaheim can’t be as interested in moving him as some would lead you to believe. His $4.0 million dollar salary for the next two seasons is a great contract and one the Ducks can afford to keep.
If it won’t be Fowler coming to Montreal, the Canadiens may have to wait a while before making a trade. The top pending free agents are Brent Burns and Kevin Shattenkirk. The problem with them is they both shoot right. The Canadiens have plenty of depth on the right side. Also, both play on contending teams, meaning they are unlikely to be traded.
Kulikov could be a good fit at a decent price
Looking further down the list of players whose contracts are up at season’s end, you see plenty of aging veterans. If the Habs are intereted in a player like Mark Streit, they would just as well move Markov up to the top pairing.
Another defender who could become of interest late in the season is Dmitry Kulikov. The Buffalo Sabres desenseman is 26 years old and is averaging 21:38 per game. He doesn’t score a lot, but he can play a top four role and be dependable at both ends of the rink.
Also, with Weber, Markov, Beaulieu and Jeff Petry, the Canadiens don’t need an offensive minded defenseman.
The Sabres are likely a team that will fall out of the playoff race early. They were not a favourite to make the postseason at the beginning of the year. Long term injuries to top six forwards Jack Eichel and Evander Kane have made that possibility even less realistic.
Kulikov is the type of defenseman I could see the Canadiens targeting. As a low scoring, dependable defender who is on an expiring contract, he wouldn’t cost a ton to acquire. He would also fit a role nicely for the Canadiens.
I could see them going after Kulikov, but I don’t think the Sabres would be willing to sell an asset this early. If the Sabres struggle, this could be a deadline deal between division rivals that makes sense for both sides.