Montreal Canadiens Trade Options: 5 Wingers Habs Should Consider
Examining why the Montreal Canadiens should consider acquiring Carolina Hurricanes Forward Jeff Skinner.
Jeff Skinner is a tremendously skilled forward with a laser shot and posses good overall speed. Skinner is an exact template of what the Canadiens usually covet in a player. Jeff is still only 24 years old despite being in the NHL for seven seasons and has some term on his contract.
Skinner is a natural goal scorer and he has demonstrated this throughout his career. In seven seasons, Skinner has reached the 20 goal plateau four times and topped 30 goals twice. He has had a couple of rocky seasons but the Hurricanes had some bad teams in those years.
The Canadiens currently lack size on the wing and don’t have many players who fit the power forward role. Skinner isn’t small but he isn’t what you would call power forward. Jeff Skinner is 5’11” tall and weighs 200 pounds and fits more of a sniper template as he likes to hang out in the slot.
No Rumors
Before everyone freaks out and then blows up the comments section saying that Skinner isn’t on the trade block, consider the situation the Hurricanes are in. Carolina hasn’t had a strong playoff contending team in years. Also, the Hurricanes goal tending situation is brutal, as Cam Ward and Eddie Lack haven’t gotten the job done.
The Hurricanes have many talented Forwards and Defensemen but they are no where near being ready for playoff hockey. The Hurricanes may consider making a trade and looking for more young talent and more draft picks to continue their build for the future.
What Would it Cost?
Skinner is an elite goal scorer who is just 24 years old, so the cost is going to be very high. The Hurricanes will be looking for a future number one goaltender and draft picks. They will probably also want someone who could help their team in the short term as well.
The Montreal Canadiens have recently had a goaltender emerge with the St John’s Ice Caps. Charlie Lindgren has been really solid and has stolen a few games for the Ice Caps this season. Also, the Canadiens have a franchise Goalie in Carey Price so having Lindgren is more of a luxury than a necessity.
Habs Should Make this Trade
The Canadiens are in definite need of more scorers and this trade would give the Habs a huge boost offensively. The Canadiens would have had to give up some money to make the deal work and Alexei Emelin would give the Hurricanes a solid top four Defensemen. Emelin also would give the Hurricanes Defense corps a huge boost in the physicality department.
This trade would also force Therrien to play Beaulieu more often, as this was talked about on the last page. The Canadiens have a solid amount of draft picks over the next few years and they can afford to move a couple of them. Also, Carolina could have their goaltender for the future at a very low cost in terms of cap hit.