Montreal Canadiens: Tomas Plekanec will be coveted
The player most likely to be traded and quite possibly provide a decent return for the Montreal Canadiens is Tomas Plekanec.
As the Montreal Canadiens bye week has come to an end, I started thinking about what to expect in the remaining 40 games of the disastrous 2017-18 regular season. Let’s face it, there’s a fat chance of the Habs making the playoffs. Yokozuna fat.
Marc Bergevin will have to start thinking about changes for next season. Or perhaps Geoff Molson will need to start thinking about who he wants to start thinking about next season. It’s wishful thinking on my part.
As is the case in the NHL, those not destined for the playoffs become sellers. Glamorous names like Max Pacioretty and Alex Galchenyuk were mentioned as the Habs most likely to be traded on or before the February 26 trade deadline, according to TSN’s Frank Seravalli’s trade bait board.
However, I think the player more likely to be traded and quite possibly provide a decent return for the Habs is Tomas Plekanec. A lot of teams would love to have Plekanec for a playoff run. I think there could actually be a bit of a bidding war for the 35-year-old.
Plekanec Has Actually Been Good
Plekanec has been the Habs best center this season. It’s 2018, and he is the Habs’ best center. Tomas Plekanec has four goals in 42 games and is the Habs best center this season. Tomas Plekanec is on pace for just under eight goals and is the Habs best center this season. Tomas Plekanec has 28 goals in his last 202 regular season games and is the Habs best center this season. Okay, I’ll stop.
Just one more. Is it just me or does Plekanec remind you of your beer league teammate who does not have a chance of scoring when he has the puck in the offensive zone? I mean, even his shooting form just looks off. When he winds up for a shot, it looks slightly better than a Charles Barkley golf swing. When the other team pulls their goalie for an extra attacker, Plekanec shoots for a rebound.
I know, I know, I did say Plekanec is the Habs best center, and he is. Pleky is a true center so that automatically makes him a better center than Jonathan Drouin. Of course, Drouin is a better player than Plekanec, but he’s not a better center. Just ask Bergevin.
Yes, Phillip Danault has more points than the veteran, but he does so much more as he has been better than any of the rotating fourth line centers Claude Julien has iced this season, Jacob de La Rose, Byron Froese, Andrew Shaw, etc.
Offense No Longer Part Of His Game
While Plekanec no longer has the offensive abilities he once possessed he still has a lot of positives that a playoff team would covet. He is a very defensively responsible player (coaches love that), gets under the skin of his opponents, is good on faceoffs, and on an expiring contract.
We all know how bad the Habs have been this season and as usual, Plekanec plays against every opponent’s top line top center in the league. While doing so, Plekanec is actually a plus player. Yes, plus/minus has its flaws, but that has to count for something when you’re playing against the best.
Not only is Plekanec responsible defensively but he is quite annoying to play against. His sneaky whacks, thwaps and yaps consistently get under his opponent’s skin. David Krejci and Sidney Crosby can attest to that.
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Good on Draws
Sitting at a 53.4% faceoff winning percentage, Plekanec has been better than he ever was on the draws. He’s a career 49.9% in that department so it’s possible that he may be benefiting from the new stricter rules in the faceoff circle.
Who has been the Habs best player this season? Most won’t have any issue saying it’s been Brendan Gallagher. Who has been Gallagher’s center this season? Yup, Plekanec. Despite taking most of their draws in the defensive zone, Pleky’s ability to win them in combination with his defensive mindset has allowed Gallagher to focus more on his offensive game. Ask any winger who’s having a good season and credit will always be given to his center.
Pending UFA Status Should Yield a Good Return
A big reason for Plekanec to be traded is that he is coming to the end of his two-year, $12M deal and will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. The Czech native would make an ideal rental player for a club looking for a solid defensive player, who is good on face-offs and can not only play against the other team’s top center but be able to shut down said center.
Considering what Martin Hanzal (packaged with Ryan White) brought the Arizona Coyotes last year at the deadline it is quite possible that Plekanec can be had for a late first round pick and quite easily a second round pick. The Habs need all the picks they can get to help with this reset.
Teams won’t expect offense from Plekanec, but the other assets he brings are valued by a lot of teams for a long playoff run. Pleky on a contending team would ideally slot in as a club’s third center with little worries about providing offense.
Time to Say Goodbye
Considering the expiring contract, the Habs meager playoff hopes and Plekanec’s defensive play I would say that the countdown is on for his final days in a Canadiens jersey. Like Andrei Markov, another Hab will just fall short of playing all 1000 games with one team. Of course under different circumstances.
As a long time Canadien I think fans will be sorry to see Plekanec go, but in this situation, they will completely understand why he has to move on. It will be a bittersweet departure when we hear that Pleky has been traded.
I’m going to miss that turtleneck. Admit it, you will too.
Kamal Rehman is also the co-host and writer of the HabsFan vs LeafsFan podcast, a FanSided Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs show on Blog Talk Radio. You can also follow him on Twitter at @HabsVsLeafs and @kamalrehman10.