Montreal Canadiens: A Max Pacioretty trade is coming very soon

The Montreal Canadiens have had trade talks around Max Pacioretty for a while, and apparently, a move involving him is coming within the next few days.

When the Montreal Canadiens, and specifically Max Pacioretty, couldn’t generate offence, there was a call from the fans to move him. That happens all the time when players underperform, but the idea got some legs when Nick Kypreos revealed on Hockey Central that Marc Bergevin was aggressively shopping the 29-year-old.

The original ask was for a young goal-scorer, but Pierre Lebrun reported in a TSN article that the desire is now to acquire a young centre instead (good choice). We don’t know who specifically is the target, but the Habs and St. Louis Blues have been linked a lot as of late. Robert Thomas appears to be the one in Bergevin’s crosshairs, and there is a definite fit for both sides.

The Blues want to add another top-six forward to the program, and they have pieces within the organization besides Thomas that the Habs would have interest in. Unfortunately, St. Louis doesn’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft, but another player like Jordan Kyrou could be another option as well.

We may find out who the taker is soon according to TVA Sports. Hockey reporter Renaud Lavoie said during his broadcast on Monday that it is expected for a Pacioretty trade to come within the next few days.

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If true, then it seems Bergevin doesn’t want to wait until the Trade Deadline brings out the crazy and desperation in other general managers, which I disagree with.

I’d rather hold off on it and have Pacioretty in direct competition for Evander Kane. Many things make the Habs captain a much better acquisition than Kane. He has a good cap-hit, another year on his deal, and is knee deep in a hot-streak of goal-scoring.

Kane hasn’t scored in nine games whereas Pacioretty has eight in the same timespan. What the organization doesn’t need is to sell cheap on this. The Montreal Canadiens should get more for Pacioretty than what the Buffalo Sabres end up getting for Kane. Patience may be the best way to make sure of that, but if whatever upcoming move is good enough, then I guess it will be worth it.

Next: Victor Mete is Closer to UFA

Do you think Pacioretty will be moved soon? Should the Habs wait a little longer? Let us know what you think down below.