Montreal Canadiens: The draft may be the time to strike
By Omar L
There’s an expectation that Max Pacioretty will be dealt in the next few weeks, but the Montreal Canadiens could decide to wait which wouldn’t be a bad idea.
The Montreal Canadiens will be facing the Philadelphia Flyers for the third time in as many weeks on February 26th. By then, the overall belief is that Tomas Plekanec and Max Pacioretty will no longer be on the team. That belief is more on the Plekanec side considering he’s a UFA and the Habs should try to get something for him. Of course, trades are a two-way street, and it’ll depend on whether another team wants the veteran, but there are aspects of his game that could be valued in a playoff run.
Pacioretty, in my opinion, still isn’t a guarantee. Trade talks surrounding the team captain have been white hot for a while. Other teams are continuing to express their deadline wants while everyone else is using their imagination to predict who would be the best fit. Developments have changed those ideas, for example, the price for Pacioretty, but a move involving him seems to be a lock for a lot of people.
But what if it isn’t? The Habs don’t have to trade Pacioretty, at least not now they don’t. The Habs have been involved in a handful of trades over the last two years, and one thing they probably don’t want is for it to appear that it’s a one-sided deal. That may be why the price for Pacioretty was set so high.
Four Months Later…
Although they may not be as talented, relatively speaking, teams could see other available wingers such as Evander Kane or Rick Nash as the better options. Don’t get me wrong; I think if you ask any NHL general manager, they’d rather have Pacioretty. Besides the skill and raw goal-scoring ability, the extra year and steal of a cap-hit is beauty to any capologists’ eyes.
However, because of that, Marc Bergevin doesn’t have to bend his demands to make the trade happen. Buffalo and New York do because if Kane and Nash choose to leave in the offseason, those are two assets lost for nothing. General managers in that position will be most likely to lessen their terms whereas Bergevin can hang up the phone if he feels the deal is unreasonable.
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The draft is where things may take place. A lot of significant trades happen while young players are starting off their NHL careers.
At last year’s event, Brayden Schenn was traded to St. Louis for two first round picks and Jori Lehtera. Additionally, Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta were moved to the Arizona Coyotes not to mention Travis Hamonic being traded to Calgary on day two. The returns for pretty big for both sides in the majority of those deals and that could be the time and place where the Habs feel they can get what they’re owed for Pacioretty.
So if Montreal chooses not to trade the 29-year-old on February 26th, don’t be too upset. It may seem at first that management missed another opportunity, but sometimes there’s a better one if you maintain a sense of patience.
On the other hand, Pacioretty could very well be moved by then which would be fine too. As long as the Habs get fair value in return, that’s all that matters.
Do you think the Habs will wait for the draft to move Pacioretty? How will you feel if it’s not done at the deadline? Let us know in the comments below.