Montreal Canadiens: Trade speculation with the Calgary Flames
By Omar L
As the days to the Trade Deadline get closer, more teams are continuing to scout with the Montreal Canadiens, and the Habs are returning the favour.
There have been three teams linked to the Montreal Canadiens when it comes to constant scouting and trade interest. The St. Louis Blues have been at the front of the line in that category while the Anaheim Ducks are the latest team to get connected to the Habs. After yesterday’s game between the New York Rangers and Calgary Flames had Marc Bergevin as one of it’s attendants, they’ve been added to the list.
According to David Pagnotta, the Flames have been scouting the Habs lately and Bergevin being at the game possibly doing his own scouting added more fire to the, well, flame. This isn’t the first time the two teams have been in the same sentence when it comes to a trade. Back in December, ironically around the time Montreal and Calgary were set to play, Max Pacioretty came up in discussions as an option to go there.
The name to come the other way for the Habs would’ve been Mark Jankowski who has filled in on the Flames’ third line centre position all season. Besides him, recrutes.ca also mentioned that Sam Bennett, as well as Adam Fox, could be other players Montreal could want in a Pacioretty deal.
Bennett is the project of the Flames’ roster and has been on Jankowski’s wing for the majority of the season. This looks to be a down year for him offensively with seven goals and eleven assists in 55 games, but it’s tough to count him out considering his draft position. He brings speed and hockey IQ and seeing as how he’s only 21; there is time to build him up.
However, it may be possible that it’s Alex Galchenyuk who Calgary was looking at and not Pacioretty. The 23-year-old has had his ups and downs this season but his overall play this year has improved. Granted it’s been on the wing, save for a few (emphasis on few) looks on centre.
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Galchenyuk has looked more engaged, driven, and reliable but you can tell the leash with him is still short. His 12 goals and 20 assists are one behind of Pacioretty for team lead so it makes sense why he would draw interest from Calgary as well.
I’m not sure if the Habs still want to move the 2012 3rd overall pick or not. Bergevin and Julien have said that they don’t want to give up on him, although, he’s still a top name on trade bait lists around the league. Again, I’m not sure how those are put together, but if he’s the one Calgary wants, Habs management could bite.
It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out. It’s very, ‘Trade Deadline’ of us to get excited over a scouting appearance. However, the fact that Bergevin wanted to watch the Flames play himself is a sign of smoke.
Do you think the Habs and Flames are working on a trade? Is it for Pacioretty or Galchenyuk? Who would you want to see Montreal acquire? Let us know in the comments.