Montreal Canadiens: Marc Bergevin has to consider all options
The Montreal Canadiens aren’t in a position where they can tell other teams someone isn’t available. They must at least listen to any and all possibilities.
At any point in a season, a team will constantly consider who on the team is a keeper and who is expendable. As terrible as it sounds, that’s the business of the NHL, and it can be a stinky one at times. Those kinds of thoughts come around the Trade Deadline, and you can bet the Montreal Canadiens and their management group have had those mental deliberations already.
Fans have heard all the talk when it comes to the Habs and trades for the last few months. At first, it came out that everyone except for Victor Mete and Carey Price were available, but apparently that list has extended to Jonathan Drouin, Brendan Gallagher, and Shea Weber to name a few.
Pierre Lebrun of The Athletic was on Insider Trading not too long ago and said that Montreal was reluctant to trade Andrew Shaw. The 26-year-old has missed the last 14 games recovering from a lower-body injury, but he’s still managed to appear on some trade bait lists. His heavy game and playoff experience in combination with his success in the faceoff dot and ability to score some goals when it counts could make him an attractive option for some teams.
That comment from Lebrun didn’t come without any weight behind it. The Winnipeg Jets have had some discussions about Shaw, but it looks like the Habs have shut those down.
Given the way things have gone this season, that has rubbed fans the same way. Shaw isn’t a player Montreal has to move; however, if teams are calling on him, it’s worth the listen right? Additionally, you can make the case that shutting down interest isn’t something the organization should be doing.
This thought may sum up the majority of Habs fans feelings towards this. Ironically, it’s from Pierre McGuire.
https://twitter.com/NikkF07/status/964269632025591808
I mean, he’s right. At this point, Marc Bergevin has to listen to anything that comes his way. The only thing I bring against this is, just like any trade in the NHL, it has to make sense. Going back to the Shaw scenario, perhaps whatever offer the Jets made wasn’t enough. If Bergevin shut down talks on that note, then we have to give him an encouraging nod.
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As bad as this season has been, the Habs aren’t in a position where everyone has to go. Retool is the magic word here. Moves will have to be done, but a Shaw trade could be avoided if management values what he can bring.
Keep in mind there are another four years left on his contract. The Habs invested in the Belleville native, and the reluctance may come from the fact that they gave up assets to acquire him and wouldn’t want to see him go.
On the other hand, if it’s a good deal, it’s a good deal. Montreal can reject a trade to avoid getting fleeced, but a good return that sets the organization up in the future has to be at least considered. Perhaps it’s a Shaw who does it, who knows?
What is for certain is that the Habs are going to have some important decisions coming up soon. Bergevin is or should be, doing whatever he can to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again. If a trade like that is what it takes, then so be it. At the same, it’s hard for myself or any of us to say that. But are we wrong?
Next: Max Domi as a Trade Target
Do you think the Habs should consider everything thrown at them? Would you be willing to part with Shaw? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.