Another team in the Los Angeles Kings looks to be talking to the Montreal Canadiens and making a strong push for Max Pacioretty.
It was the final NHL Headlines on Hockey Night in Canada before the Trade Deadline. Although the Montreal Canadiens were going into the second intermission with a 3-2 lead after Max Pacioretty scored on the power play, we were all interested to see what the trade talk surrounding him was.
The portion of Headlines focusing on him and the Habs opened with a short but heavy line from Elliotte Friedman. “I think the belief is that he wants to go,” Friedman mentioned trade talks with the Minnesota Wild which was a story a few days ago where players such as Charlie Coyle were in play. Unfortunately, it broke off.
However, Nick Kypreos confirmed a lot of our suspicions in that the Los Angeles Kings are in on Pacioretty. The Kings are still looking to add more goal-scoring to their roster for a playoff run this season and next. Although they just got Jeff Carter back from injury, you can never have enough goals on your roster.
Kypreos mentioned that the Habs could be looking at players such as Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson to start. Toffoli and Pearson are both young forwards at 25-year-old who have 34 and 30 point seasons respectively. They’ve been reunited with Carter now that he’s back to re-make ‘That 70’s Line’, but Pacioretty would be a dangerous fit on either of those things. Toffoli, in particular, may be the one the Habs look at the hardest as he can play centre and has 19 goals on the season.
Obviously, their first-round pick would have to be in play, but Gabriel Vilardi may be someone Marc Bergevin tries to get in a Pacioretty trade. LA selected him 11th overall at last year’s draft, and he currently has 14 goals and 29 assists in 23 games with the Kingston Frontenacs.
It wouldn’t be out of the realm for Montreal and LA to work something out. The two teams have come together to make trades before, be it minor ones, for Dwight King last season and Torrey Mitchel back in November. Unfortunately, Dennis Bernstein shed some light on deal involving Vilardi on the Kings side:
Some clarity on Pacioretty to Kings rumors from very reliable source at Oilers-Kings game:
— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) February 25, 2018
If the Habs ask is Gabe Vilardi and 2018 1st round pick, it doesn’t happen.
LA has zero interest in trading Vilardi.
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It makes sense for a player like Vilardi to remain unavailable. He has tremendous upside and could be a part of the Kings top six in the future. However, the Kings have other prospects the Habs may want to acquire if a Pacioretty deal is still in the works.
Two, in particular, could be Jonny Brodzinski who only had six points in 34 games in the NHL but is over a point-per-game in the AHL. The 24-year-old is a proven scorer at every level he’s played at, and although it’s taken him time to adjust to the pros, there’s a lot of upside in his game.
Another option is Paul LaDue, a right-shot smooth-skating defenceman who the Kings have been impressed with. Management has just recalled him again, but if Bergevin wanted to take the chance to add more NHL-calibre defenceman, then LaDue would be his guy in LA.
Trading Pacioretty still feels like a move that isn’t completed until June or July. But the Kings seem to be really interested in acquiring the 29-year-old for this upcoming playoffs. The only downside for them is if their interest is true, they’re running out of time.
Next: The Davidson Trade Helps
Who would you want the Habs to get for Pacioretty? Is it possible he’s moved tomorrow? Let us know in the comments below.