Montreal Canadiens: Can you trade Max Pacioretty after his comments?

Although the Montreal Canadiens have a lot of work ahead of them this offseason, Max Pacioretty’s comments may keep him safe from the trading block.

We’re currently in the midst of the Montreal Canadiens offseason plans. Now that all the media and questioning is done with, for now, Marc Bergevin and Geoff Molson have to focus on taking the appropriate measures to improve the team. Trades aren’t possible at the moment, but they can continue to plan and scout options whether they’re in the playoffs or not.

The one thing that many are waiting to see happen is the eventual trade of Max Pacioretty. The 29-year-old was up to his neck in trade rumours this season after talk peaked around the deadline. Apparently, the Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, and Florida Panthers were teams in the mix, but after that 3:00 PM cutoff, Pacioretty was still a Montreal Canadien. If you were to ask Bergevin himself, he’d deny it and say that he wasn’t shopping the team captain, but anyone could see the writing on the wall there.

Regardless of the fact that a Pacioretty deal wasn’t made then, seeing a move involving him at or around the draft was the next likely scenario. However, there’s a problem here.

Bergevin made it clear that the underlying reason as to why the season went the way it did was because of the team’s attitude. It explained everything that went wrong. The team’s lack of compete and pushback at times, their inability to find solutions throughout the year, and the underwhelming play of a few individuals were all because of this issue (apparently).

It’s been debated ever since he said it, so there’s no point in getting into it more. The thing that stands out is what the Habs general manager said in a result of this. The Montreal Canadiens need to change their attitude, and it doesn’t matter what players they acquire if they do not have the right one (paraphrasing Bergevin’s words).

So what’s the attitude that they want? You’d have to assume it’s players who always work, who don’t get discouraged by adversity, and most importantly, who play like they want to be on the team.

Pacioretty made it clear in his final interview for the season that he wants to play for the Montreal Canadiens.

"I know it’s not always going to be perfect. No one’s perfect. But I know that the fans do love me because I’m told that on a daily basis from the fans, not from someone telling me what the fans think. And I love it here."

Now there’s the emotional aspect of the NHL to face. If Bergevin wants only to have players who have the right attitude, and Pacioretty is aware of his and the team’s shortcomings and is willing to put in the work to improve, do you still trade him?