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Montreal Canadiens: The curious case of Max Pacioretty’s trade status

By Omar L

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 24: Montreal Canadiens Left Wing Max Pacioretty (67) skates away with the puck during the Tampa Bay Lightning versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 24, 2018, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 24: Montreal Canadiens Left Wing Max Pacioretty (67) skates away with the puck during the Tampa Bay Lightning versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 24, 2018, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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SAN JOSE, CA – OCTOBER 17: (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images) /

Close But No Sniper

Pierre Lebrun revealed on TSN’s NHL Draft Wrap Up that there was a deal in place earlier in the week that would see Pacioretty traded to LA. However, he couldn’t work out a new contract with the Kings. This loosely links to the reports back to the reports at the beginning of the month that a sign-and-trade scenario could’ve taken place with Pacioretty.

Pacioretty to the Kings looks like a no-go now with Ilya Kovalchuk in the fold. The Kings announced that they signed the 35-year-old to a three-year $6.25 million contract. But what that also did was take another left-winger off of the market.

Kovalchuk is a virtually free acquisition as all it costs is cap space. The San Jose Sharks were another team interested in signing him, so they had to switch gears to Plan B.

There was a moment during Day 2 of the draft where it was going around that Pacioretty was being traded to the Sharks. San Jose has added some offence long-term in trading for and eventually extending Evander Kane. If Doug Wilson managed to get Pacioretty as well, there would be no way the Sharks get shutout at any point next season.

While everyone was frantically trying to figure out whether the trade was happening or not, the rumours were shut down by both Elliotte Friedman and Chris Johnston. The only change that came for Pacioretty was in agencies.

It was revealed afterwards that he and former agent Pat Brisson agreed to mutually part ways. There still hasn’t been an explanation for the decision. Perhaps Pacioretty was frustrated that a deal with the Kings couldn’t have been made. We’ll never know unless it gets out. Now Allan Walsh is Pacioretty’s guy.

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