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Montreal Canadiens: Luc Robitaille weighs in on the Max Pacioretty “trade”

By Omar L

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 04: Peter Budaj #31 of the Los Angeles Kings looks back at the puck as Max Pacioretty #67 of the Montreal Canadiens scores for a 1-0 lead during the first period at Staples Center on December 4, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 04: Peter Budaj #31 of the Los Angeles Kings looks back at the puck as Max Pacioretty #67 of the Montreal Canadiens scores for a 1-0 lead during the first period at Staples Center on December 4, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Reports were out that the Montreal Canadiens were close to trading Max Pacioretty to the Los Angeles Kings, but Luc Robitaille set the record straight.

The Montreal Canadiens were one of the more interesting teams heading into the 2018 NHL Draft. Not only did they hold the third-overall pick, but there was also speculation that Dallas would be the scene for a trade involving Max Pacioretty after he remained on the team passed the trade deadline.

Day one went by, and the Habs left the podium with a brand new prospect of the elite variety in Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Things got more interesting around day two as the Pacioretty was being linked to several teams. It started with the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders where a three-way deal would’ve seen the 29-year-old move to Long Island (or Brooklyn, you can’t be too sure nowadays) and went on to talks with the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.

Rumours of Pacioretty heading to the Sharks was instantly shut down, but the Kings were still a likely candidate, even after signing Ilya Kovalchuk. Reports were flying left and right that the Los Angeles Kings were taking a hard look at acquiring the sniper.

It was initially believed the reason behind the failed translocation was centred around Pacioretty’s willingness to sign a new deal with LA. Apparently, the offer that former agent Pat Brisson got from Kings management was ridiculously below expectations which led to the departure and hiring of Allan Walsh. Two months later, Pacioretty is still very much a member of the Montreal Canadiens, and although contract negotiations haven’t taken place, it’s most likely that doesn’t change for the time being.

But that’s what all the reports were saying at the time when it came to a Kings-Pacioretty union. Jean-Charles Lajoie of 91.9 Sports tweeted out a quote from Luc Robitaille on the entire situation, and including to the team president, it didn’t go as far as we think.

"It never went that far, we were interested in Max more than Marc was interested to let him go. He knows he has a good player in his hands (Translation)."

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Whether Marc Bergevin has the same perspective is up for debate. If Pacioretty returns to form and is sitting at 25-30 goals by the deadline without a contract extension, then it could make him more willing to pull of a trade. And despite the team captain’s love for the city and the fans, it may be something Bergevin will have to do, again if there’s no new deal for him.

The whole hockey world saw what happened with John Tavares and the Islanders and the Habs aren’t in a position where they can lose a player of Pacioretty’s calibre for nothing. Management could choose to bet on themselves but there’s a massive risk in making that call.

Perhaps the Kings inquire on Pacioretty again at different points of the season. Bergevin will indeed listen, as any general manager should, but there are many ways how things can shape up on that front.

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