Can the Montreal Canadiens work out a trade with the Edmonton Oilers?

The trade deadline is approaching, and the Edmonton Oilers are desperate to make the playoffs, and perhaps the Montreal Canadiens can benefit from that.

Desperation takes two forms in the NHL. Coaches urge a sense of desperation from their players while in a slump they need to break out of. They’ll encourage them to skate harder, hit harder, and get more tough along the boards making every minute against the opposition count. It doesn’t always have to be during a slump. That style of play benefits some clubs including the Montreal Canadiens who’ve made it their bread and butter all season.

Then there is desperation from the management group, and this is where things get messy. A desperate general manager rarely makes a good move, especially when their job may be on the line. And right now there is no GM more desperate to improve his hockey club than Peter Chiarelli of the Edmonton Oilers.

Ironically, there were many comparisons between the Habs and the Oilers. Both teams had very disappointing seasons after a previous year of success that the organizations hoped to improve upon.

Goaltenders didn’t perform as they usually have, more for Carey Price who is a proven superstar at the position. Key players were victims of injury such as Andrej Sekera and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in Edmonton while Montreal was without Shea Weber, Artturi Lehkonen, Phillip Danault, and Price for stretches of the year (again the point goes to the Canadiens). And other key pieces just weren’t performing as they should.