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Should the Montreal Canadiens make a Kawhi Leonard type trade?

By Omar L

TORONTO, ON - MAY 25: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors hoists the Eastern Conference Championship trophy after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Six of the NBA Eastern Conference Final at Scotiabank Arena on May 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Bucks 100-94 to win the Eastern Conference Championship 4 games to 2. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 25: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors hoists the Eastern Conference Championship trophy after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Six of the NBA Eastern Conference Final at Scotiabank Arena on May 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Bucks 100-94 to win the Eastern Conference Championship 4 games to 2. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens
MONTREAL, QC – APRIL 06: Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

To answer the second part of the question quickly, yes. You could argue the Montreal Canadiens have already gone through a Kawhi-Demar type of trade situation already when Bergevin moved P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Shea Weber. It was a long debated over decision, but the Habs were able to win the Atlantic Division.

There are a few differences though. Subban matches Demar as being the fan favourite of the organization; however, Weber isn’t and wasn’t a top player in the NHL. He is one of the league’s best defenders, but there’s a downgrade in impact. You could hold his injuries over the last two seasons as part of the blame though his presence on the blue line after his return was noticeable.

Another thing to make note of is the Habs have made the playoffs only once since that deal, and their single appearance was a first-round exit at the hands of the New York Rangers.

Again, this is an extremely tough comparison to make given the dynamics of hockey vs. basketball. In the NBA, a team can add one player and have their performance dramatically altered. But in the NHL, one player is a part of a 23-man unit and will play on average 18-25 minutes a night.

We see it in Edmonton. Connor McDavid is the best player in the world, yet the Oilers still manage to finish in the basement of the NHL.

Changing the scope of the Demar-Kawhi trade to match the framework of the NHL will help things go more smoothly. The Montreal Canadiens are a good team and have the goaltending to go on a long playoff run, they lack, however, a go-to finisher who can create something out of nothing and convert on 99.9% of the chances they face.

Would Bergevin be willing to part with a Brendan Gallagher, Paul Byron, Tomas Tatar, or newly acquired Max Domi to give the Montreal Canadiens a top-five producer in the NHL?

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