A Winning Habit
Fansided

Montreal Canadiens: Ranking Marc Bergevin’s Five Worst Trades

By Ken MacMillan

Montreal Canadiens, Marc Bergevin (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Montreal Canadiens, Marc Bergevin (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 03: Ben Scrivens #40 of the Montreal Canadiens loses his stick during play against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on March 3, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 03: Ben Scrivens #40 of the Montreal Canadiens loses his stick during play against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on March 3, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

5. Montreal Canadiens trade Zack Kassian for Ben Scrivens

Marc Bergevin made a solid trade with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1, 2015. He swapped out Brandon Prust for Zack Kassian while getting the Canucks to throw in a fifth round pick. It wasn’t a fantastic trade, it didn’t crack Bergevin’s five best in Montreal, but it was a smart, long-term swap.

Prust and Kassian played similar, physical styles. Kassian however, brought more offence, was a better skater and is seven years younger than Prust. Kassian never lived up to his first round promise, but the Habs weren’t giving up a first round pick for him, they were giving up an aging bottom six winger.

The trade didn’t exactly work out for the Canadiens and Kassian though. Rumours swirled about what really went on, but we do now Kassian was involved in an incident involving his vehicle and a tree that occurred in the early morning hours on the streets of Montreal. It wasn’t a great look for a player who hadn’t even suited up in a game with the Habs yet.

He wouldn’t suit up in any. Kassian was injured in the incident and barely heard from for about four months. Then, with Carey Price injured long term and the team in need of a goaltender, Kassian was shipped to the Edmonton Oilers for Ben Scrivens.

While Kassian was in the Habs doghouse, Scrivens was working his way into his own. The most frightening part of that is he was playing in the American Hockey League at the time.

Following parts of two disappointing seasons with the Oilers, Scrivens was playing for the Bakersfield Condors, and his goals-against average was nearing three-and-a-half. With Mike Condon struggling to take over for an injured Price, Scrivens was given the chance to win the starter’s job in Montreal.

He couldn’t. The Cornell educated netminder played 15 games for the Habs, posted a 3.07 goals against average and a .906 save percentage. That would be the end of his NHL career.

Meanwhile, Kassian has proven to be a great bottom six winger for the Oilers. He is heading into his last season before becoming an unrestricted free agent and is worth every penny of the $2 million that the Oilers are putting in his pocket.

Home/Analysis