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Montreal Canadiens: Three Potential Jonathan Drouin Trades

By Ken MacMillan

MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 16: Montreal Canadiens left wing Jonathan Drouin (92) waits for a faceoff during the New Jersey Devils versus the Montreal Canadiens preseason game on September 16, 2019, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 16: Montreal Canadiens left wing Jonathan Drouin (92) waits for a faceoff during the New Jersey Devils versus the Montreal Canadiens preseason game on September 16, 2019, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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ST. PAUL, MN – MARCH 25: Jason Zucker #16 of the Minnesota Wild (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN – MARCH 25: Jason Zucker #16 of the Minnesota Wild (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Minnesota Wild

If the Canadiens are going to move Drouin due to a logjam up front, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to swap him for another winger one for one. However, Zucker is a much different type of winger than Drouin and would bring a physical edge to the Habs forwards that is currently lacking.

The Canadiens saw some nastiness leave when they traded Andrew Shaw to the Chicago Blackhawks on the eve of free agency. They brought in Nick Cousins, but he will play a depth role. Nick Suzuki appears ready to take on a top six role, but he is a slick playmaker that doesn’t have a gritty side to him.

Zucker on the other hand would bring a punch to the Habs lineup that is needed when the going gets tough late in the season and into the playoffs. We all know what happened to Drouin as the games got more difficult down the stretch and the Habs were in a heated race for the postseason.

The Wild made a few trades last season that saw them get younger and also gamble on skill above all else. They sent 27 year old Charlie Coyle to the Boston Bruins for 23 year old Ryan Donato. They also swapped 27 year old Mikael Granlund for 22 year old Kevin Fiala.

Trading 27 year old Jason Zucker for 24 year old Jonathan Drouin would definitely follow in the same line of thinking. Not to mention, by all accounts Zucker was very nearly dealt twice by the Wild in the past few months. A trade deadline deal with the Calgary Flames fell apart last minute and a draft trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins also fizzled at the last moment.

The Wild have since fired general manager Paul Fenton and replaced him with Bill Guerin. That may deter them from moving on from Zucker, but after being all but shipped out of town twice, perhaps Zucker would wish to move on.

Zucker and Drouin both have four years left on their deals at exactly $5.5 million per season so there are literally no cap implications to this deal. Zucker set career highs with 33 goals and 64 points in 2017-18, but dropped to 21 goals and 42 points last year.

This deal would provide a fresh start for two talented players, and Zucker’s flexibility to play either wing could see him play anywhere from first line left wing to third line right wing. The style of game he plays would be a huge boost to the Habs late in the season and into the playoffs.

Zucker would bring the physicality that left town with Shaw, but also has the potential to score more than the 57 points Drouin put up last season.

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