Montreal Canadiens: Marc Bergevin is missing out on the trade market
The Montreal Canadiens haven’t decided what they’re going to do at the Trade Deadline, but that hasn’t stopped teams from making deals.
The Trade Deadline coverages on the various hockey networks aren’t going to be too happy with what is going on. In the last week, four big trades have taken place in the NHL, seeing playoff-contending teams bulk up for the post-season. However, none of those trades, on either extreme, have included the Montreal Canadiens as more eyes fall on Marc Bergevin.
The Pittsburgh Penguins started things off last Monday, acquiring Jason Zucker for a 2020 first-round pick, prospect Calen Addison, and Alex Galchenyuk (cap dump). Next was Andy Greene heading to the New York Islanders for a 2021 second and prospect David Quenneville, followed by Blake Coleman joining the Tampa Bay Lightning for a conditional first-round pick and prospect Nolan Foote.
Vancouver and Los Angeles were the stars of the most recent deal that took place on Monday. Tyler Toffoli, fresh off his Stadium Series hat-trick, was the main piece in the trade joining the Canucks for Tim Schaller (cap dump), prospect Tyler Madden, a 2020 second and a 2022 conditional pick based on whether Toffoli resigns.
Here are the stats and cap hits of the acquired players at the time of the trade:
- Zucker: 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points in 45 games – $5.5 million (three years left)
- Greene: 2 goals and 9 assists for 11 points in 53 games – $5 million (pending UFA)
- Coleman: 21 goals and 10 assists for 21 points in 57 games – $1.8 million (one year left)
- Toffoli: 18 goals and 16 assists for 24 points in 58 games – $4.6 million (pending UFA)
Each of these trades has at least gave the selling team a prospect and second-round pick. Teams are going in this season and are willing to give off valuable assets to do it.
Montreal Canadiens’ media have mentioned the only way the team considers moving Tomas Tatar or Jeff Petry is if a first-round pick or an A prospect is included. New Jersey got something close to that as Foote has been solid in the WHL and was considered a top-five prospect in the Lightning organization.
Marc Bergevin is running out of time. You can say the Habs can wait another couple days to see where they are, but let’s be honest for a minute. The team is eight points back and will need to go on a hefty run to get back in the thick of things.
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There are three more games between now and the Trade Deadline against the Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals, and Ottawa Senators. Even if the Montreal Canadiens won all three, they’d sit at 68 points, and it’s poor to assume all the teams ahead of them will lose all their games along the way.
When you take into account that the playoffs are a long shot and you look at the prices these teams are giving up for players, especially scoring forwards, it’s hard to justify Bergevin standing pat on this.
What is the overall goal? Are the Montreal Canadiens a team for the now or a team for the future? Building on the fly hasn’t necessarily worked and passing up on the opportunity to add more assets for players who likely aren’t in the long-term plans doesn’t make sense.
Let’s set aside Tatar and Petry, Ilya Kovalchuk has been a great addition for the team both on and off the ice. However, he has to be moved. Kovalchuk has 6 goals and 6 assists for 12 points in 19 games with the Montreal Canadiens and 21 points in 36 total games this season.
The narrative on the 36-year-old has changed. The hockey world has seen what he can do when placed in a motivating environment with hardworking players. Kovalchuk is a name that can be a difference-maker on a team’s powerplay and come out strong in a playoff series. Teams will be willing to give up assets for that.
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It doesn’t even have to be goodbye forever. Tomas Plekanec was traded during the 2017-18 season, and the Montreal Canadiens added a second-round pick and two prospects. The two prospects didn’t lead to much as both moved on, but the pick turned into Jacob Olofsson. Plekanec came back and signed a one-year deal with the Habs.
If Bergevin is worried about Kovalchuk returning in the offseason, he could always add a condition to the pick if the winger stays with the team he’s traded to. It’s too much to pass up.
Going back to Tatar and Petry, they’re stat line in comparison to the four who have been dealt already is jaw-dropping.
- Tatar: 21 goals and 32 assists for 53 points in 61 games – $4.8 million (one year left)
- Petry: 8 goals and 27 assists for 35 points in 61 games – $5.5 million (one year left)
The Montreal Canadiens clearly have the better players, and with another year on their deal, it could drive the return up even further.
Some say, “How will the Habs replace Tatar and Petry if they’re moved?” Bergevin has been against moving any of those top prospects, aren’t they the ones to fill those spots? And this goes beyond Cole Caufield and Alexander Romanov, what about Cale Fleury and Josh Brook? Not to mention Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Ryan Poehling, Jake Evans and Lukas Vejdemo are all still in the AHL.
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If Bergevin chooses to stand pat, he better make sure the Habs are good enough to make the playoffs next season. There’s also the chance he tries to get things going at the drat or even free agency. It’s just frustrating to watch these teams give up assets that could possibly be heading Montreal’s way.