Take advantage of injuries and get a haul for Jeff Petry
When the Canadiens traded Marco Scandella for a second round pick and possibly a fourth as well, they targeted a team that was desperate for help at a specific position and they set the asking price high. The Blues had just lost Jay Bouwmeester to a scary incident on the team’s bench where he collapsed and needed to be revived.
They needed to fill that void with someone who can play the left side. The Canadiens had acquired Scandella just six weeks earlier for a fourth round pick. But they weren’t as desperate as the Blues when they made the deal so they marked the price of Scandella way up and the Blues agreed to meet that asking price.
The Carolina Hurricanes are currently more desperate than the Blues. They lost Dougie Hamilton to a long-term injury and he could be out the rest of the season with a broken leg. On Saturday night, Brett Pesce appeared to dislocate his shoulder and will also be out long term. They are the Canes two best right defensemen.
That means the Hurricanes desperately need a right defenseman who can help the team immediately. They are sitting in the second wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference right now and do not have much room for error. If they are going to hold off the Columbus Blue Jackets and charging New York Rangers, they might need some help.
Enter Jeff Petry. He is a right shooting defender that excels at stepping up when players in front of him in the lineup are injured. He can play in all situations and is on pace for 47 points which would set a career high for the fourth straight year. He is signed through next season at $5.5 million which is not impossible to fit into a team’s cap.
The biggest reason for the Habs to make the trade is the Hurricanes desperation. They need Jeff Petry and they could possibly meet a huge asking price in order to get him.