Roundup: “Out of the blue” trades for the Montreal Canadiens to pull off
The Montreal Canadiens have a knack of pulling off big trades out of nowhere, and if there was ever a season for that to happen, it would be this one.
1) What is an “out of nowhere” trade that you’d like Marc Bergevin to pull off for the Montreal Canadiens?
Scott Cowan: Artturi Lehkonen, Jordan Weal and a 3rd round pick for Frank Vatrano and Noel Acciari. Lehkonen has had his moments in Montreal but continues to struggle offensively. While his defensive game is solid, to me, similar players are a dime a dozen in the NHL.
Weal showed promise in his 16-game stint with the Habs last year but has struggled this year, both offensively and defensively. If there’s one thing that has impressed me about the Panthers this year, it’s their depth scoring, and its players like Acciari and Vatrano that have benefited from it, with Acciari recording his first 20 goal season, and Vatrano having been on pace to surpass his totals from the year prior. Both have been consistent in their respective styles of play, and I feel they would be a fine addition to the Canadiens’ middle and bottom six.
Sebastian: Well, Bergevin is very good at making trades that even those who try to predict the unpredictable fail to predict… if that makes sense. Despite the fact that my guess will be utterly wrong, I’ll give this a go.
I think that Bergevin will trade Kulak, a prospect and a pick for a top-four left defenseman. While I am not at all confident in predicting the finer details of this kind of trade, something of its nature would make sense to me. However, since it would be boring not to predict something more concrete, let’s say: Kulak, Fairbrother, Fonstad and a 2nd for Mattias Ekholm.
Omar White: The Montreal Canadiens aren’t necessarily loaded along the wall, but there is an excess of bodies at that position. If Bergevin sees a future with some of these prospects such as Jesse Ylonen or Ryan Poehling (who may on the path of the left-winger), the Habs need room in the top-nine.
I’ve always thought that it makes sense to trade Artturi Lehkonen for either help on the backend or to upgrade. Lehkonen has struggled to score on a consistent basis after putting up 18 in his rookie year. This season did look a bit different, but it’s clear that his play away from the puck was justifying his placement in the top-nine aside from his production.
It would be a ridiculous bargain considering the lack of NHL experience, but some sort of deal with the Edmonton Oilers to acquire Jesse Puljujarvi is intriguing. The 2016 fourth overall pick has made it clear his days with the Oilers organization are over deciding to return to Finland until a trade came up. If it’s a fresh start, he’s looking for, and Lehkonen is enough to get it done, imagine the possibilities if Puljujarvi reaches his potential. But again, it’s a risk.
2) Is the NHLPA right to deem Carey Price as the best goaltender? Why/Why not?
SC: I would say yes, to a certain degree. It’s safe to say that Carey Price has had some very hit and miss seasons over the last little while. While he was completely dominant towards the end stretch of the season last year, he’s been only okay at best this year, playing behind an admittedly inconsistent Canadiens defense.
While I do think there are better goalies in the league, they’ve all had their inconsistent moments, and with this year being overtaken by surprising backups turned starters, theirs no real for sure starters in the league right now, at least in my opinion. So, with that being said, I think Price is the marquee example of a starting goalie in the NHL, as he’s one of the few who hasn’t benefited from a 2-goalie tandem this year, or in years prior.
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S: Whether or not the NHLPA was right to deem Price the league’s best goalie is something they have more insight on than any bloggers or journalists do. Actually, playing against a goaltender is the best way to judge how composed, reliable and dialled in he is. While the stats may tell a different story, I’ll just say that yes, they’re right, purely based on the fact that they have said so for two consecutive years.
OW: As I mentioned in my post on the topic, there is tremendous value in having that kind of respect and recognition from your peers. If you need one goaltender behind you in a Game 7 Stanley Cup Final scenario, having Price is far from a bad answer.
Statistically, the answers obviously change. Based on the kind of chances and shots stopped in combination with their save percentage, Connor Hellebyuck should’ve been named the best. Even Tuukka Rask could’ve got the nod with the season he’s having with the Boston Bruins. The numbers don’t lie, and they not only suggest, but they prove Price was not the best. There is one thing to consider.
Think of all the times hockey analysts or broadcasters dub a playing style ‘Carey Price-like’. When a goaltender is calm in their net and tracking the puck well such that their positioning is sound, it’s reminiscent of Price. He’s the standard and regardless of the numbers, that says a lot.
3) If the NHL resumes, should it start right with the playoffs or give other bubble teams an opportunity to complete?
SC: I think the other bubble teams should be given a chance to compete, as teams like the New York Rangers and Arizona Coyotes have fought really hard and played really well, relatively speaking. Their skill level has been that of a playoff team for most of this season, and as such, I think they should be given a playoff chance.
This season was a wild one in terms of surprise performances, and teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets rode those performances into a playoff birth, off of the back of players like Elvis Merzilikins and even Nathan Gerbe. I think the bubble teams should be given a chance to continue this surprising season and give fans a potential Cinderella run to cheer for.
S: I am of the mind that even if it becomes possible for NHL play to resume this summer that it shouldn’t as it would then interfere with next season, and exhausting players will just make them more susceptible to injuries. This is, however, easier for me to say as the supporter of a lottery-destined team. However, if it does resume, I think that the league would be pressured to making the bracket at least a little bit bigger, maybe to include 20 teams, and then have a best of three series up to the conference finals.
OW: I feel the NHL wants to get as much hockey out of this season as possible. At the same time, there were a number of teams who were on a heater before the pause, and whether the league uses overall points or points percentage will determine who gets in. The New York Islanders get in if it’s based on overall points while the New York Rangers do if the focus is on points percentage.
Next. The dark horse of the organization. dark
At the same time, both Connor McDavid and Victor Hedman have brought up good points that it’s difficult to get right into playoff mode when the season starts. I feel those bubble teams should get an opportunity to play, and perhaps they find a way to modify the playoffs such that it doesn’t take as long as usual.