Montreal Canadiens: The Michael McCarron trade was a win for both sides

The Montreal Canadiens finally decided to part ways with Michael McCarron and with Laurent Dauphin, it looks like both sides benefitted from it.

The 2019-20 season saw the end of Michael McCarron‘s tenure with the Montreal Canadiens. A beatdown at the hands of the Ottawa Senators in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs saw the organization go for size using their first-round pick on the U.S. National Development forward.

Fans were skeptical but optimistic about McCarron’s trajectory. His performance with the London Knights and Oshawa Generals was uplifting as he helped the Generals win a Memorial Cup while he had a decent rookie season in the AHL with the St. Johns IceCaps. However, two things could never pan out for McCarron: his skating and his role in the organization.

The yo-yo method was in effect as McCarron jumped up and down between the AHL and NHL, not playing any higher than the third line when playing with the Montreal Canadiens. Additionally, injuries got in the way of his progress, and after a pair of one-year deals, the Habs decided it was it.

McCarron was traded to the Nashville Predators in his place came 25-year-old Laurent Dauphin. The 2013 second-round pick was in a similar situation as McCarron getting tastes of the NHL here and there but spending the most of his professional career in the minors. In fact, this trade made the Montreal Canadiens his third organization as he was originally drafted by the Arizona Coyotes, seeing his NHL resume fall only with them.

Both players were looking for new opportunities to grow, and McCarron quickly showed he needed a change in scenery. McCarron had a cold start with the Milwaukee Admirals going pointless in his first three games. The match against the Rockford Ice Dogs got things going as he scored his first goal with his new team. McCarron scored another nine goals, including two, two-goal games.

Dauphin, on the other hand, continued the pace he established with the Admirals. He already had 7 goals and 9 assists in 33 games and increased his point pace scoring 7 goals and 8 assists in 25 games. Going from 0.48 to 0.6 points-per-game isn’t the biggest jump, but it is noteworthy.

The Montreal Canadiens definitely liked what Dauphin brought to he organization as they’ve already decided to sign him for next season. It is only a one-year deal at the same cap-hit, but it is an opportunity for Dauphin to show what he can do in a full season. At the same time, he’ll still be a restricted free agent by the end of the year, allowing the Habs to still have control.

The next test for Dauphin will be whether he can have an impact with the Montreal Canadiens. He hasn’t played an NHL game since the 2018-19 season with the Coyotes, and when he did, it was mostly fourth-line minutes. Seeing how the walls are relatively full on the Habs, Dauphin would be in the same position, but there’s always the chance he performs and earns some more minutes.

Either way, both the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators were able to find some value in that trade. It was unfortunate McCarron couldn’t find steady ground with the Habs, but there’s a chance he establishes something for himself with his new organization. As for Dauphin, he’s getting a chance to play in his home province and be a star. The Habs aren’t the only team trying to end a playoff drought after all.