The Montreal Canadiens expect to be big sellers at this year’s trade deadline, but they just made a few minor tweaks ahead of last year’s.
It resulted in a trip to the Stanley Cup Final and their biggest addition was veteran centre Eric Staal. The Canadiens picked him up from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for third and fifth round picks in last year’s NHL Draft.
Though Staal struggled to just three points in 21 regular season games with the Canadiens, he played well in a depth role during the team’s postseason run.
Staal played a bigger role in the Canadiens first round series win against the Toronto Maple Leafs than he properly got credit for. The Habs won the first game 2-1 and Staal had an assist on the team’s opening goal. He had another assist in Game 5, combining with wingers Joel Armia and Corey Perry to give the Habs a 2-0 lead in a game they would win 4-3 in overtime. Steal also added two assists in the Game 7 win over the Maple Leafs that propelled the Canadiens to the second round.
He would score three points in the second round series against the Winnipeg Jets that was over in four games. After the second round of the playoffs, Staal had seven points in 11 games.
His offence slowed down from there but his physical, grinding, forechecking, and cycling game with Perry and Armia on his wings helped wear down the opposition in the third round series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
After losing in the Stanley Cup Final, Staal did not sign a contract to play with an NHL team this season. He just signed a PTO to join the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League.
Staal is attempting to earn a role with Team Canada at the upcoming Olympics in Beijing. NHL players will not be permitted to participate, so Canada will be a roster made up of veterans playing overseas and youngsters playing Junior or college hockey this season.
And, quite possibly, former Canadiens centre Eric Staal. The 37 year old played a big role on Canada’s gold medal winning team in 2010, scoring six points in seven games in Vancouver.
The Montreal Canadiens won’t have any current roster players in the upcoming Olympics. But it sounds like they may have a few top prospects representing their country. And one former veteran centre who helped them reach the Stanley Cup Final a few months ago could be there as well.