The trade deadline is rapidly approaching and news, reports and rumors involving the Montreal Canadiens will be running wild. The latest news is that Kent Hughes and his team have intensified talks between the Canadiens and both the Dallas Stars and the Florida Panthers.
The Canadiens have been heavily both teams. Eric Crawford, the Director of Pro Scouting, has been seen in Manitoba scouting the Jets vs Stars matchup. While Vincent Lecavalier is scheduled to scout the Florida Panthers for the second time this week.
For @MTLhockeynow:
— MurphysLaw74 (@MurphysLaw74) March 5, 2022
The #GoHabsGo and #TexasHockey have been scouting each other a lot over the past few weeks and an NHL source has confirmed to MHN that the two teams are indeed talking trade.https://t.co/XHbYKQHdxH
Eric Crawford.
— Mike McIntyre (@mikemcintyrewpg) March 5, 2022
Tonight’s scouts at #FlaPanthers - #RedWings a good mix of buyers and sellers. Guess which scouts are watching which team tonight… pic.twitter.com/dkdfWZsQCW
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) March 5, 2022
This will only intensify rumors involving two Canadiens defencemen in particular. Jeff Petry has been linked to the Stars in the past and the Panthers have recently been heavily rumored in upping their interest in Ben Chiarot.
Thomas Harley, who has split time between the NHL and the AHL Texas Stars, has recently seen his ice time increase in what can only be assumed as “showing” the player. This is a tactic often used by teams in order to increase potential trade interest.
Want your voice heard? Join the A Winning Habit team!
Harley can be an interesting prospect for the Canadiens. The left handed defenceman has been picked three spots after Cole Caufield in the first round of the 2019 draft. He’s been receiving high praise for his skating and puck handling. Not to mention he has incredible vision of the game. He has been criticized in the past for his “lazy” decisions but has shown improvement in that department already.
His sister, Emilie Harley, plays for the Buffalo Beauts of the Premier Hockey Federation, formerly the National Women’s Hockey League.
The Panthers on their end have been playing their cards close to the chest. However, with only $3.8 million currently available in cap space, it is likely the Canadiens will take an expiring contract to balance the books and help the Panthers fit Ben Chiarot’s $3.5 million contract. Noel Acciari’s name has often been mentioned although he possesses a 10-team no trade list. Russian winger Maxim Mamin is also a cap dump candidate.
The Canadiens have reportedly seeking a first round pick in return of Ben Chiarot, but with the Panthers not holding a first round pick this year, it seems unlikely Florida will abide by such demands. That being said, there is word that the Canadiens might settle for a prospect instead. The names of Olli Juolevi and Owen Tippett are a few names that have often popped up in the Florida rumor mill.
Juolevi is the former 5th overall pick for the Vancouver Canucks in 2016. The Finnish defenceman was part of the trade that sent Noah Juulsen and Juho Lammikko to Vancouver. The 23 year old still has Top 4 potential if given a proper chance. Scouting reports tout him as a very good “all-around defenceman with high hockey IQ”.
MARCH 5th UPDATE: SHORTLY AFTER PUBLISHING THIS ARTICLE, JUOLEVI HAS BEEN SENT TO WAIVERS.
MARCH 6th UPDATE: THE DETROIT RED WINGS HAS CLAIMED JUOLEVI OFF WAIVERS.
Owen Tippett was the 10th overall pick for the Panthers in the 2017 draft. He’s a pure natural scorer who can play both sides of the wing but has had issues transitioning his skills to the NHL level. He has shown some flashes of his potential but seems to struggle in the tight coaching system of Joel Quenneville and eventually Andrew Brunette. Maybe a change of scenery is what the 23 year old Peterborough native needs.
The NHL Trade Deadline is March 21st, 2022.