Canadiens: Three Hot Takes From Shea Weber Trade
The Montreal Canadiens finally managed to pull the trigger on a trade that Kent Hughes has been attempting to pull since his first days as General Manager – ridding of Shea Weber’s contract.
We’ve been talking about the possibility of trading Weber’s contract all season long, with the Arizona Coyotes being the most logical candidate. Turns out we’ve been swerved as the Vegas Golden Knights decided to take on Mountain Man’s contract and sent us Evgenii Dadonov our way.
The trade itself is going to have three serious effects on the Montreal Canadiens as a whole. Some more obvious than others.
Carey Price Can Safely Be Put On The LTIR
Dan Kramer, who some may know on Twitter as a Montreal Canadiens prospects guru for various platforms, found a gem of an explanation regarding long term injury reserves via Puck Pedia:
I see a lot of confusion on LTIR, and as it relates to #Habs Weber trade. The below is probably the cleanest explanation. YES - you can exceed the cap by amount of an LTIR player’s cap hit, more or less ignoring it. BUT - you can’t accrue/bank cap space while using LTIR space. pic.twitter.com/Q21xThejSV
— Dan Kramer (@DanKramerHabs) June 16, 2022
Kent Hughes did go on record saying that he’s going into the offseason not knowing exactly what the status of Carey Price is. Going as far as as saying that he’s going to be working around the cap as if Price was going to be the starting goaltender on opening night.
Kent Hughes has accepted he likely won’t have clarity on Carey Price’s playing situation until closer to training camp or perhaps even later. So, he’ll have to go about his off-season business planning for Price to be on his active roster… pic.twitter.com/BLVR3DVOAL
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) June 17, 2022
We’ve heard a similar speech with Shea Weber last season. This is management being cautious with their words as they are not legally allowed to say that neither Weber nor Price is retired at this point. Price is still at the stage where he is looking at options and being evaluated by doctor’s, but it won’t come as a shock to anyone when it will be announced in the offseason that he will start the season on the LTIR and that Samuel Montembeault will be signed to a contract extension.
One of the greatest marketing coups the Canadiens can make is one that many fans are starting to predict.
We imagine the stage set at the Bell Center for the announcement of the first overall pick. Martin St. Louis takes the podium to a roaring ovation and announces in both French and English “To present the first overall pick, here is the new captain of the Montreal Canadiens, Nick Suzuki.”
Another ovation. The crowd goes insane.
Then Suzuki announces the selection of Shane Wright. Another ovation. The ratings are through the rough. Gary Bettman and Geoff Molson see dollar signs everywhere. “Go Habs Go” chants are deafening.
The dawning of a new era.
I’ve mentioned a recent rumor that the Canadiens, New Jersey Devils and the Columbus Blue Jackets are in talks regarding a three way trade. Mainstream media have picked it up and now it seems talks of Josh Anderson possibly being moved is now a possibility.
Kent Hughes has obviously claimed that it would take a mega deal to move Anderson, but anything could happen.
Regarding speculation Josh Anderson might be traded, Kent Hughes said it's not his intention to trade him. But he also said he won't turn away from any opportunity to make his team better.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) June 16, 2022
You have to remember that it was also not in Hughes’ intention to trade Artturi Lehkonen, but he ended up getting a great return from the Colorado Avalanche. With the Devils willing to move their 2nd overall pick and the Blue Jackets willing to move their 6th overall pick, you can draw your own conclusions as to what kind of trade might be beneficial for all three clubs.
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