The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro - Montreal Canadiens Trade Deadline reaction

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki is playing huge minutes, and Owen Beck isn’t playing much. 

They need to add a centre, because a playoff run, a long one, will not be sustainable with Beck playing nine minutes a night. 

Beck improves Laval dramatically, and the Habs not landing a second line centre prevents him from going there. Montreal has Suzuki, Beck, Jake Evans and Christian Dvorak. I think giving up something to bring in a young centre with a bit of term would have been tremendous for the Habs. 

There is certainly a plan, and Hughes made the paper transaction allowing Beck and Jakub Dobes to go down to Laval come playoffs. But if that is the case, who plays if Beck goes down to Laval? Michael Pezzetta has been been healthy scratched for essentially the entire season, so he is out of the question.

Sending Beck down leaves a hole in the Canadiens lineup. Calling up a centre from Laval would do the same thing to the Rocket. Laval is the top team in the American Hockey League, with head coach Pascal Vincent hitting all the right notes, and Montreal is within reach of a wildcard spot, with 20 games remaining on the schedule. 

So, a decision will need to be made. Does Beck finish the season with Montreal, then get sent down to Laval? Or does Pezzetta move to the wing, and play with Alex Newhook at centre, and Patrik Laine on the right wing. 

That sounds unrealistic, so I am trying to wrap my head around standing pat with a playoff spot so close the Habs can almost taste it. Hughes expressed that him not making a move is a nod to how Suzuki and the team have played since the return from the 4 Nations Face-Off. he rewarded Suzuki by not trading anybody away, and letting this group play out the string. 

I think it was a mistake not trading one of Mike Matheson or David Savard. Once Kaiden Guhle returns, I think Montreal can manage without one of the veterans. Acquiring a veteran defender closer to the start of the Canadiens' contention window makes a ton of sense. 

I can see the group without one of the two in the fold still looking good. Guhle and Hutson can be the top defence pair, and Arber Xhekaj with Alexandre Carrier. Jayden Struble and David Savard would form a solid third pair. 

Hughes had Savard/Matheson, Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia to dangle. The Canadiens general manager also has Calgary’s ‘25 first round pick, and a plethora of fantastic prospects. I understand that getting a second-line calibre centre isn’t cheap, but this team would be a lot stronger with one. 

All-in-all I think not trading away anything significant and choosing to stock up at the draft, and then free agency will be a smart route. But a playoff push when your this close would be nice. I do think that a couple more top-10 picks wouldn’t hurt, however. 

In Kent we trust, until otherwise proven not to. 

Pascal Vincent is creating a masterpiece

The Laval Rocket are thriving under head coach Pascal Vincent, who has the team firing on all cylinders. Their young defence is playing great, and between the pipes Cayden Primeau has been steady as a surgeon. Sean Farrell is heating up, Florian Xhekaj and Jared Davidson have been brilliant, and David Reinbacher has silenced many doubters.

Laval made a huge statement this weekend with their two wins over the Utica Comets, and they look every bit of a legitimate threat for a Calder Cup championship. If Montreal doesn't make the playoffs, the Canadiens have plenty to be excited about with the Rocket. Laval is shipping up to be a great pipeline to develop players, and prepare them for the NHL.

Things are rolling in the right direction, and guys like Reinbacher, Davidson and Xhekaj's play this season, will be huge for their training camp odds with the Canadiens in late September, early October.