Recrutes: Hockey scouting from a professional perspective from Grant McCagg and Habs coverage from a 33 year veteran covering the NHL from Brian Wilde.
November 21, 2017
By Brian Wilde
The Montreal Canadiens with a two games in two nights road trip through Dallas and Nashville. The challenge in Texas got more difficult just before game time as Shea Weber was made not available with a lower body injury. To the Wilde Horses we go….
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Oilers are looking for a D-man.
They can have Alzner, Petry, Benn, Davidson, Morrow & Schlemko. No one else though
HA! I loved this response
Who would you trade for RNH? Unfortunately we know very well that Pacioretty isn’t going to be a source of ‘veteran leadership’ for them 😛
Curious Brian….What are the parts of a RNH trade that you think makes sense?
The Oilers need veteran leadership, D, scoring on the wing, and they can’t sell their fan base on another rebuild. They need to improve now. This deal could have a lot of parts. Be 5 players. I see the Habs regrouping here before the Oilers who are probably too young and could use some stabiiiry.
I wouldn’t be surprised if MTL took on Lucic as part of the deal to help alleviate some of EDM’s cap issues.
Bergevin likes the player, too.
Lucic has a NMC.
I think D is a less pressing concern for the Oilers as Nurse is improving and growing into a top 4 defenseman. Larsson is still solid. Klefbom & Benning have taken a step back and Chiarelli will likely gamble on them making progress again. That being said I don’t know who the Habs can offer on D other than Weber, and as things stand now unless the intention is to go full tank and lose 80% of the rest of our games Weber should be off the table.
What the Habs can offer is scoring wingers – Galchenyuk ideally, but Pacioretty if necessary. The idea of trading Lindgren as part of this blockbuster deal is intriguing. Brossoit has been awful in relief of Talbot, and Talbot himself may need to feel pressure and a competition for the starting spot in order to turn his own game around. Question is, is RNH enough of a return? Oilers don’t have too many significant names in the pipeline. Puljujarvi would be intriguing, but a gamble at this point. Yamamoto – too small. We have our share of small quick forwards. Dare we dream that Chiarelli may consider moving Draisaitl as part of a blockbuster deal with several pieces coming back (Galchenyuk, Pacioretty, Lindgren)?? RNH has been solid and his cap hit is smaller going forward. I didn’t think having all that money tied up in McDavid and Drai was a bad idea at the time they signed, but when none of the secondary pieces are producing that creates a problem and more has to be invested in supporting players for McDavid at this stage it seems.
Thoughts?
Would they take plekanek?
Great article, as usual. Unfortunately for the Habs, they don’t have a quality D that can step in and play big minutes for the Oilers right now.
Aside from Weber, of course.
Ok, I’ll bite, although I’m scared, which moving parts are you suggesting? I really do like this group of guys. Confidence, from a couple of wins would go a long way. I’m not sure who I’d like to see gone. Draft picks?
The way Julien has handled Mete is immensely frustrating. You are correct in saying that he hasn’t played worse than any of the other D not named Weber. Yet one mistake and he sits. He has shown flashes of skill and can generate that offensive spark. It seems to be a disease among conservative NHL coaches that they just can’t bring themselves to let these young guys grow into their game.
As far as RHN goes, he has played very well this year. He’s probably been their most consistent forward. That being said, I don’t see how the Habs can get him without creating a huge hole elsewhere. Pacioretty seems to be the most logical part of that deal, but then we lose our top goal scorer. I suppose Drouin could play on the wing-
He may just be more comfortable there anyway.
I would trade Pacioretty for RNH +
Brian I keep hearing trade Weber? You really think it is true? Habs spirit has been broken! Blame GM? coaching? Owner?Players?Price? 😶🔵⚪️🔴
It’s exciting to think about a blockbuster but if they traded Gallagher, it would break my heart.
I wouldn’t trade him just because he’s he hardest workthing big guy on that team…
With Weber out I was hoping to see Mete out on the PP in the third period.
I know in your position, it’s difficult to name names because you have to talk to these guys after games. So let us do it for you as we have no such constraints.
Veteran leadership on the blue-line? Shea Weber
Secondary Scoring ? Max Pacioretty.
The difficult part would be the CAP and who do you get in return? RNH for sure, as you mentioned because that’s where the Habs are weak and where the Oil can move Draisaitl for their 1-2 punch. Then there would have to be secondary pieces. The Oilers are really hurting in goal this year with Talbot not having a good season. Would you offer up Charlie LIndgren?
Coming the other way would be RNH and prospects like Kailer Yamamoto, Ethan Bear and Tyler Benson. That’s not definitive, of course and could be more or less, but the Habs and Oilers trading would at least avoid being fleeced by a team in a stronger negotiating position. I like the idea, but I’m not crazy about Marc Bergevin being the architect of a re-build. I can’t help feeling his judgment is seriously skewed by factors other than talent.
Mete loses one puck battle and sits. Alzner & Petry lose every puck battle & get paid $10M for it. Excellent.
With the mess Bergevin has created, I wouldn’t trust him making any trades, which are difficult to make in today’s NHL without getting fleeced. I know everyone is available at the right price but don’t let Bergevin decide what the “right price” is.
The season is lost . Acquiring RNH will not make the difference. I don’t believe there is a big trade to be made at this point in the season. July is when the roster is tooled. This past July Bergevin erred in losing Radulov & Markov . Bergevin didn’t want to pay Radulov but signs Alzner for what he did. Don’t get that at all. Will hope for the best but have no expectations . Gonna be a long season
Great read Brian.
I think the reason why it hasn’t happened yet is because both sides are asking too much . Pressure is on both the Oilers and Habs to make a deal that would help both short term and long. These thing unfortunately time and a lot of back and forth talks. We’ll have to wait and see .
It seems like Pacioretty’s name is starting to be tossed out with the New York Rangers listed as one of the candidates. My first thought is that it is highly unlikely but should the Rangers indeed be interested, what should the Habs seek in return. It would depend on whether management believes that they can be competitive now or if they should build for the future.
Assuming the club may want to build for the futrure, Joe Sakic may have set the standard with what he received in return for Duchene. Similar value for Montreal in a trade would be Filip Chytil, Sean Day, Adam Tambellini, a 1st round pick in 2018, a 2nd round pick in 2018 and a 3rd round pick in 2019.
Do you think the focus should be on the present or on the future and would you do it for those assets?
They should seek a center and a first pairing D. Simply gotta have one
Who do you suggest the Habs would give up for RNH?
Max?
Gallagher?
Galchenyuk?