Cammalleri Trade Highlights "Outside the Box" Season
In a day and age when value for dollar performance means much more to a teams success, the Montreal Canadiens could be forgiven for thinking that they simply weren't getting enough out of Michael Cammalleri for the $6 million he was making per season.
True, he had fast become a hero with his splendid playoff run in his first year with the team as the Habs ventured to the Eastern Conference Finals, yet the only time since than that we have seen #13 put up the same type of effort was in last spring's 7 game series versus the Bruins.
Aside from those performances, which will clearly rank as his best in a Habs uniform, it was rather hard to justify he brought what his agent advertised when the team signed him.
Suffice to say, management finally realized Cammalleri wasn't producing at the rate he was being paid to.
And while the other half of that argument suggests the Habs did not put enough talent around him, that argument doesn't hold much water as Tomas Plekanec and Brian Gionta aren't exactly untalented players themselves.
The truth was that, for the price he was paid, Michael Cammalleri was the one who was supposed to make players around him better.
And he failed to do that.
He was not the offensive catalyst they expected him to be. Nor was he the consistent goal scorer his talents projected him to be.
Instead, he - like many of the other vets brought on board during Bob Gainey's house cleaning - simply didn't find a comfort zone.
Following the unconventional mould this season seems to have sprung from, the fact that Cammalleri was traded mid-game came, though it certainly ruffled some feathers, seemed par for the course in 2011-12.
Here's some food for thought on the trade:
1. With the need for players to match their production to the value of their contracts, Rene Bourque's salary figures are far more in line with what he brings to the Canadiens than what Michael Cammalleri was bringing. That said, though most hate the idea of a Bourque for Cammy swap straight-up, it's a heck of a lot sweeter if you consider the deal to be Bourque for Cammy plus the cash to go out and get another Bourque.
2. If you were watching the Habs this season, than you were likely as frustrated as I was watching Cammalleri hesitate and, for the better part, fail to compete for pucks or battle in the corner. His body language spoke of a disgruntled 4 year old who no longer wanted the juice box he had long been begging for. Sad as it may seem, Cammy's sweet shot, great agility and puck-handling were only valuable when his heart was behind them.
3. "Habs are small, they need size." Did it, done it, got. Not a day goes by when this franchise isn't ripped for its lack of size and grit and, when considering those elements alone, the Habs win that deal in the sense that they upgraded in size. Bourque is a full 4 inches taller than Cammy and, as evidenced recently, a mean streak matched by no one on the Habs current roster.
4. Inconsistencies. One of the first things folks scrambled to proclaim about Bourque were his inconsistencies. Yet, if you'd been paying attention to Cammalleri - or at least the criticism around him lately - the conversation was about that very topic. As mentioned in point 2, Cammy's heart vanished from his sleeve and so too did his will to go in the corner and race and battle for pucks. While Bourque may have similar issues, at half the price and a plus in the size department, those inconsistencies will likely be easier to swallow.
5. Offensive output. Bob McKenzie outlined it best in his breakdown of the trade, ultimately concluding that there is but a .02-.03 goal per game differential between Cammalleri and Bourque over the past 4 seasons, leading me to ultimately believe that Bourque should be capable of fulfilling Cammalleri's role - again, all while costing nearly half the price.
6. Age. A half year separates the two players, so I can't necessarily buy in to that argument.
7. Playoffs. In losing Cammy, one thing the Canadiens know for certain is that they let go of a guaranteed playoff performer. Perhaps the one thing that will sting the most when all is said and done is losing out on the snipers post-season prowess, yet for the price of waiting an entire regular season, $6 million dollars seemed a high cost.
8. Cap space. I've been talking about it the entire time, but this move is something that brings relief to a team that, thanks to some unfortunate moves, handcuffed themselves this season after having nearly $30 million in the bank this past summer. In roller-coaster like fashion, it now seems that management has realized the need to shed some of those excessive salaries...though it may be too late for the most of the other contracts. With Cammy out and Bourque in, there's an extra $2.7 back on the books. Consider it the acquisition of the best asset of all, cash. It's hard to argue that, of all the things the Habs got back in this deal, freedom under the cap may be the most important. Time will tell, but with one big contract out the door, you can sure bet that the rest of them are now on notice.
9. Asset swap. I mentioned the cap relief, but there's also the fact that the Canadiens were able to peddle Kari Ramo (he who was never going to play for the team) as well as a 5th round pick and parlay them into a 2nd rounder and prospect named Peter Holland. While Cammy's overall value is what swayed the value of the other assets in the deal in the Canadiens favor, it's key that Montreal gained a 2nd rounder after having spent so many in the past few years. Holland's addition isn't a terrible one either as his point totals have increased favorably over the past few seasons to the point where he is now a point per game or better. Regardless of the potential Holland may bring, the 2nd rounder and the cash are very important additions to this deal. AND, while most would argue the Canadiens could have gotten better, or have gotten a first round pick, it's hard to think they would have gotten much else beyond a 1st rounder. Despite the team needing to take advantage of an opportunity like gaining and extra 1st, the deal does address the other need of balancing things. A player, cash, improved assets and greater size are all elements the Habs were in need of.
10. The direction. Though Gauthier's head is still rolling beneath the guillotine, this move (aside from the manner in which it was made) suggests a proactive direction in line with what the current NHL demands. Shrewder cap management, value for performance players and a lineup with size are the key elements in building a winner today, and with the Cammalleri trade the Canadiens take a step in that direction. The other thing to keep in mind is that this move was in the works for quite awhile, indicating management has long been working to find a new direction to take this team in. And by management I don't always mean Pierre Gauthier alone. The "Ghost" may conduct business like no other, but the truth of the matter is that this wasn't his decision and his decision alone.
All in all, this was far more of a "big picture" move as the Canadiens have turned the corner since Bob Gainey's rebuild.
And though many rip that rebuild, it has put the team in a position today where those veterans that were brought in at the time no longer play as important a role as they once did.
Instead, the younger players and 2nd/3rd liners are quickly becoming the focal point of the team's new identity.
With actual bona-fide prospects set to join the team in the next two years, the Canadiens are fast joining the rest of the youth movement in the NHL.
They know they need to, and thanks to Cammalleri's value as a player coupled with his recent play/dissension, they seized a moment of opportunity to head in that new direction.
Time will tell if this move doesn't blow up in Gauthier face, yet with the added cap space and assets, you could say there is a bit of a safety net attached to this deal.
What are your thoughts?
www.twitter.com/StevenHindle
[email protected]
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»