|
Habs Must Trade Pacioretty, 3 Destinations That Make Sense... |
|
|
|
|
|
The Habs have played well lately and while that won’t help their draft position at the moment, it will help the trade value of some players that GM’s may want to get before the deadline.
One of those players is the Captain, Max Pacioretty.
It really does sting a bit to type that as Max has been a great Canadien. But, his age and likely contract requirements coupled with the Canadiens need for a quick retool make him the perfect piece to help expedite the retool process and not waste the remainder of Price and Weber’s good years.
Max has had a subpar season by his standards, which is surely the main argument for any rival GM looking to acquire him, but don’t let that derail what we all know: Pacioretty is a valuable trade asset that will give a team two playoff run on the cheap to go with his typical 35+ goal production.
The Habs will score big because contrary to popular belief, scouting is a strength of this team. Sometimes players draft hype has swayed the brass (Galchenyuk at 3) but typically this team has scouted well and Dudley, Timmins, and Bergevin are respected for their ability to see talent.
Look at the year they acquired Sergachev in the draft. Rumors were rampant that Bergevin was looking to acquire 4th overall from the Oilers with the top three seemingly set at Matthews, Laine, and Puljujarvi. It was no secret that the Canadiens were ready to trade big to acquire the right to draft PL Dubois. Dubois was the draft day shocker at #3 to Columbus and everyone was questioning the Jackets brass.
Fast forward to today and the jury is still out on Puljujarvi, who has had opportunities with one of the NHL’s best (if not the best) in McDavid, while Dubois has taken over the CBJ’s #1 C spot from Wennberg and Dubinsky and has thrived in the position. Yes, it took some injuries to give him the opportunity but he is showing why Bergevin was rumored to be all in trying to acquire him at the draft. In his last 21 games he has 7 goals and 10 assists for 17 points and a .81 PPG pace (66 pt avg over 82 games). All as a 19 year old rookie thrust into a position out of necessity.
Bergevin and Co. can scout.
They will want blue chips and a 1st round pick in any deal, or at least they should so lets try to figure out a few possible destinations.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
I suggested this in another blog and was met with a fair share of criticism but consider the impact on the franchise, and fanbase, if they acquired one of the top NHL goal scorers for a playoff run in their first season and have him for an extra year at 4.5 mill? It could be huge for the club all around for the cost of a pick and a couple prospects.
I will alter what I said previously just for “realistic” reasons.
To Vegas: Pacioretty and Benn
To Montreal: Vegas 19 1st rd pick, C Glass, and N Hague
Montreal gets a 1st in 2019 instead of 2018 as the draft really weakens after the top 10 this summer. They also get former 6th over all pick 6’02” C, Cody Glass who is on pace for over 100 points the WHL and the Knights 2nd round selection last summer Nicholas Hague, who has put up a great years so far in the OHL (39 games, 21 G, 25 A).
Both these young players could have a shot to join the club next year and adds to Montreal’s C depth, in fact they would be adding their best C prospect since Galchenyuk. A definite need for Montreal.
Sure its a price for Vegas to pay for certain, but they still have Suzuki and Brannstrom in the depth pool at F and D with an opportunity to replace Engelland or Hunt with Benn and add someone who could be their top F for the next season and a half (and possibly beyond). These opportunities don’t come along often where you can deal from organization depth strength in prospects to add 35+ goal scorers.
Vegas should be in on Pacioretty for sure.
ST LOUIS BLUES
After J Schwartz the Blues are very thin on LW using the rapidly aging Steen, Bergland, and Sobotka. With Schwartz injured it has has exposed their lack of depth on the left wing. So, a deal with Montreal would make all kinds of sense.
To Blues: Pacioretty, 2018 2nd Chicago
To Montreal: Klim Kostin, Jordan Kyrou, 18 or 19 1st round pick.
Blues are in a “Win Now” mode and need to add more scoring for a long playoff run or two. Pacioretty gives them two first line LW’s with Schwartz and two deadly PP units for nothing off their roster.
Habs get two elite prospects in Kostin and Kyrou with an extra late first round pick to make some Poehling-like magic happen. Kostin definitely will cause some anxiety for some due to his Russian heritage, but he is a 18 year old, 6’2” center with big offensive potential and is currently underperforming in the AHL in his first pro North American season. Could be a great chance to scoop him while hype is stagnant.
Kyrou is currently dominating the OHL as a 19 year old C for the Sarnia Sting with 19 G and 39 A in 30 games which is good enough for 3rd in league scoring. He is an undersized C, listed at 6’0” and 177 lbs, but the potential is there.
Many discounted V Trocheck as an undersized scorer and after a couple years he has proven to be one of Florida’s most valueble players, if not their most valuable. Discounting guys based on height its becoming a thing of the past. It’s all about game impact and willingness to work.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
The Predators are looking for closure this season after coming so close to winning a Stanley Cup last spring, but the injury to LW F Forsberg has thrown a huge curveball at their efforts. A 35 year old P Rinne puts added pressure on GM D Poile to maximize the best team he has ever built in the last 2 decades too. The addition of Pacioretty would definitely help them continue on their way to the playoffs, but also give them and even more potent offense once Forsberg returns to his 1st line LW spot.
To Predators: Pacioretty, 18 2nd Chicago.
To Canadiens: D Fabbro, E Tolvanen, P Harper, F Allard, Nashville 18 or 19 1st round pick.
This trade gives the Predators a serious two playoff window to win a Stanley Cup and a pick to replenish the cupboard. The Canadiens basically improve their prospect pool drastically at F and D.
Fabbro and Allard are both big junior scorers as defensemen with nice upside. The Habs also get the Preds top wing prospect in the undersized Tolvanen who is lighting up the KHL for his age ( 18 years, 39 games, 17 G and 15 A) and a top level College C, but undersized at 5’09”, in Patrick Harper who put up 37 its in 38 games last season for Boston University and is currently at PPG pace with BU this season (20 games, 8 G and 13 A).
Montreal would gather a great amount of potential in these assets and Nashville goes on to try to grab a Stanley Cup over the next 2 seasons. As big a payment as this is for Nashville, it could be worth it for Poile to finally put together his championship team.
Bottom line is: Trading Pacioretty this season will bring back significant assets for the Habs future and that is worth more than one more season of the Captain’s services before he gets his 8 million per year, career ending deal.
Montreal must capitalize on this asset and stands to, just a matter of finding the right payment in return.
Toss out your trade ideas in the comments section.
GO HABS GO!
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»