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Mike Reilly Arguably 2018’s Best Trade Deadline Acquisition |
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The 2018 trade deadline already feels so long ago to me despite it only being 2 weeks ago. There were some big deals on and around the deadline by teams looking for that extra advantage in their quest for the Cup and there were some GM’s who tucked tail, too afraid to deal unknowns for proven commodities.
The biggest names moved were likely Brassard, Stastny, Kane, Nash, Vanek, McDonough and that horrible trade to help Detroit rid themselves of Tatar for a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick. I’m sorry but only in McPhee’s universe is Tatar worth the first half of your teams draft picks.
There were many minor deals made as well as GM’s went out and tried to show their handlers they were actually working that day, but the list of trades I’m looking at shows me they are mostly of the “bottom half/press box/disappointment” variety.
There are many who heaped a ton of praise on the Pittsburgh Penguins for their acquisition of Brassard for their 3rd line and it’s deserved. It’s also a luxury to have drafted Malkin and Crosby to act as your 1/2 C’s for 15-20 years as well, which means you can bring in college rookies and mid skilled vets to fill in some winger positions while loading up your PP units to ensure those talented C’s raise others games. Pittsburgh is the only team that can do this in this league right now, so while it doesn’t necessarily tell me the GM is talented it does tell me he’s competent and astute.
Now, with the apparent clear winner established it would be wise to follow up on the matter that the media felt was a slam dunk.
Since joining the Pens Brassard has seen his ice time drop from 18:21 to 15:39, his CF% drop from 51% to 42.6% and his FF% drop from 50.1% to 42.4%. His PPG pace on OTT this season was 0.66 and with PITT it is 0.29. To add one more stat line to this dramatically disappointing paragraph, Brassard’s FO% dropped from 49.6% with OTT to 46.2% with PITT.
He better be really good at whatever they are asking him to do in Pittsburgh because his stat lines are a massive disappointment so far.
WHO IS WINNING TRADE DEADLINE 2018 SO FAR?
It looks like the edge goes to the Winnipeg Jets so far in their acquisition of Paul Stastny who has put up 2G and 5A in 6 games so far with the Jets.
Following the Jets I would argue the Sharks found great value so far in the much maligned Evander Kane who has put up 1G and 4A in 5 games so far. While it remains to be seen how Kane handles himself in San Jose after he’s made a career of being an underachieving, locker room cancer who makes questionable decisions on social media and in nightclubs, one can’t argue with the production so far. Maybe the soon to be 27 year old can finally mature beyond the mindset of a moody teenager.
After the Sharks I think it’s very fair to say the Montreal Canadiens found themselves great value in defenseman Mike Reilly despite being deadline sellers. Usually teams don’t find themselves acquiring high quality youth at the deadline without moving a high end, established player out, but in plucking Reilly from the Wild for a 5th round pick the Habs appear to have done exactly that.
The 24 year old, 6’02”, 195 lbs Reilly has come into the Canadiens and assumed a top 4 role after the last 3 seasons have seen him bounce between a defensively stacked Minnesota Wild team and their AHL team in Iowa.
With the new found opportunity, Reilly has shown much promise in this dismal Canadiens season. Reilly went from playing 12:21 a game in Minny to 21:54 with the Habs and with the extra time Reilly has already put up 5A in 6 games. With the Wild he had 10 points in 38 games.
Reilly has also seen a sharp uptick in his CF% and FF%. His CF% with the Wild was 42% and has improved the 48.3% with the Habs. His FF% with the Wild was 42.6% and is 49.4% with the Habs. One might want to know if these upward trending stats are a result of favorable starting positions in the offensive zone. Great question! The answer is no. Actually Reilly’s oZS% has dropped to 53% with the Habs compared to 57% with the Wild while he has seen his dZS% increase to 46.2% with the Canadiens from 43% with the Wild.
So, he was likely more “sheltered” in Minnesota than Montreal and has found himself moved from #6 D minutes to #2-#3 D minutes.
The sample size is small so far, but results and stats don’t lie. So far it appears that Marc Bergevin may have pulled off the biggest steal of the 2018 Deadline despite the teams position.
If any other team could boast grabbing a top minute, point producing, young defenceman for a 5th round pick value this deadline please let us know in the comments. And if this was the Maple Leafs acquiring Reilly and seeing this kind of production and minutes the praise for Lamourillo and Babcock would be nauseating.
But we follow the Habs and half the fanbase won’t allow themselves to see the positives because of one trade almost two seasons ago and that’s pretty sad. Maybe those fans could change their favorite teams and the rest of us Canadiens fans can appreciate the good work when it happens.
IF Reilly becomes a top 4 fixture on the Canadiens for years to come we should all be laughing at the fact the Habs snagged this guy for a 5th, while in the same day dealing a terrible defenseman in Morrow for a 4th round pick.
The Winner of the deadline is likely the Jets with Stastny as he gives them a more complete team at this point and if the Sharks retain Kane (which I doubt) AND he straightens out and becomes the 55-60pt guy ppl thought he could be then they would win due to production and player age. But I doubt Kane can accomplish all that.
Should Reilly’s development in Montreal continue on the path he is paving at the moment we may look back at this deadline next year at this time and say Bergevin picked the Wild’s pocket while fixing a very large hole in his D corps. Sure would be swell to say that next deadline.
STOP WHINING
Don’t be Sith, stop letting the hate flow through you. Next year is a new season with our youth getting warmed up now. Also, don’t look now but our teams top C prospect on one of the top NCAA hockey teams is moving to the round.
CANADIENS IN COLUMBUS FOR BATTLE WITH BLUE JACKETS
The Habs finish up the 4 game road trip tonight in Ohio against the Easts 8th seeded Blue Jackets and that damn cannon. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm EST.
The Jackets are fighting for the playoff lives and the Habs are fighting for roster spots next season. A team desperate for playoff action against a bunch of players desperate for NHL careers.
The Habs could take on the role of spoilers, but it will be a tough ask. One thing about this youth movement is that the kids are battling and that's a good sign. The results won't be a large win streak, but competing and losing good games builds resiliency and character and if we want the kids to play next year in a meaningful way then this experience is a positive one. Some media won't talk about that because their handlers like their Negative News clicks and ad revenue, but it doesn't mean it isn't true.
The losses today will be the foundation the future is built on tomorrow. All that matters right now is the effort, drive, and compete levels to see who has the potential to stay and who has the potential to excel.
Don't get too down folks, the Habs are in position to pick 5th and that's still blue chip level in this draft.
Go Habs Go!
OT FOR THE TATAR LOVERS
One last thing, Tatar has 1G in 6 games and is a -4 while the VGK are 3-3-0 since the trade and have lost to OTT and needed a SO to beat the Sabres…. WELL WORTH A 1ST, 2ND, AND 3RD RIGHT???? McPhee was redeeming himself, but then he couldn’t help being himself at the Deadline I suppose…. Horrible trade…. Gross…. DUMB.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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