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Desjardins Traded for Ramo; Who Likes this Deal? |
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I'm struggling to understand the logic behind Pierre Gauthier's decision to trade Cedrick Desjardins to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Karri Ramo. Some have suggested the move was made as a favor to Carey Price, who won't have to worry about the fans or media clamoring to have the AHL's best French Canadian prospect overtake Price by December. If that is in fact the case, I fail to see how the outcome of that decision is best for the Montreal Canadiens.
As insignificant of a deal as this one was, one would think the Canadiens' GM has the team's best interests in mind. And if you're going to make an insignificant deal, why not get the better end of it? There's zero doubt about who won this deal.
It's contradictory to the nature of NHL business, and trade in sport, but it almost seems like the former Canadiens that now run the show in Tampa Bay called in a favor from Pierre Gauthier, and he happily obliged.
It brings us back full circle...Why? With Price likely signing short-term, you would think a top prospect like Desjardins would serve as a premium insurance policy. You would think that if Price gets injured, and the fort is left to be defended by Alex Auld and Curtis Sanford, that Desjardins' role with the Canadiens would be that much more important.
So it's understandable that people would immediately infer that this move was made to comfort Carey Price and detract from what could have been a very obvious controversy straight out of training camp. I have an easier time believing Gauthier was just doing his friends a favor.
Team sports is about the inner competition that inspires the very best from any given player. Limiting Price's competition doesn't necessarily relieve him from any of the pressure he'll face this season. If anything, it reinforces the organization's dependence on Price's ability to revive what started out as an extremely promising NHL career.
But now, if Price falters, it won't just be: "How could Gauthier choose Price over Halak," it'll be "not only did he choose Price, but he got rid of the one guy who could adequately replace him if things don't work out, or if Price gets injured."
No disrespect to Alex Auld, Curtis Sanford, or Karri Ramo who will be playing out the final season of a 2-year contract in the KHL, but the Habs goaltending depth took a step down yesterday.
As I stated in my notes, Jacques Martin doesn't mandate that his team play an offensively explosive style of hockey. His defense-first mentality had the team on it's heels last season, being out-shot on a more than regular basis and averaging more than 5 minor penalties per game. The powerplay will take a hit with Markov on the sidelines to start the season, and Marc-Andre Bergeron in wait for a contract with someone else. The offense is largely dependent on Cammalleri, Gomez, Plekanec and Gionta, with prayers that Benoit Pouliot, Andrei Kostitsyn and Lars Eller can support the primary scorers. The team lacks size and physicality; factors that make staying healthy that much harder. Bottom line: All the pressure is on Price, and if he doesn't succeed, the Bell Centre won't be a big enough arena to house the crap people are going to fling at Pierre Gauthier.
Strange deal, and to reiterate, I'm not sure I can make any better sense of it than the thousands who have already weighed in. But I do know this: No one in Montreal likes it...
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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