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Pacioretty Signs Major Extension. Desharnais next? |
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What a proactive move by Marc Bergevin to secure Max Pacioretty's services for another six years on top of this season. The coup-de-grace being that his average annual salary will be 4.5 million dollars against the salary cap.
When you consider it took that much over four years to get Erik Cole signed, you can't argue with the value the Canadiens are getting on Pacioretty's deal.
And Pacioretty is well aware of the discount he gave the Canadiens, and perhaps that was lubricated by the possible elimination of contracts longer than five years, as proposed by the owners in the current ratification process of the new collective bargaining agreement.
Will Bergevin take the same approach with another under-compensated, valuable part of the team's core in David Desharnais?
I certainly wouldn't suggest that Desharnais in for the same kind of pay day, but given what he's already proven, do the Canadiens view him as a core player?
Desharnais was the highest point-producer of all the team's centres last season, and he made the least money out of all of them. It's indisputable that teams succeed on the kind of value he provides, but given Bergevin's vote of confidence to Pacioretty, he may be served well to extend the same treatment to Desharnais, who is still under contract for one more season, for $950,000.
It's not the question everyone's focused on since the news on Pacioretty dropped. Of course, everyone wants to know what will be with P.K. Subban. But it is a question that needs to be considered, as the core of the team is very much being identified by these actions.
Marc Bergevin and Michel Therrien have gone out of their way to heap praise on Tomas Plekanec, and though there's more than ample time, they've yet to do anything to surround him with talent that will enable him to play to his potential.
Is it possible that Bergevin will commit to Desharnais in the same way his predecessor committed to Plekanec? Does that put the Canadiens in a better position? Does the future of this team include both players in those roles?
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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