Deal For Wisniewski Only the Beginning?
The storied Montreal Canadiens gave themselves a glorious cushion in the standings by having such a strong start to their season and although they're in the midst of their biggest slide of the season, management has not given up hope on the idea that this team is capable of bettering their results from last spring.
With that in mind, it was rather refreshing to note that management wasn't interested in accruing available cap space but in filling a hole. Now.
Acquiring a young, strong and capable defenseman like James Wisniewski gives the Canadiens everything they wanted out of Ryan O'Byrne and more. He may not boast the current Avalanche blue-liners size, but he definitely has an edge to his game and a much greater penchant to pinch in on offense than O'Byrne, not to mention his booming shot and ability to play 20 minutes a night - all elements that Montreal was in desperate need of replacing due to the loss of their best defenseman in Andrei Markov.
Although the team had fared relatively well without Markov, the truth was that they were simply falling back into patterns and bad habits that saw the team struggle through the middle of last season.
Among those patterns: too much ice time for veteran defenders, primarily Hamrlik and Spacek.
Although both have played remarkably well, the bottom line was that Markov's return was supposed to make them better because they would be skating less ice-time; something that did occur during Andrei's brief 7 game return, yet since Markov's second absence of the season, the veteran Dmen have been forced into playing those extra minutes that essentially erode their overall game. By bringing in Wisniewski the Habs have by no means replaced #79, but they've certainly given their defense corps that much needed extra( capable) body that will help balance out ice time. With less burden on Hamrlik and Spacek, this Canadiens team will likely have no problem returning back to the way they were playing through October and November; as one of the best defensive teams in the NHL.
But enough about the defense and Wisniewski, the point of this piece is that the Montreal Canadiens have an opportunity to do something they have not done in over 2 decades, add a bonafide star that can push them into the category of true contender.
Although discussion of the Habs being a contender was realistic only a few weeks ago, a rough patch through December has now exposed the flaws that this team will need to correct before they forge ahead in the playoffs.
The truth is that Montreal is on the cusp of greatness, but they lack a certain je ne sais quoi...
In my opinion, that certain je ne sais quoi just happens to be Jarome Iginla.
Yup, that Jarome Iginla.
Although Iggy is and has been the face of the Flames franchise for the last decade, the truth is that Calgary is in dire need of rebuilding from the ground up. Add to that the fact that their chances of finding post-season success are growing slimmer and slimmer with each passing day and it may very well add up to Jarome's days in Calgary being numbered.
This is but speculation on my behalf, but with Jay Feaster taking the reigns(something I long predicted would happen in Calgary), it's my belief that they will be moving forward with a full house cleaning and, although it will/would/should pain Flames fans to lose Jarome, it may wind up being in their best interest.
Where the Canadiens play into this scenario is the fact that they are in a position where they have assets they can package together to(quite possibly) entice Mr. Feaster and the Flames to part with their captain.
Andrei Kostitsyn, Lars Eller, Max Pacioretty, James Wisniewski, Alex Picard, Yannick Weber, draft picks(plenty of 1st's...), prospects and much, much more; Montreal won't be able to find a home for all of these players in the future. And while it's by no means a sure bet that Feaster would even be remotely interested in dealing with what Pierre Gauthier may have to offer, it certainly wouldn't hurt the Habs GM to kick the tires a little bit.
With the team's current lineup, and upcoming UFA/RFA situations, there's alot for management to consider, yet aside from the future and the budget, one thing that must come before everything else is the desire to win. And in Montreal these days, the Molsons and their trusted staff that run the Canadiens seem to be letting on that they are interested in pushing forward in pursuit of a Cup.
If this does indeed prove to be true, than it would only make sense for Gauthier and company to get very serious about upgrading the team. And to do that, well...they're going to have to go BIG.
Consider the fact that for the Canadiens to push past the top teams in the East and to conquer a team in the West, they are going to need much more than James Wisniewski.
Their top 6 is without that extra weapon and, while addressing their blue line is key, the real area that must be addressed in order for the Habs to cross into the top tier is the need for another elite winger.
And to that extent I suggest Jarome Iginla.
Pursuing and possibly landing Iginla would be the most proactive and productive thing Canadiens management could do since handing over a sinking Habs ship to Bob Gainey in the early part of the decade.
Of course to gain an Iginla this team will have to part with quite a bit, but that should be a bullet they are ready to bite.
Feaster knows the job ahead of him in Calgary, rebuild a winner and stock the pipeline.
Gauthier is on a completely different track right now and with the goal of pushing the Habs over the edge, his intentions may be quietly lining up with those of the Flames new GM.
Pierre Lebrun and other hockey savants have dropped hints over the course of the year that Montreal would be very interested in an Iginla and I do not doubt their validity for one second.
The scouts have been out and about and its no secret Montreal wants to add.
Are they focused on Calgary and Iginla in particular? I have no confirmation of that which I can share, but what I can say is that this team is very serious about doing better than the Eastern Conference Finals, and to do that they are going to need to add someone big, someone along the lines of a Jarome Iginla.
Working on a top trade candidate list for the Habs, will try to post that later tonight.
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