Welcome to another edition of the Hockeybuzz hotstove.
In this one we'll be looking at the trade between Montreal-Anaheim and predicting who won/will win the trade long-term.
Todd Cordell I think this deal is pretty even. I lean towards Anaheim winning in the long haul, but it could go either way.
Both players needed a change of scenery, and both will be put in better situations with their new club. Neither player has fared well in possession this year, but Sekac's numbers are a little better, and I believe he has (slightly?) more offensive upside.
Word is Jiri Sekac is likely going to get a top-6 slot - potentially with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry - and I think the best will come out of him if that's the case.
Tim Chiasson I think both teams came out even.
Sekac and Smith-Pelly are, statistically, almost identical this year. Smith-Pelly obviously has a bit more experience at the NHL level while Sekac, I think, has more offensive upside.
For Montreal they had a player the coach didn't like, so they're basically carrying around a young guy who won't get a chance to play his style of game. In Anaheim they ship out a guy who plays Ducks hockey, but they have enough of those. Montreal gets a player they don't have a lot of in Smith-Pelly and Anaheim gets a potential offensive star if things work out.
Good hockey deal for both teams and good job by Bergevin to turn the fallen out of favor Sekac into a useful player for the team.
Adam French Habs
I feel the Habs won this deal if you can call one side "winning" an extremely equal deal (in the present of course). Both players seem to have not gotten the complete trust from their respective coach. Sekac for being a rookie and at times disappearing into a perimeter player. Smith-Pelly for not bringing enough offense at times and with a lot of competition coming through the rank and file of the Anaheim prospect pool.
A lot of people seem to think that Sekac has much higher offensive upside. This might be the case, but people are forgetting both are the same age and that up until basically last season, Sekac was a former OHL dropout who could barely score in the USHL while Smith-Pelly was a decent enough power forward in the OHL. Plus if we're going to talk about Sekac's breakout season in the KHL, we might as well talk about how Smith-Pelly leading the Admirals in goals with 27.
Therrien gets more of a grinder that he can trust to play in tough situations. Boudreau gets a gamble on a guy that might fit in his top-6 or just as easily fall off the map. Also if they really did just trade for a rookie to play with Getzlaf and Perry which seems to be the lament of a certain faction of the Montreal media...then Murray needs his head checked. Do people seriously believe a GM would target a rookie as their solution to their top line? That could potentially be the end result, but to have it be Plan A? That's asinine, especially when said rookie isn't Forsberg or Gaudreau etc, but the guy in 31st for rookie scoring...
Tangent aside, this has the makings of a good old fashioned hockey trade. Both sides will probably be happy.
Ed Stein PUSH
This is a size for speed deal as well as a needed change of scenery for both players.
The Ducks are thin on the left side after Beleskey's injury. Additionally, no one has stuck on left side with Getzlaf and Perry. Sekac may be the missing piece.
For Montreal, they have found out that size does matter. DSP is a big boy and the Habs need him. Unfortunately, he hasn't crashed the net much this season. The Canadiens will need to get him to play to his size.
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