Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

And so it Begins...

February 18, 2020, 5:27 PM ET [455 Comments]
Karine Hains
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
If there's one thing that was made clear in the last few days it's that right now in the NHL this is a seller's market. If you are willing to trade assets you will be well compensated and since the Habs season's is all but over, Bergevin is aware that at the deadline, he must be a seller. Less than an hour ago, the Habs announced that they had traded Marco Scandella to the St-Louis Blues. In the end, Scandella will only have played 20 games in the red, white and blue since he was only acquired earlier this season from Buffalo in exchange for a 4th round pick. Bergevin did try to extend the upcoming unrestricted free agent but he wanted to wait and the GM therefore decided to maximize his investment and flip him rather than lose him for nothing in July. To get Scandella, the Blues parted with a 2nd round pick at the upcoming draft and a conditional 4th round pick at the 2021 draft should the Blues win 2 playoffs rounds or should he sign an extension with them. By all accounts, this is a good trade for the Habs and it's a relief to see that the GM knows that he must sell at the deadline. The Habs also retain 50% of Scandella's salary but at this stage, it hardly matters.



Meanwhile, the Canadiens will be taking on the Detroit Red Wings tonight and it is expected that 3 players will be back in the line-up; Jonathan Drouin, Shea Weber and Paul Byron. As for Brendan Gallagher, he is a game time decision because of a knee injury sustained in the last game. Speaking of Gallagher, he confirmed today that Bruins' captain Zdeno Chara called him to apologize for the cross check to the chin he gave him in the last match-up between the two bitter rivals.

Shea Weber's return to the line-up will also raise a few eyebrows since the Habs announced just last week that the captain would be out of action for 4 to 6 weeks. While Gallagher commented on his return saying that this kind of leadership is why Weber is the captain, I for one cannot help but think that it is for all intent and purposes pointless. There is no way the Canadiens will make the playoffs and for me, it's just not worth allowing players to play when they are injured. Especially not when the said player has quite the injury list in the last few seasons and he is an important part of your already fragile blue line.

In the run-up to the trade deadline, it will be interesting to see who else is sent packing by Bergevin. Will Kovalchuk get his ticket out of town or will the fact that he produced less lately means that the Habs won't get worthy offers and might just decided to let the fans enjoy the Kovalshow to finish the season? We're hearing more and more that Tatar and Petry won't be moved as the direction wants the Habs to be competitive next season but could the likes of Max Domi, Nate Thompson or Paul Byron be on their way out of town? And if they are, who or what will be coming back? Bergevin being in Colorado seems to have started rumblings that he might be targeting Samuel Girard from the Avs d-corps, not a bad idea considering that the youngster (he's still only 21 years old) can play (29 points in 58 games with a -4 rating) and that he would surely improve the Canadiens' defence but what would he cost? Hopefully, the next week will be more interesting to watch than the Habs last few games...
Join the Discussion: » 455 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Karine Hains
» In Hainsight: One for the Coach
» Pregame: Canadiens vs Avalanche
» In Hainsight: Canadiens Defeat the Cracked Kraken
» Pregame: Canadiens vs Kraken
» In Hainsight: Canucks Teach Habs a Lesson