It’s being reported by TSN 690’s Tony Marinaro that there was a deal for Max Pacioretty around the Draft that would have seen the Canadiens send the long time Hab to the LA Kings for 3 assets: Draft pick, Roster Player, Prospect.

Marinaro further states that the deal did not involve T Toffoli or G Vilardi though and that the deal fell apart when the Kings were given permission to negotiate a new contract with Pacioretty’s agent.

Apparently Pacioretty’s agent would not budge off a 8 year, $8 million per year deal for his client while the Kings offered a take it or leave it offer of 6 years, $6 million per year (very reasonable).

I definitely understand the Kings point of view here as they were probably giving up quality assets for the player and wanted certainty their investment would pay long term. Marinaro can speculate on who was and was not offered but typically, unless you're in the know with the GM and his assistants you don't really know. But if a team was satisfied with dealing a pick and a couple players they didn't want, they wouldn't nix a deal with the year remaining. They would have a year to convince the player why they are the place to work for the next 8 years. So to presume the Kings wouldn't be parting with at least 1 or 2 top assets doesn't seem logical, but Tony is probably just reporting what he's being told and you can't fault him for that.

This could be the reason Pacioretty fired his agent Brisson and switched to Walsh as it would appear that Pacioretty would like this deal done before training camp to avoid all the distraction this would provide throughout the season. We all know that Montreal and Toronto have the worst media groups possibly in all of North American sports, but for different reasons.

The Toronto media would have you believe players like Bozak and Kadri are better than the leagues best C’s and the Montreal media wants to throw a couple of the top players at their positions (Weber and Price) under the bus almost hourly because their favorite player was traded over 2 years ago. Both are nauseating and cause us all to groan every time a new, stupid headline is published by reputable media outlets.

“What I think this all means is that Montreal revisits Pacioretty on the market maybe after July 1." #Habs #LAKings https://t.co/ytrYLDLnHl

— Chris Nichols (@NicholsOnHockey) June 26, 2018

So it looks like the trading of Max Pacioretty is a forgone conclusion at this point and the price has been set at a pick, player, prospect. With the was the Montreal media conducts themselves, and thats with zero integrity or tact, it would be best for all parties to get this finished up sooner rather than later to avoid the inevitable idiotic questions daily for the Captain.

The problem beyond the trade is what to do regarding the embarrassing media tactics currently used in the market? It’s detrimental to not only current players, but also potential ones. We may see that already with Montreal being denied a face to face interview with upcoming coveted UFA John Tavares. You have elite winners like Price and Weber keeping to themselves and just playing (typically) elite hockey, and the media does their best to slander the players and come up with reasons to run down their play.

Just typing that I know that I already knew in my heart that any elite UFA would never, ever chose to subject himself and his family for 5-7 years of that. The saddest part of this is that it’s not even because the Habs haven’t won a cup in almost 3 decades, it’s because some people are such huge babies that they can’t deal with a trade without a 3 + year temper tantrum/hate campaign on Canadiens employees. It’s so childish and ignorant to those currently working on the team at all levels.

You want to change the culture of the Canadiens? Start by purging the toxic, hateful, illogical media types that “cover” the team. Let players play with relative peace and let them focus on the game and not dealing with their wives responding to outlandish infidelity rumors weekly.

Those people should be ashamed of themselves for what they’ve become.

What a joke….

That said, here’s a tweet from one of the last respectful media members to cover the Canadiens, unfortunately for all of us the NHL hired him away.

.@djyanno I traded a few hockey cards for this pin-back button when I was 12. I’ve worn it against my heart on the left inside breast pocket of my suit jacket for every NHL game I’ve covered. pic.twitter.com/j9ZuufpcM3

— Dave Stubbs (@Dave_Stubbs) June 26, 2018

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