Assessing The Habs New Blue Line Addition: Tom Gilbert

There's a new face in town, without much mention however. During the offseason among other changes to our line-up, the blue line lost one of their better defensemen known for the most blocked shots annually in the NHL. That being said, after the Josh Gorges trade can we assume we will be relying on Mike Weaver for our defensive core? After last year's surprising performance, it would appear Marc Bergevin gained enough confidence in Weaver to let go of one of our leading players. Will the same be said for new player Tom Gilbert? After being signed to a two-year deal worth $5.6 million, hopes are Gilbert will use this “trial” to shed light on the offensive force we have been lacking. The Habs are in need of an additional offensive defenseman who can apply pressure in the offensive zone and play 20 to 23 minutes per game.

Tom Gilbert was coming off of one of his better seasons in the NHL playing for the Florida Panthers where he signed only an affordable one-year pact worth $900,000 due in part to having a few under-rated seasons in Minnesota and eventually being bought out. Now it appears Bergevin has welcomed Gilbert to the Montreal Canadiens in hopes he will continue his great run from the season before.

What can be said about Gilbert is his size serves us, along with his ability to cycle the puck. Gilbert who has logged big minutes per game, comes at a small risk to our defensive line, so you would think.

So far Tom Gilbert has played 11 games with the Habs and the fans are already not too happy with the 6' 3'', 206-lb defensemen. Having only two points while logging an average of 22:33 minutes a game thus far, Gilbert is not turning out to be the player Habs fans have hoped for, especially when Gilbert was called for a minor penalty in the last minutes of overtime against the Vancouver Canucks and costed the Habs a loss. Gilbert's recent play shows how much of a flaw defensively he can be on the ice: Gilbert is a non-physical big body defenseman who pinches at the wrong time trying to create offense when he should not; this is not something you look to add to a team. Hab fans were expecting a physical defensive player that can shut down offensive plays in the defensive zone after the loss of Josh Gorges and Douglas Murray, but Tom Gilbert is a puck moving rearguard who is not known for physical style of play. Tom Gilbert has been notoriously known around the league since his NHL debut as a soft oversized defenseman. Habs fans have to be reminded that Bergevin did not sign Tom Gilbert for such a role. So why did Bergevin sign him in the first place?

In my opinion Tom Gilbert was signed by the Habs for his capability of playing long minutes to help lighten the workload of Andrei Markov and PK Subban and for his offensive playing skills so that he can play on the second power play unit. His talent of cycling the puck and setting up plays in the offensive zone will be greatly needed for a power play that is lacking the mobility in moving the defensive players out of position in order to create scoring chances. Tom has played on his previous teams' power play units before averaging nine points on the man advantage per season and averaging 1:21 on the PP per game during his best years in Edmonton. It is not many points but it shows Gilbert has the experience to run an effective power play. We all saw how placing Gilbert on the power play even when only seconds expired after the roughing minor to Giordano ended Gilbert scored his first goal as a Hab which was the tying goal against Calgary and eventually led to a shoot out win for the Habs.

The Montreal Canadiens power play thus far is terrible, the Habs are ranked 24th in the NHL having scored only 3 goals out of 32 power play opportunities which translates to a 9.4% efficiency on the power play. You don't need more statistical facts to show that the Habs are in dire need of improvement. Tom Gilbert may or may not be the solution to the Habs' lack of scoring on the power play but Therrien should consider him at times to try and shake things up, it is not as if Michel has anything to loose on the power play at this point in time.

The Montreal Canadiens can only hope that Tom Gilbert improves over the next couple of games and hopefully he can be a positive addition to the non-existent power play. The fans have to be a bit more patient with Gilbert as there are many more games to come and many more opportunities for Therrien to utilize Gilbert's experience on the power play unit. Being a new player on a team which is highly scrutinized after each play is something that will take time getting used to, it's normal for a new player to play out of sync at first, but hopefully Gilbert can get back to playing his best hockey soon and cut on the turnovers. 

We will all have to adopt a wait-and-see approach.

Written by Jon Saxe

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Montreal Canadiens Player Profile: Tom Gilbert

On July 1st, 2014, the Montreal Canadiens and their general manager, Marc Bergevin, signed right-handed defenseman, Tom Gilbert to a two-year pact worth $5.6 million, or $2.8 million annually. The 31-year-old Gilbert was brought in to replace fan favourite and veteran rearguard Josh Gorges after the latter was traded to the Buffalo Sabres for a 2nd round draft pick. Gilbert scored 3 goals and added 25 assists for 28 points in 73 games with the Florida Panthers before a sports hernia ended his season prematurely. The 6'3″, 205-lb blue liner will slide nicely alongside his new defensive partner Alexei Emelin, who will finally be able to play on his natural side.

The native of Bloomington, Minnesota, played his college hockey at the University of Wisconsin from 2002 to 2006 after the Colorado Avalanche drafted him 129th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. But he never played for the Avs as In March of 2004, he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. Then, after a single season in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Gilbert graduated to the NHL with the Oilers, playing 12 games in 2006-07, notching 1 goal and 5 assists for 6 points. Did you know that Gilbert was a forward in high school before he made the switch to defense?

The lanky defenseman then spent the next five seasons with the Oilers, averaging 80 games with 7 goals and 26 assists for 33 points. Gilbert had his best season in 2008-09 when he recorded 5 goals and 40 helpers for 45 points in 82 games to go along with a +6 +/- rating. Gilbert was then traded to the Minnesota Wild where he played for 1 1/2 season before signing with the Panthers prior to last season.

In 2013-14, Gilbert played on average 21:20 per game, good for third among Panthers players, trailing only Brian Campbell and Dmitry Kulikov. Not a power play specialist by any means, Gilbert can still man the point on the second unit, which he will definitely asked to do, probably along with Nathan Beaulieu when PK Subban and Andrei Markov decide to come off the ice, as the righty got on average 2:13 of PP time each game with Florida.

On the defensive side of the puck, Gilbert is not as quite effective as he was scarcely used on the penalty killing, logging a mere 0:52 of ice time per game with a man down. With the departure of Francis Bouillon, Douglas Murray and Josh Gorges, the Habs expect Mike Weaver and PK Subban to pick up the slack on the PK along with Alexei Emelin and Andrei Markov.

Despite his imposing frame, Gilbert is not a very physical defenseman as shown by his 59 hits in 73 contests last season. His 95 blocked shots ranked him second among Panthers players last season, but that number would have ranked him seventh among Canadiens players last year. The Canadiens seem to emphasize much more on shot blocking that the Panthers, which explains the big gap between the two teams in that category.

The puck-moving Gilbert will help with the Habs' transition game on the second pairing and allow Andrei Markov to move up alongside PK Subban on the team's first pairing, which should log around 25 minutes of ice time per game all season long (barring any serious injury). The arrival of Gilbert, combined with the revelation that was Mike Weaver (also a former Panther), allowed Marc Bergevin to trade Josh Gorges and his bloated salary ($3.9M/year). The move will also allow the organization to groom youngsters Jarred
Tinordi and Nathan Beaulieu on the team's third pairing alongside the defensively-reliable Weaver.

Moreover, last season, the Campbell/Gilbert pairing has been one of the NHL’s very best, with the Panthers posting a Corsi% north of 55% when the two of them were on the ice, which is considered elite by advanced stats expert Tyler Dellow. Despite this excellent statistic during his whole career even with the Oilers, when Gilbert became a free agent after being bought out by the Wild, he boasted a pretty lengthy track record of outperforming his team’s Corsi% while playing top four (and most of the time top two) minutes for his team.

Last year was a rebound season for Gilbert after he struggled mightily with the Wild in 2012-13 because of a pneumonia he suffered before the season that hampered his play all season, leading him to be frequently scratched by Minnesota and appearing in only 43 games.Still, there is every indication that Gilbert will prove to be a valuable player for the Habs as he is a right-handed shot on a team without much right-handed defensive depth. Did you know that Gilbert was 42nd in the NHL in points at the time of his season-ending injury? Subban finished 5th with 53 points while Markov finished 17th with 43 points.

Ranked 45th in the NHL among rearguards with a CF% of 51.7 (Corsi For% = Corsi For / (Corsi For + Corsi Against)), Gilbert would have been the best possession defenseman in Montreal, PK Subban posting a CF% of 49.9 last year.

Finally, do you like Tom Gilbert's signing or would you rather have kept Josh Gorges around until the end of his long contract? 

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Montreal Canadiens Rumors Round-Up: Draft Edition

Now that the Canadiens have re-signed impending UFA Andrei Markov to a three-year deal worth $17.25 million, the dominoes should start falling down pretty soon, especially with the 2014 NHL Entry Draft only 72 hours away. What is new this year is that impending free agents now have a one-week window to negotiate with teams and get a better feel of the market ahead of July 1st, which marks the beginning of free agency.

For those Habs fans who missed it, GM Marc Bergevin also re-signed RFA Dale Weise last week to a two-year deal worth $2.05 million (or $1.025 million annually). The 25-year-old winger was acquired mid-season in exchange for rearguard Raphael Diaz from the Vancouver Canucks.

With the draft looming, the rumors are swirling that the Canadiens and the scouting staff, headed by Trevor Timmins, would like to move up in the top 10 of the draft if possible, or at least in the top 16, if not. The team is willing to sacrifice a young defenseman (not named Jarred Tinordi) to make it happen. Currently slated to draft 26th overall, the Bleu Blanc Rouge is really eager to move up in this year's draft since it's a very shallow draft and a late-round draft pick is unlikely to pan out. The Canadiens are looking to add a power forward blessed with a combination of size and talent, and Alex Tuch, which is ranked 17th on TSN Draft Rankings would be the perfect draft pick. Tuch is a 6'4'', 215-lb right winger who plays a physical and rugged style of play while contributing offensively as shown by his 32 points (13g, 19 a) in 26 games with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. However, these kinds of deals happen most of the time during the draft right on the floor when teams realize the player they want is gone or is still available at a specific moment. 

In other news, Stephen Bartlett, who is the agent of team captain Brian Gionta, sounded cautiously optimistic that Gio would be back with the team next season as the organization is very interested in retaining his services. A favorite of head coach Michel Therrien, Gionta tallied 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points in 81 games this season with the Habs, reaching the 40-point plateau for the third time during his five-year contract with the team. Since Gionta is longer able to play in the top-six and is more suited to play a shut-down role on the third line, Bergevin will make him a substantially lower contract offer. I'm hearing that a two-year pact worth between $2.5 to $3.0 million annually is the offer on the table. The 35-year-old winger is still hesitant on accepting the deal and will most likely see what the other 29 NHL teams want to offer him before making a decision, but he likes the city and the organization.

As for shot-blocking specialist, Mike Weaver, negotiations seem to have hit a snag between the organization and Weaver as per Renaud Lavoie and Jimmy Murphy. It seems like the right-handed defenseman, who proved to be the steal of the trade deadline, is not a priority right now for Marc Bergevin. Weaver was a force to reckon with on the penalty kill and a shot-blocking machine throughout the series. He would make for a cheap veteran presence on the third pairing and he could mentor youngsters Nathan Beaulieu and Jarred Tinordi. Weaver earned $1.1 million last season and will be looking to sign a two-year deal in the same salary range.

Finally, the Canadiens have yet to start negotiating with all-star defenseman P.K. Subban, who is expected to break the bank after signing a two-year bridge contract worth $5.75 million before the 2012-13 season. According to his agent Don Meehan, the two parties will meet at the draft in order to set a meeting schedule to get the negotiations going to finally reach a long-term deal. Subban, who recorded 10 goals and 43 assists for 53 points in 82 games, will more than likely earn at least $8 million annually over eight years (the maximum number of years allowed under the last CBA).

Don't be surprised if Marc Bergevin is named the GM of the Year tonight at the 2014 NHL Awards live from Las Vegas, Nevada. Our own P.K. Subban will be among the award presenters during the ceremony.

What do you expect from the Canadiens and their GM Marc Bergevin?

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Montreal Canadiens Rumors Round-up

Now that the Stanley Cup final is over and that the Los Angeles Kings have been crowned, it is time to turn our attention to the 2014 NHL Entry Draft that is now only ten days away and to Julys 1st, which marks the beginning of free agency.

For those Habs fans who missed it, Montreal traded their former 1st round pick Louis Leblanc to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a conditional 5th round pick on Saturday. Leblanc, who was an impending UFA, struggled again in the AHL this season, potting only 13 goals and 15 assists for 28 points in 70 contests under the "tutelage" of Sylvain Lefebvre. The organization should have allowed Leblanc to finish his degree at Harvard instead of asking him to play in QMJHL for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. As NBC analyst Pierre McGuire said on TSN 690: "Pulling Louis Leblanc out of Harvard after one year was ridiculous."

Douglas Murray's agent, Anton Thun, confirmed to Richard Labbé of La Presse what we all knew: Crankshaft will not be back with the organization next season after playing only 53 games this season. He recorded two points and posted a mediocre -12 plus/minus differential. Murray participated in only three games during the playoffs. The 34-year-old defenseman was only efficient on the penalty kill this season, being a liability at even strength. It might be the end of Murray's career...

According to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports and JT Utah of 25Stanley.com, the Canadiens are close to announce a contract extension with RFA Dale Weise, a pact that would pay him $2M over the next two years ($1 million AAV). Weise was acquired mid-season from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Raphael Diaz, who ended up playing in the Stanley Cup final with the New York Rangers. After scoring six goals and ten assists for 16 points in 61 regular season games, the 25-year-old Weise scored three goals and added four assists for seven points in 16 games on the Habs' run to the Eastern Conference final. Weise brought speed, size and energy to the Canadiens' fourth line and is already a fan favorite. (UPDATE: the deal is now official.)

According to TSN Bob McKenzie, Andrei Markov's agent, Sergei Berezin, is seeking a three-year contract worth $18 million for his client.

Last I heard, and it is a fluid situation subject to change, Andrei Markov was asking MTL for a 3-year deal worth $6M per year. #TSN
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 16, 2014

Coming off a solid season during which he recorded 7 goals and 36 assists for 43 points in 81 games, the 35-year-old veteran who played his entire career in Montreal is looking for his last big pay-day in the NHL. While the Russian General mentioned that he wants to end his career with the Bleu Blanc Rouge, his demands might prove to be too much for Marc Bergevin and he might elect to let him walk on July 1st. Markov earned $5.75 million a year after signing a three-year pact worth $17.25 million prior to the 2011-12 season.

As for shot-blocking specialist, Mike Weaver, it has been reported that their is a mutual interest in brining back the right-handed defenseman who proved to be the steal of the trade deadline, acquired for a 5th round pick from the Florida Panthers. Weaver was a force to reckon with on the penalty kill and a shot-blocking machine throughout the series. He would make for a cheap veteran presence on the third pairing and he could mentor youngsters Nathan Beaulieu and Jarred Tinordi. Weaver earned $1.1 million last season and will be looking to sign a two-year deal in the same salary range.

Finally, the Canadiens have yet to start negotiating with all-star defenseman P.K. Subban, which is expected to break the bank after signing a two-year bridge contract worth $5.75 million before the 2012-13 season. Subban, who recorded 10 goals and 43 assists for 53 points in 82 games, will more than likely earn at least $8 million annually over eight years (the maximum number of years allowed under the last CBA).

Which players should the Habs re-sign or let go?

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Top UFA Defensemen To Target For The Montreal Canadiens

With the NHL playoffs coming to an end soon and free agency looming, it is time to have a closer look at some potential free agent targets for the Montreal Canadiens. One area where the Habs could use help is on the blue line, and especially a right handed defenseman who can move the puck and play on the second pairing. The team has a glut of left-handed defensemen (Gorges, Emelin, Beaulieu, Tinordi, Drewiske and most likely Markov), but lacks depth on the right side.

With veterans Douglas Murray and Francis Bouillon not returning next season and the possibility that GM Marc Bergevin is unable to re-sign rearguard Andrei Markov to a multi-year contract, the team will need to find help in the blue line if it wants to repeat this year's feat of reaching the Eastern Conference final.

Potential free agents targets:

Matt Niskanen, 27, Pittsburgh Penguins. After his best offensive season during which he recorded 10 goals and 36 assists for 46 points in 81 games to go along with 51 PIM and a solid +33 rating, Niskanen will be the most coveted defenseman on the market if he can't reach an agreement with the Penguins before July 1st (which is unlikely). Niskanen is expected to command a five-year contract of at least $5.5 to $6M annually on the open market and there will be plenty of suitors for his services. The puck-moving blue liner rebounded nicely this season after a difficult campaign during the lock-out shortened season where he only notched 4 goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 40 games. Should Marc Bergevin be unable to re-sign Markov, Niskanen becomes the number one option on the back end to replace him, but there will be plenty of teams interested in his services, most notably the Detroit Red Wings, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals.

(Salary in 2013-14: $2,500,000)

Dan Boyle, 37, New York Islanders. Recently acquired from the San Jose Sharks for a draft pick by New York Islanders' GM Garth Snow, Boyle is highly unlikely to sign with his new team as he has expressed his wish to finish his career with a contender. This season, the Ottawa native scored 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points in 75 games to go along with 32 PIM and a disappointing -8 rating. Boyle, who is looking for a two-year deal, will also be sought-after by many teams who are looking for a veteran presence on the blue line. The Toronto Maple Leafs are rumored to be very interested in his services. Boyle could also go back to Florida where he both played for the Panthers and the Lightning. His wife Amber is also a native of Florida so it could play into his decision.

(Salary in 2013-14: $6,666,666)

Tom Gilbert, 31, Florida Panthers. Signed to one-year deal worth peanuts by the Panthers prior to last season, Gilbert quietly enjoyed a solid campaign under the sun. The right-handed defenseman recorded 3 goals and 25 assists for 28 points in 73 games to go with 18 PIM and a +5 plus/minus differential. While the 6'3'', 205-lb defenseman is not overly physical, his size would be welcomed on the Habs blue line, especially if the organization doesn't re-sign veteran UFA Mike Weaver, who is also a righty.

(Salary in 2013-14: $900,000)

Anton Stralman, 27, New York Rangers. Currently playing for the Stanley Cup finals against the Los Angeles Kings, Stralman has been a revelation this spring. In 81 games with the Blueshirts this season, the Swede notched 1 goal and 12 assists for 13 points with a +9 rating. The smooth skating Stralman is currently playing in the Rangers' top-4 alongside Marc Staal to the tune of almost 20 minutes per game and he would be a great fit beside Andrei Markov on the Canadien' second pairing. A great skater and a solid defensive player, Stralman would make a great depth signing for the Canadiens should the Rags let him go due to salary cap issues.

(Salary in 2013-14: $1,800,000)

Stephane Robidas, 37, Anaheim Ducks. Acquired from the Dallas Stars for a draft pick at the trade deadline, the veteran defenseman was plagued by injuries all season. Robidas, who suffered a broken right leg on November 29th, only dressed for 38 games, scoring 5 goals and adding 5 assists for 10 points and a +10 differential. A steady rearguard throughout his career, the former Habs defenseman broke the same leg again in the first round of the playoffs, but he was able to avoid surgery and should be ready for the beginning of the 2014-15 season. Robidas might be willing to accept a salary cut to finish his career with the team that drafted him way back in 1995. Robidas could be paired with a youngster like Nathan Beaulieu on the team's third pairing while playing on the second power play unit and kill some penalties.

(Salary in 2013-14: $2,850,000)

Derek Morris, 35, Phoenix Coyotes. After spending the last five seasons in the desert where people don't care about hockey, it would be a complete change of scenery for the bruising defenseman. The veteran notched 5 goals and 12 assists for 17 points with a -2 differential and 41 PIM in 2013-14. The Albertan will certainly not be back with the cash-strapped Coyotes even though he resides in the area all-year long. The rugged blue liner would bring sandpaper to the Habs defensive corps as he plays with an edge and brings a lot of character to the table.

(Salary in 2013-14: $2,750,000)

Who would be your choice to fill the glaring hole on the Habs blue line in the offseason?

No Foolin' Fred Poulin

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Mike "Dream" Weaver: Underrated Trade Deadline Acquisition

Weaver is playing well for the Habs.

When Montreal Canadiens' general manager Marc Bergevin acquired Mike Weaver in exchange for a fifth round draft pick, most hockey fans did not even know who he was. Since then, the 35-year-old veteran has proven his worth on the blue line, especially with assistant captain Josh Gorges out with an injury. 

The native of Bramalea, Ontario has recorded one goal and six assists for seven points to go along with a +11 rating in 14 games since his acquisition from the Panthers. Quite a turnaround for the right-handed rearguard, who was struggling with Florida, posting only six assists and a -9 plus/minus differential in 55 games. 

The 5'10'', 180-lb blueliner has been a steady presence on the team's third defensive pairing despite playing with several different partners like Douglas Murray, Jarred Tinordi and Francis Bouillon. Weaver has been a force on the penalty kill and has been on a four-game point streak, notching one goal and four assists for five points to go with a splendid +8 rating in his last four games. 

With P.K. Subban struggling lately, Weaver has been getting more ice time, playing at least 19 minutes in his last four games and a season-high 25:39 against the Ottawa Senators last Friday. An adept shot blocker, Weaver now has 119 blocked shots this season to go along with 119 hits despite his smaller stature. 

While he is not a flashy defenseman, Weaver is rarely out of position and he is great at making a good first pass to get out of the defense zone and kick start the offense. Weaver, as opposed to Thomas Vanek, has a better chance to remain with the Habs next season even if he is also an impending unrestricted free agent. Other than P.K. Subban and prospect Greg Pateryn, Weaver is the only right-handed defenseman in the organization right now that can play in the NHL. With veterans Douglas Murray and Francis Bouillon both unlikely to return next season, Weaver makes a lot of sense a cheap depth defenseman to play on the third pairing with Nathan Beaulieu or Jarred Tinordi.

Weaver, who is making only $1.1 million this season, could prove to be a great bargain in the off-season and a much better signing than Davis Drewiske or even Douglas Murray. In the meantime, head coach Michel Therrien will be hard press to keep Weaver in the press box as he is now definitely one of the top five Habs defensemen. 

Not known for his offensive prowess, Weaver is a veteran who brings character, experience and stability, three important qualities you need from your defensive corps in the playoffs.

Should Marc Bergevin try to re-sign Weaver this summer?

Follow me on Twitter at @FredPoulin98

No Foolin' Fred Poulin

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Monday Musings: Vanek Arrives But Habs Stink On West Coast Trip

Greeting Habs Addicts,

What a trade deadline it was this past week! Marc Bergevin made his first big splash as the General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens, fleecing Islanders GM Garth Snow in acquiring Thomas Vanek. Right at the 3-pm deadline, Bergevin acquired Vanek - who earlier in the year was acquired by the Islanders from Buffalo for Matt Moulson, a 1st round pick and a 2nd round pick - for the lowly cost of Sebastien Collberg and an exchange of draft picks. Should the Habs make the playoffs they will send their 2nd round pick to the Islanders and receive a 5th round pick in return. Seriously? How amazing is that! Collberg could develop into a great player, but his development this season seems to have taken a step back and his status in the organization had dropped slightly. Vanek is one of the leagues top snipers but will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Even if Vanek leaves in the off-season and turns out to be just a rental, his acquisition did not cost Montreal any roster players.

Photo Credit: TheReuschBlog.com

Bergevin has done some good things during his tenure:

• Signed Max Pacioretty (6-years/$27-million) & Carey Price (6-years/$39-million) to team-friendly contract extensions that will keep them in Montreal through their prime years.
• Drafted Alex Galchenyuk with the 3rd overall pick in the 2012 NHL entry draft.
• Signed fan-favorite Brandon Prust (4-years/$10-million) to provide toughness with a blend of skills.
• Traded the horrible contract of Erik Cole to the Dallas Stars for pending free agent Michael Ryder.

Bergevin has done some questionable things during his tenure:

• Extended the contract of David Desharnais (4-years/$14-million) after a breakout season in 2011/12 then watched Desharnais fall off the map offensively until it was discovered he can only produce with Max Pacioretty on his wing.
• Extended the contract of Travis Moen (4-years/$7.2-million) only to watch his production wane.
• Acquired George Parros from the Florida Panthers to add toughness. Parros has more concussions (2) than points (1) and has only appeared in 19 games this season.
• Signed defenceman Douglas Murray to a 1-year/$1.5-million contract to provide toughness. Instead Murray has provided some penalty killing and horrible play to go along with and hours upon hours of fodder for the media and fans on Twitter.
• Instead of pursing 6'3" future Hall-of-Famer Jaromir Jagr in free-agency, Bergevin out-bid himself to sign 5'8" Philadelphia Flyers amnesty casualty Daniel Briere to a $2-year/$8-million contract. Briere has provided very little offensively - 11 goals/21 points in 53 games; Jagr has 20 goals/55 points in 65 games for the New Jersey Devils.

Needless to say, the acquiring of Thomas Vanek has changed the fans view of Bergevin for the most part. Landing Florida Panther's assistant captain and defenseman Mike Weaver - a sorely needed right-handed shooter and goaltender Devan Dubnyk from the Nashville Predators for a 5th round draft pick in 2015 and future considerations respectively has added to the organizational depth. Dubnyk is a former 1st round pick of the Edmonton Oilers and is still only 27-years old. If re-signed could eventually be a solid backup to Price or a trade chip for next season. Bergevin had a very solid trade deadline. One could argue that he did the best work in the NHL on deadline day. Bergevin acquired three proven NHL players for a prospect, two draft picks and future considerations. The steal of Thomas Vanek should be the coup-de-grâce to Garth Snow's tenure on Long Island. 

- The Habs wrapped up a six-day, four-game west coast road trip this past Saturday night. Missing goaltender Carey Price, who has been out with a lower-body injury since the end of the Sochi Olympic break, Peter Budaj began the week began with a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. This was followed up with an entertaining Habs debut for Hamilton Bulldogs goaltender Dustin Tokarski who had some bad luck and good luck while making 39 saves in a 4-3 shootout win over the NHL-leading Anaheim Ducks. This game proved to be the highlight of the trip. Thomas Vanek made his debut Thursday in Pheonix, but the rest of the team failed to show up and Budaj was horrible in goal as the Coyotes beat the Canadiens 5-2 for their first win against Montreal at home since December 9th, 1998 at home (0-9-2 in that span). The Habs wrapped up the trip with an embarrassing and frustrating 4-0 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night. Peter Budaj was pulled early in the second period after allowing two weak goals and the Habs could not muster any offense against one of the top teams in the Western Conference. At least the weather was nice.

- The Habs have a few days to recover from the road-trip and get readjusted to the eastern time zone as their first game is not until Wednesday when they face their old hated rival Boston at home. This is followed up with a home game against new hated rival Ottawa on Saturday night before they head out on the road to face the Rochester Americans Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.  Back home for games against the division after a painful road trip along with the potential return of Carey Price should spark some better performances this week.

It better. I have tickets to the game on Saturday. 

Note: Monday Musings will be on hiatus next week, a recap of my trip to Montreal will replace it. 


Three Questions From My Musings

A) Will the acquisition of Thomas Vanek help the Habs during the stretch run?

B) Has Marc Bergevin done enough in his time as General Manager of the Habs?

C) How badly will we thump the Bruins on Wednesday?

 ---
Nick M. is a transplanted Montrealer, currently living in evil LeafLand. He is a contributor here at HabsAddict.com and give him a follow, as he can often be found rambling on Twitter.

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Western Roadtrip Debuts Some New Faces

Photo Credit: MontrealGazette.com

Greetings Habs Addicts!

The NHL trade deadline was on Wednesday and the Habs were relatively quiet. On Tuesday, they acquired defenseman Mike Weaver from the Florida Panthers in return for a 5th round pick in the 2015 draft. On deadline day they made a minor move to acquire goaltender Devan Dubnyk from the Nashville Predators for future considerations. Marc Bergevin made one last deal at the deadline, sending Swedish forward prospect Sebastian Collberg and a conditional second round pick to the New York Islanders for forward Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth round pick. Ho hum; another day at the office for Bergevin.

Truth be told, Bergevin stole Vanek from Garth Snow and the Islanders. When the trade was announced, fans on Twitter were concerned that it cost the Canadiens at least forward Lars Eller, knowing the price for Vanek would be steep. In case you forgot, the Islanders acquired Vanek earlier this season in return for forward Matt Moulson - he of three straight 30+ goal seasons and a close personal friend of Islanders franchise centre John Tavares - along with a 1st round pick and 2nd round pick. When the trade was announced and fans realized that we did not lose a single roster player or 1st round pick, they were dancing in the streets. Theoretically, anyway. It was -10 degrees Celsius in Montreal after all. Top-line snipers of Vanek's pedigree should not be available for a good but not great prospect and a conditional draft pick (should Montreal fail to make the playoffs, the draft picks do not change hands, turning this trade into simply Vanek for Collberg straight up). When you look at the price Snow paid for Vanek at the start of the season compared to what he received back from Bergevin at the trade deadline, it is absolutely incredible that Snow still has a job.

The trade deadline came in the midst of a four-game Western Conference road trip for the Habs. After starting the week with a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, the Habs added the three new faces Wednesday prior to their match-up with the Anaheim Ducks (Dubnyk was sent down to the Hamilton Bulldogs immediately after being acquired and has yet to appear in a Canadiens uniform). With the injury to Carey Price, Bulldogs goaltender Dustin Tokarski had been backing up Peter Budaj since the return from the Sochi Olympic break. Tokarski received his first start in two years (his previous seven NHL appearances came as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning) against the NHL-leading Ducks. Sounds like a recipe for disaster. However, Tokarski stood on his head and outlasted a Ducks onslaught, stopping 39 shots in a 4-3 shootout win. Tokarski had some bad luck in the second period, as a fluke dump-in by Francois Beauchemin ricocheted of a stanchion on the glass and into the net. The Hockey Gods made good with Tokarski in the shootout when Kyle Palmieri beat him on the glove side, but couldn't beat the iron as the puck hit both posts and trickled along the goal-line before Tokarski batted it down the ice. Two attempts later, Andrei Markov buried the shootout winner. The undersized Bulldog's netminder earned his first win as a member of the Canadiens.

Both Mike Weaver and Thomas Vanek made their Canadiens debuts last night against the Pheonix Coyotes. Neither one did very much in the 5-2 loss. Weaver subbed into the line-up in place of Josh Gorges. Gorges - who suffered a fractured hand blocking a shot against the Pittsburgh Penguins last week and tried to play through the pain - re-aggravated the injury against Anaheim and has since returned to Montreal. Michel Therrien didn't do Weaver any favors in his first game as a Hab, pairing him up with Douglas Murray. The duo each finished the game a -1 at even strength, but were also on the ice for a power-play goal against and Weaver was in the box when Shane Doan scored a power-play goal to ice the game midway through the 3rd period. Pheonix was able to get skaters in front of Budaj that neither Weaver nor Murray could move.  Thomas Vanek slotted into the line-up on the wing with Tomas Plekanec and Brian Gionta, finishing a -1 and firing a shot on goal in 15:34 seconds of ice time. Vanek only arrived in Pheonix at 3:30 AM and did not have an opportunity to practice with the club. Expect a much better performance on Saturday, as the Habs wrap up their west-coast swing with a match-up against the San Jose Sharks.

Photo Credit: AWinningHabit.com

An intriguing under the radar move involves the acquisition of goaltender Devan Dubnyk from the Nashville Predators for future considerations. Dubnyk began the season as the starting goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers - a role he assumed after posting a solid season in 2013 - but struggled mightily in that role out of the gate. Edmonton subsequently signed Flyers' castoff Ilya Bryzgalov to platoon with Dubnyk. Eventually Bryzgalov took over the starting role and Dubnyk was traded to the Predators, who were looking to replace injured starter Pekka Rinne. Dubnyk fared no better in Nashville and was waived prior to the trade deadline. After going unclaimed, he was subsequently sent down to the Milwaukee Admirals; the Predators AHL affiliate.

By trading for Dubnyk instead of claiming him, Nashville retained half his salary ($1.7 million; each team pays $850,000) and it allowed Montreal to send him directly to Hamilton without first having to pass through waivers. With the injury status of Carey Price unknown, a proven NHL goaltender waiting in the wings is nice depth to have. It should be added that both Dubnyk and Tokarski are free agents at the end of the season. Dubnyk is only 27 years-old and is a former 1st round draft pick (14th overall) by the Oilers in 2004 and last season posted a 14-16-6 record with a 2.57 goals-against average and .920 save-percentage for a horrible defensive team. The 6'5" goaltender fills the net more than the 5'11" Tokarski and, if re-signed, he could spend the off-season working on his game with goaltending coach Stephane Waite. Dubnyk could provide the team with a capable veteran backup to either battle Peter Budaj for the backup role next season, or be an above-average starter for the Hamilton Bulldogs while providing injury insurance. It is not very often that goaltenders with first-round pick pedigrees end up on waivers entering there prime years (ages 27-30). Struggling as he may be this season, it is far too soon to give up on his talent, especially considering goaltenders tend to take a while to fully mature into their role. Hamilton backup Robert Mayer is a non-prospect, so if Bergevin is able to sign both Dubnyk and Tokarski this July, its a tremendous upgrade in the system. A system that also includes Zach Fucale. Incredible!

Heading in the deadline, fans were extremely frustrated with the lack of moves made by Marc Bergevin. Adding veteran depth on the blue-line and in goal, while adding an elite top-line sniper to fold - even if he does just turn out to be a rental - for the cost of a prospect and 2 draft picks made Montreal the big winner on deadline day.

Now here's hoping Michel Therrien figures out how to properly use his new toys.

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Nick M. is a transplanted Montrealer, currently living in evil LeafLand. He is a contributor here at HabsAddict.com and give him a follow, as he can often be found rambling on Twitter.

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Habs Acquire Mike Weaver in Depth Move With Panthers

Greetings Habs Addicts,

The day leading up to the trade deadline was eventful in Montreal. Marc Bergevin acquired defenseman Mike Weaver from the Florida Panthers in return for a 5th round draft pick in the 2015 draft. Essentially, he was acquired for future considerations.

Photo Credit: NHL.COM

Weaver, 35, is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. In 55 games, he's picked up 0 goals and 6 assists to go along with a -9 rating. Weaver has never been a big-point getter, as his season high for points came in 2011-12 when he put up 16 points - all assists - in a full 82 games. He was in his 4th season with the Panthers, with previous stops in St. Louis, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Atlanta. All told, Weaver has played in 585 NHL games. This is the first time he's been traded. 


I'll let Mike Weaver describe Mike Weaver:

"If I stay out of the paper, I'm doing my job, I'm not a guy who's going to score a lot of points, but I do the little things like block shots and penalty killing is my specialty. I'd rather block a shot than score a goal so I guess you could say I'm a goalie's best friend back there." - Mike Weaver, as per Canadiens.com

Sounds to me like Mike Weaver is bringing the same skills to the team that the Habs already have in Douglas Murray, albeit in a Francis Bouillon-sized package (Weaver is listed as 5'10", 180-lbs). While Murray is probably the more physical player - much like Steven Segal, Murray will hit you hard but only if you come right at him - Weaver is most likely a far better skater. Another important fact about Weaver is that he is right-handed. The only other right-handed defenseman the Canadiens currently employ on their blue line is P.K. Subban. If the Habs are moving either Murray or Bouillon at the trade deadline today, then acquiring Weaver is understandable. However considering they had to pass Davis Drewiske through waivers in order to free up a roster spot and considering the advanced-age and defensive skill set of Weaver, it does make this deal seem rather peculiar.

Mike Weaver is a solid defensive player and penalty killer. His personal goal is to block every shot that's heading towards the net (he has 94 blocked shots this season). Sounds like a similar skill-set to Josh Gorges in the regard. Weaver was also an assistant captain in Florida, so he is also bringing character and veteran leadership to the team. However, considering the logjam the Habs have on the blueline, unless another move is coming at the deadline today, I do not see him entering the line-up unless its at the expense of Jarred Tinordi. And I'm sure all Habs fans will agree: I'd rather see our 6'6", 220+ pound bruiser of a prospect in the line-up over a 35-year old, undersized defender.

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Nick M. is a transplanted Montrealer, currently living in evil LeafLand. He is a contributor here at HabsAddict.com and give him a follow, as he can often be found rambling on Twitter.

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Pregame Preview: Canadiens at Ducks (Game #64)

 
Match Up:

The Canadiens (34-22-7) are in Anaheim Wednesday night to take on the Ducks (43-14-5), the NHL's top team at the moment. The game starts at 10:00 and can be seen on RDS and TSN-Habs.

This is the second and final meeting between the Habs and Ducks this season. The Canadiens earned an impressive 4-1 win over the Ducks in October. Tomas Plekanec picked up a goal and two assists in that match while Carey Price posted 31 saves to earn the win.

What to Watch:

With trade season already heating up prior to the 3:00 Wednesday deadline, keep an eye on Marc Bergevin to see if he has plans to bring in any new assets, or perhaps move one of his own. The Canadiens already acquired Mike Weaver from the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, and they picked up Dale Weise in exchange for Raphael Diaz before the Olympic break. The big question surrounding the Habs is whether or not they will move in or out a big piece, or is Marc Bergevin content for the most part with the make-up of his team.

The Ducks have made somewhat of a splash already as the deadline approaches, moving out Viktor Fasth and two-time Stanley Cup winner Dustin Penner, while bringing in veteran defenseman Stephane Robidas. It remains to be seen whether or not Bob Murray has another move left to make, but already the Ducks have been one of the more active teams this trade season.

What's at Stake:

The Habs are in the midst of a 4-game West Coast road trip, possibly their most challenging week of the season. Making matters worse, they played the LA Kings Monday without Carey Price and may not have him ready for Wednesday. The Canadiens are still holding on to third place in the East but with less than 20 games to play, every point is important.

Who's Out:

Aside from Price (lower body), the Habs are also missing Brandon Prust (upper body) and Michael  Bournival (concussion).

The Ducks are missing Sheldon Souray (wrist), who has not played a game this season. New addition, Stephane Robidas (leg) is out as well, but Mathieu Perrault (upper body) may be ready to return to action.

What Else:

Tuesday was a busy day in the NHL with 10 deals being made in advance of Wednesday's deadline. The surprise deal of the day came when the Panthers announced they had acquired Roberto Luongo from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Jacob Markstrom and Shawn Matthias. The Panthers also picked up Forward Steven Anthony as part of the exchange.

The Question Mark:

We want to hear from you, how would you grade Marc Bergevin's performance at the trade deadline?

Let us know what you think, leave a comment or send us a tweet by using the #MTLHockey hashtag on Twitter.

Be sure to tune into the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show an hour before the puck drop and the Post Game Show 5 minutes after the final siren. Join the live conversation by using the #MTLHockey hashtag on Twitter.

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