Montreal Canadiens Player Profile: Jiri Sekac

(Photo: HC Lev Praha)

When it was announced on July 1st, 2014 that the Montreal Canadiens had come to terms with unrestricted free agent Jiri Sekac, most people said: "Jiri who? Is he related to Joe Sakic?" Well, not exactly as his name is pronounced "Jirji Skaatch". 

The 22-year-old left-winger signed a two-year contract with the Habs that will pay him $925,000 annually should he play in the NHL next season. Sekac will earn $70,000 if he is demoted to the AHL. The Czech can also earn up to $425,000 in performance bonuses in each season.

So, who is Jiri Sekac? The Kladno native played for HC Lev Praha in the KHL in 2013-14, potting 11 goals and adding 17 assists for 28 points in 47 games to go along with a +12 rating and 18 penalty minutes. Never drafted by a NHL team, Sekac played only eight games with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL back in 2009-10 after being cut by his junior team. The 6' 2'', 190-lb winger performed rather well in the USHL before signing to play in the KHL for three seasons.

Before he decided to sign with the Canadiens, Sekac was coveted by at least a dozen teams despite the fact that most North American hockey fans didn't know him well, if at all.

The Montreal Canadiens has signed forward Jiri Sekac to a 2 yr contract. Unprecedented interest in him. Montreal fans will love him!
— Allan Walsh (@walsha) July 1, 2014

At the 2014 World Championships, Sekac recorded two points in ten games for Czech Republic, but came close to adding two more goals against Italy and Canada, respectively. An unorthodox-looking skater and not a very physical player despite his size, Sekac will have to improve his body strength this summer to be harder to knock of the puck next season. Hailing from the same hometown as Tomas Plekanec, Jaromir Jagr and Jakub Voracek, Sekac is blessed with great hands and an excellent hockey sense.

While he is not known for his defensive acumen, Sekac is a very adept two-way player who is responsible in his own zone, which will certainly please head coach Michel Therrien. The lanky winger has a good wrist shot and great passing abilities, which project him as a 20 goals and 20 assists player in a near future. Sekac is a fringe second line player right now, but he is talented enough to play on the team's third line next season.

This is one of the main reasons Marc Bergevin let Thomas Vanek and Brian Gionta go via free agency and did not sign any other forward to replace them, save for veteran Manny Malhotra who will be the team's fourth-line center. Since Cakes (Sekac backwards) is already familiar with Tomas Plekanec, I wouldn't be surprised if he begins the season on his line alongside someone like Rene Bourque or Michael Bournival, who can both play against offensive lines.

Potential Habs lines:
Pacioretty-Desharnais-Parenteau
Sekac-Plekanec-Bourque
Galchenyuk-Eller-Gallagher
Prust-Malhotra-Weise

Extras: Bournival and Moen

It will certainly be interesting to see if the young European can make an easy transition to the smaller ice next season and keep producing offensively among men.

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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?

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