With only a few hours remaining to the NHL trade deadline, Habs fan are eager to see what General Manager Marc Bergevin will do today. I will post below the trades he made as well as all the rumors involving Canadiens players.
Completed Trades:
Prospect and pick from Habs to Buf for Mitchell.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 2, 2015
Canadiens acquire d. Jeff Petry from the Oilers, in return for the Club’s 2nd round pick in 2015, and a conditional 5th round pick in 2015.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 2, 2015
Canadiens acquire forward Brian Flynn from the Buffalo Sabres, in return for a 5th round pick in 2016.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 2, 2015
Trade Rumors:
Canadiens still kicking tires on a top-six winger.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) March 2, 2015
I have a feeling the Flynn move is a precursor to a larger deal for a top six forward involving players on the current roster
— Grant McCagg (@grantmccagg) March 2, 2015
With about three weeks before the trade deadline, it has been fairly quiet on the trade front in the NHL. However, action should pick up around the league as we are slowly separating contenders and pretenders. One player that will definitely be traded is Edmonton Oilers' defenseman, Jeff Petry. The right-handed blue liner is an impending unrestricted free agent earning a respectable $3.025 million this season.
According to TSN Insider Darren Dreger, Montreal Canadiens GM has been contacting Western Conference teams to inquire about the availability of some of their defensemen.
The impending UFA is currently having one of his worst defensive seasons so far this year, recording 4 goals and 8 assists for 12 points with a putrid -27 differential in 53 games with the lowly Oilers. The lanky 6'3'', 198-lb, blue liner, who is not known for his offensive abilities, has spent all his professional career with Edmonton, who drafted him 45th overall in 2006.
The 27-year-old defenseman has only 70 hits and 61 blocked shots this season, which is nothing to write home. Spending on average 21:16 minutes on the ice per game, Petry is a more expensive version of Tom Gilbert, who has been playing very well lately, paired alongside bruising defenseman Alexei Emelin.
A healthy scratch earlier this season (like Gilbert), Petry has been one of the steadiest Oilers defencemen lately, although he will never be physical enough to hush his harshest critics (like Gilbert). For comparison purposes, Gilbert has 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points with a +8 rating in 49 games with the Habs this year. Gilbert is the lesser physical of the two with a mere 23 hits this season, but he has more blocked shots than Petry with 87.
While Petry (50.2% CFeven) has better possession numbers than Gilbert (45.2% CFeven) and is slightly more physical than Gilbert, is he really worth sacrificing a middle round pick and/or a prospect to improve the Canadiens' defensive brigade which ranks first in the league in goals allowed per game with 2.03? I don't think so. I'd trade for Cody Franson instead if I were Marc Bergevin...
Who would you want to acquire if you were Marc Bergevin?
Other options on defense include Cody Franson, Mike Green, Andrej Sekera, Marc Methot, Zbynek Michalek and Marek Zidlicky.
According to TSN's Bob McKenzie on TSN 690 Montreal, the Washington Capitals will most likely trade offensive defenseman Mike Green before the NHL trade deadline. The 29-year-old Greenw, who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, is not expected to sign a contract extension with the Caps prior to March 2nd.
As reported by McKenzie and Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, the Montreal Canadiens are one of the teams interested in his services. The right-handed blue liner has 5 goals and 26 assists for 31 points and a +7 rating in 42 games with Washington this season. The Habs are in the market for a top-four defenseman and are willing to deal mid-level prospects and draft picks for a player like Green or Cody Franson, if the Capitals are willing to accept that kind of offer.
Green, who is in the last year of a three-year pact, has a cap hit of $6,083 million, which is not easy to fit under the salary cap. The oft-injured Green is currently in his prime and will be looking to cash in on one more long-term deal in excess of $6 million annually. The problem with that rumor is that even if the Capitals believe they won't re-sign Green in the off-season, they are still in the thick of the playoff race and would be stupid to unload Green without even replacing him on the blue line. The Capitals currently hold the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 25-15-10 record as of February 2nd.
While Green is not playing on the team's top pairing any more after the acquisition of Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen in the off-season, the offensive specialist is still logging over 19 minutes of ice time per game. Green currently has 11 points on the man advantage and he is playing on the first power play unit with Alexander Ovechkin at the point. Do you really think the Caps would trade Green to the Habs with the chance of facing them in the playoffs? I highly doubt that!
The Canadiens currently don't have enough cap space to trade for Green without giving another roster player in return. Maybe if Marc Bergevin is able to convince Washington to take Alexei Emelin's off our hands, a deal could be possible, but it's not that simple since Emelin has a full no-movement clause. With Ovechkin, Dmitry Orlov and Evgeny Kuznetzov, maybe Washington is a destination that could entice Emelin to waive his NMC because of the Russian Factor...
The problem regarding Green is not that he is a bad player, it's rather that he is another offensive-minded rearguard, which is not the Canadiens need for a long playoff run, with PK Subban, Andrei Markov, Nathan Beaulieu and Sergei Gonchar all moving the puck well and able to play on the PP. The Habs need a rugged defensman who can lay out thunderous hits, clear the front of the net and kill penalties efficiently.
Who would you want to acquire if you were Marc Bergevin?
With one month before the NHL trade deadline, action should pick up on the trade front as we are slowly separating contenders and pretenders. One player that will most likely be traded is Toronto Maple Leafs' defenseman, Cody Franson. The right-handed blue liner has reportedly declined the Leafs' latest contract offer of around $4.5 million annually.
According to Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun, the TLeafs are looking for a second-round pick in exchange for the 27-year-old Franson. This season, the native of Sicamous, BC has recorded 6 goals and 23 assists for 29 points in 49 contests for the slumping Leafs. The offensive-minded defender is also a good shot blocker with 96 this season (he would rank 2nd on the Habs behind Andrei Markov who has 101) and he can also be physical as shown by his 140 hits, which is three more than Montreal's most physical defenseman, Alexei Emelin.
The impending UFA is currently having one of his best seasons so far (he had 33 points in 2013-14) which means he will most likely want to cash in on the open market next July. This means that the team who will trade for him will get a rental player and not a long-term solution on the blue line. Will Habs GM Marc Bergevin be willing to pay the asking price (2nd rounder pick) for Franson, who is earning $3.3 million this season? That remains to be seen.
Can Montreal head into the playoffs with Sergei Gonchar, Tom Gilbert and Mike Weaver as the team's other right-handed options after PK Subban? We know for sure that Bergevin likes Cody Franson as he was the asset that the team would have landed if Josh Gorges had not refused a deal to Toronto prior to heading to Buffalo. Because of the aborted trade, Bergevin scrambled to find another solution on the blue line and was forced to settle for Tom Gilbert, who he signed to a two-year pact worth $2.8 million AAV.
While Gilbert has been somewhat reliable on the team's blue line, his 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points in 46 games are a far cry from Franson' offensive production this year and the Canadiens could certainly use Franson's offensive abilities on the second power play unit instead of Sergei Gonchar or Nathan Beaulieu. Used to play on average 20 or more minutes per game, Franson is a big defender at 6'5'' and 215-lb, which is exactly what the Canadiens' back end needs for a long playoff run.
Other options on defnse include Mike Green, Andrej Sekera, Marc Methot, Jeff Petry, Zbynek Michalek and Marek Zidlicky, among others.
Who would you want to acquire if you were Marc Bergevin?
The Montreal Canadiens have been playing fairly well in recent games going 8-2 in their last ten games and currently sitting second in the Atlantic Division, only two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning and with two games in hand.
Currently in the midst of a span of only two games in ten days, the team will be well rested to host the powerful Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. I don't know if it's the water they drink, but the Canadiens are currently 30th in the NHL with only 34 games lost to injury this season after 40 games.
Compared to other teams such as the Columbus Blue Jackets (249 games lost) and the Anaheim Ducks (241 games lost), we can obviously say that Montreal has been fairly lucky to avoid the infirmary so far in 2014-15.
On defense, the Habs have been able to keep their core healthy with Alexei Emelin being the only regular rearguard to miss games (2) as Tom Gilbert missed two games but that was as a healthy scratch. Only veteran Mike Weaver missed more time due to an injury, but his impact has been minimal on the team this season being a regular healthy scratch in recent games.
With Weaver as the #7 defenseman in Montreal, the Canadiens decided earlier this week to demote veteran defensman Bryan Allen to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL. Jarred Tinordi and him make nice insurance policies in case injuries happen to the team's defensive corps.
The problem for Marc Bergevin and the organization is by acquiring Allen and Sergei Gonchar for two forwards (Rene Bourque and Travis Moen, respectively), is that the team's depth at forward has basically vanished. Now with the injury to Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, the team's lack of depth is even more obvious.
Michel Therrien is forced to mix his assets and Tomas Plekanec is now playing with a natural center at left wing in David Desharnais and a grinder at right wing in Dale Weise; that will not be a very effective offensive line in the long term. Should PAP miss an extended period of time, the Canadiens will dearly miss his contribution on the ice and especially in the shootout.
The team lacks a true talented prospect ready to contribute when called upon as the group composed of Drayson Bowman, Eric Tangradi and Sven Andrighetto has combined for 2 goals and 1 assist in 20 games this season. Moreover, the team announced it has called up another small forward, Christian Thomas, from the Bulldogs last night. While Thomas was very efficient and surprising during the training camp, he has been less than stellar this season. Thomas has only 9 goals and 5 assists for 14 points in 29 contests in the AHL this year, nothing to write home.
The team's best prospect in camp, Jacob De La Rose, just finished playing for Sweden at the World Junior Championships in Toronto and Montreal, but his tournament, along with his season in the AHL, have been disappointing to say the least. In 27 AHL contests, De La Rose has only 3 goals and 2 assists for 5 points.
The only team prospect that is doing fairly well in Hamilton right now is winger-turned-center Charles Hudon, who is also scoring at a point-per-game pace with 33 points (10g, 23 a) in 35 games. The caveat with Hudon is that the organization just asked his to adapt to a new position and unless more than one injury occurs to the team's centermen (Galchenyuk, Eller, Plekanec, Malhotra and Desharnais), there is no point to call him up and ask him to move back to the wing... Hudon will be best served by playing a full season in the AHL for his development.
With the lack of size and talent on the wings, which impending UFA winger would you like the Habs to acquire before the NHL trade deadline on March 2nd, 2015?
Jaromir Jagr? Chris Stewart? Jordan Nolan? Erik Cole? Jiri Tlusty? Drew Stafford? Kyle Brodziak? Curtis Glencross?
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.
--- 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.
Will the Montreal Canadiens make a move before April 3rd deadline?
All of the rumors say someone is coming to Montreal via trade before April 3rd. Names bounced around were Clowe, Talbot, Smid, just to name a few. However the question to be answered is do they really need any outside help to go into the playoffs?
The way the team has been playing this year they seem to find a way to come together and win against all kinds of adversity. This team reminds me of another special team; the 1993 Stanley Cup Champions. There were no special players on that team. They were a group of guys who stuck up for each other and persisted against all kinds of obstacles. Guys like Kirk Muller led they way with selfless play; something that Mr. Prust has exemplified this year.
So should the Canadiens bring in help? I think the answer is no.
The pieces are all in place. They have goaltending. They have sound defense with good prospects in the AHL ready to step up and Diaz in the background. They have a solid group of forwards. Are they as good individually as the Pittsburgh Penguins? No. As a team though I would match them up against them anytime even with Jarome Iginla in the line up. As this past week showed, the Canadiens can play with the best and the toughest anytime and match them stride for stride.
I say leave the team as is and bring on the best time of year; playoffs in the spring!
What do you think? Do you agree we have the team we need or are changes needed? Let me know your thoughts as deadline day of April 3rd approaches.
After winning four straight games in the first half of March — a feat they haven't accomplished since a stretch between October 26th and November 4th — the Canadiens finished off the month of February with a disastrous 1-5-1 record.
Goals Hard to Come By
Over the last seven games the Canadiens were outscored by almost a two-to-one ratio, conceding 23 goals and netting only 12 tallies of their own.
David Desharnais had a hand in seven of those goals, scoring three.
A big part of the Habs lack of scoring over the past two weeks has been the disappearing act put on by both Max Pacioretty and Erik Cole.
While the two power forwards have no doubt been instrumental in what little success the Habs have had this year, neither of them were able to earn more than three points over those seven games.
Rene Bourque scored once in that time frame. Tomas Plekanec and the recently departed Andrei Kostitsyn were both shut out.
It's pretty simple: when your scorers don't score you tend to lose games.
Special Teams
The Habs dismal power play rate of 9.7% — or 3-for-31— over the past two weeks has done nothing but help them solidify a top pick in this June's draft.
Their penalty kill, however, has continued to thrive despite the departure of Hal Gill.
The league's top shorthanded squad killed 28 of 30 penalties for a blistering success rate of 93.3%. What's more impressive is that 20 of those 21 penalties were successfullly nullified after Gill's trade to Nashville.
Deja Vu - Kostitsyn Sent to Nashville
After years of inconsistency, the Canadiens organization finally decided to move forward without Andrei Kostisyn.
On what was arguably the most unsatisfying trade deadline in years, one of the biggest deals was Andrei being sent to play with his brother Sergei. Montreal received Nashville's second round pick in 2012 and the cancellation of the conditional fifth round choice sent to the Predators in the Hal Gill deal.
Tough Season Just Got Tougher
Hours after sending Kostitsyn to Nashville, the Canadiens claimed 6'1" 215lb tough guy Brad Staubitz off waivers from the Minnesota Wild. In 43 games with the Wild this season, Staubitz had accumulated 73 penalty minutes.
In his one game so far with the Habs, Staubitz earned 17 penalty minutes.
Staubitz brings a toughness to the lineup that the Habs haven't had in years. And, after just one game in a Canadiens uniform, he's already shown that liberties are not to be taken on his new teammates.
After Lightning forward Ryan Malone went ballistic on Alexei Emelin for delivering a hit, Staubitz reached out and grabbed Malone from the bench earning a ten minute misconduct. Just under four minutes into the third period of the same game, Staubitz dropped his gloves with Pierre-Cedric Labrie.
You can't help but be impressed by a player who dresses with a team for the first time and shows his teammates that if someone takes a shot at them he'll have their back.
The season may be over for the Canadiens, but having a player who's willing to stand up for his teammates is a positive to look forward to next season.
--- Sean is a freelance writer currently contributing to HabsAddict.com. He is also a regular blogger and frequent panelist on the Habs post game show at MontrealHockeyTalk.com You can follow Sean on Twitter
(Photo by Mike Ridewood/Getty Images North America)
A generational talent, Beliveau is also one of the classiest and most well spoken figure in the game of hockey.
While many of us are too young to have been privy to his exploits, his mere presence around the Canadiens undoubtedly makes our experience of the game better.
I reckon that yesterday was a quieter Trade Deadline than many were hoping for.
Certainly, it is easy to justify that feeling. In Montreal, many players rumored to be on their way out - Chris Campoli, Mathieu Darche, Travis Moen and Yannick Weber - did not move for various reasons.
Nonetheless, Andrei Kostitsyn did find his way to Nashville in exchange for a second round pick in 2013 and Brad Staubitz was claimed off waivers by the Canadiens.
League wide, the day also proved tranquil, with prized acquisitions like Steve Ott and Lubomir Vishnovsky also staying put. Rick Nash, somehwat predictably, remains a Blue Jacket.
Still, teams like Vancouver and Nashville found a way to make some noise.
Along with AK46, the Predators also pried Paul Gaustad away from the Sabres in return for a first round pick.
The Cancuks bolstered their lineup, acquiring Samuel Pahlson, Zack Kassian and Marc-Andre Gargani. These moves where not without their cost, as Vancouver was forced to give up Cody Hodgson, Alex Sulzer and a couple of picks.
So, what did you think or Deadline day? How did Montreal do? Who are your winners or losers?
Last update: 3:55 PM - Deadline has been passed - No Further trades
So trade deadline day is upon us and the Habs have already fired their first volley.
We at HabsAddict.com are going to try to bring you all of the details on all of the moves the Habs make today. In addition, we'll post a few of the more interesting trades from around the league.
So bookmark this page and check back often. We'll have trade details, links, commentary and more. So enjoy!
10:55 AM: Montreal trades much maligned forward, Andrei Kostitsyn, to join his brother in Nashville with the Predators.
The Habs get a second round pick in 2013 and a conditional fifth round pick.
Kamal's Note: While some are lamenting the fact the Habs didn't get more in return, I think the reality if that the market dictates it's own terms. We have to assume that this is the best Montreal could do.
Also, a second round pick in what is supposed to be a deep draft next season is nothing to sneeze at. The Habs now have three second rounders for next year and what's wrong with packaging one or two of them, with them first round pick, to move up in the draft?
While it would have been nice to get a higher pick and/or a solid prospect, the Habs are doing the right thing right now: loading up on picks and shedding salary. Let's face it folks, regardless of what the Habs' braintrust is saying publicly, this team is going to rebuild/retool.
Louis' Note: The optics of trading a former first round pick for a second rounder are not great and, personally, I find the return a bit disappointing.
With Ruutu and Hemsky off the market, I thought Kostitsyn would carry more value. Plus, based on the ridiculous return Dustin Penner got last year, I figured AK46 would fetch more than a second round selection.
Without necessarily fetching a first round choice, I reckoned he would go for a better package of picks.
12:05 AM - The Montreal Canadiens have claimed tough guy Brad Staubitz off waivers from Minnesota.
Staubitz is not known for his scoring prowess but is known for throwing his mitts. Here is his Hockey DB player page.
Kamal's Note: Unless the Habs are going to flip Staubitz in a trade—which I think it highly unlikely—this move is a continuation of the "getting bigger and tougher trend".
With rumours swirling that Pierre Gauthier is no longer running the ship, the recent trades certainly seem to support that idea. I mean at a minimum, there is a clear change in direction for this team.
And one that is think was long overdue.
Louis' Note: I always thought that Pierre Gauthier had a certain eye for size. However, the enforcer type player does not exactly fit the GM's M.O. Perhaps, as Kamal points out above, this is signal of a change in direction.
Regardless, with Darche, Blunden, Moen and Nokelainen injured, this move gives short term depth to the team's fourth line.
12:15 PM - According to La Presse beat writer, Richard Labbe, neither Mathieu Darche nor Travis Moen will be traded.
Labbe tweeted "Both Darche and Moen still not cleared, not on the market."
Kamal's Note: I think this is unfortunate for a Montreal team who is clearly acquiring picks and prospects. Moen and Darche could have fetch both for a rebuilding Montreal team.
That said, both are injured and, well, it's hard to trade an injured player.
Louis' Note: Too bad for Montreal. Travis Moen ,as I had argued previously, could have fetched a nice return, espeically from teams who might lose out on the apparent Steve Ott sweeps.
3:55 PM - And that's all she wrote, folks.
The Habs have made all the moves they are going to make and, after all is said and done, they traded Hal Gill and Andrei Kostitsyn to Nashville for second-rounders in 2012 and 2013, Blake Geoffrion and Robert Slaney.
Not bad, but not what you were expecting, was it?
Still on the roster are such supposed trade bait as Mathieu Darche, Travis Moen, Chris Campoli and Tomas Kaberle. I won't even mention Scott Gomez, because he wasn't going anywhere.
The good part out of all of this? The Habs have four picks in the top-60 of next year's (2013) supposedly deep draft. I could easily see them packing one or two of those second rounders, with their first pick in 2013, to move up next summer.
But, for now, the Habs are a shell-shocked team who are suffering through rumours that their GM is no longer running the ship, and that their locker room is divided. All of this while their are staring at last place overall in the Eastern Conference.
Yikes. Ugliness indeed.
Now it's time to just play out the rest of the season and wait to see what happens in the offseason.
On a different note, for all you Fantasy hockey fanatics out there, DailyJoust has another FREE $100 prize contest running tonight.
Deadline day is upon us and many questions still linger this morning.
Will Pierre Gauthier trade impending free agents like Chris Campoli, Travis Moen and Mahtieu Darche? Will Andrei Kostitsyn be shipped out? Will Montreal pull off a more surprising move, like trading out Tomas Plekanec or P.K Subban?
By the end of the afternoon today, we should have answers to those queries and more.
In the meantime, HabsAddict has compiled deadline related pieces from here and around the web in order to have you fully prepared for this day of frenzy.
There are just about 24 hours until the NHL trade deadline and the tension is steadily building. Not that there have been a ton of moves.
There haven't.
But the rumours and innuendo are swirling fast and furious.
Speaking of rumours, TSN 990's Tony Marinaro dropped a bombshell yesterday, saying that Pierre Gauthier is about to be fired. Moreover, he went on to say that Geoff Molson has taken over as GM until they can find a replacement in the off-season.
Molson was quick to take to Twitter to deny the story. But, love him or hate him, Marinaro has a tendency to be connected to the Habs and often gets hidden stories.
We'll see how this one plays out but, would it surprise anyone else if it ended up being true?
Let me start by saying no, the Montreal Canadiens cannot land Rick Nash.
With the NHL trade deadline less than 48 hours away, Nash is the most coveted player available on the trade market.
Some may argue that L.A.'s Dustin Brown holds that title — because the Kings won't require as much in return — however, it's become unclear over the last 24 hours whether or not the Kings captain is available.
With endless rumors swirling about who will end up where, I thought it would be fun to throw out a scenario, albeit an incredibly improbable one, in which the Canadiens would find themselves landing the star winger.
The reality is the Habs don't have the roster players to match the rumored offer that the New York Rangers have on the table. It involves either Michael Del Zotto/Ryan McDonagh plus either Derek Stepan, Brandon Dubinsky or Carl Hagelin, and a first round pick.
Montreal's advantage over the Rangers lies in there draft position.
Columbus is on track to have the first pick at this June's draft. If the two club's were able to hammer out a deal involving Montreal's first round pick, that would give Columbus two picks in the top ten.
With the Habs porous play, a pick in the top five seems more realistic and a top three pick is not out of the question either.
Now for the problem.
If Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson were to be interested in the Canadiens pick, it would have to be in a package including Scott Gomez.
Nash comes with a price tag of $7.8 million so the only way the Habs could make it work is if they were to send Gomez, and his $7.357 million, the other way.
Montreal would have to add a few assets to sweeten the pot, maybe Andrei Kostitsyn and a prospect —Louis Leblanc, Brendan Gallagher, or Michael Bournival — and maybe even their second round pick acquired from Nashville in the trade that sent Hal Gill to the Preds.
Of course, the only way this dream could become reality is if Howson were to be blinded by the possibility of drafting twice, early on in a draft. Keep in mind that this year's draft has many promising prospects such as Nail Yakupov, Mikhail Grigorenko, Matthew Dumba, Filip Forsberg, and Morgan Rielly, to name a few.
The unfortunate reality is that Gomez's downside more than likely outweighs another top pick in June.
If Montreal had more to offer, other than their pick, it would help their chances. But the Canadiens don't have anything to offer that could help Columbus' offense after Nash's departure.
As far fetched as it seems, if Howson were to bite would you be willing to part with a top five pick—and possibly top three—and a prospect to bring Nash to Montreal?
Would a superstar winger help out the Habs or should they hold off for the center they've needed for years?
What are your thoughts?
--- Sean is a freelance writer currently contributing to HabsAddict.com. He is also a regular blogger and frequent panelist on the Habs post game show at MontrealHockeyTalk.com
Once again the Edmonton Oilers will definitely be sellers this season as their thin defensive corp was not good enough to support their budding stars Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
With Ales Hemsky about to re-sign with the team (reportedly two year at $5MM/year), Nikolai Khabibulin currently injured and coming with a hefty contract, and Andy Sutton previously signing a one-year extension with the team, the Oilers don't have many assets to trade before the deadline.
The team is shopping Eric Belanger, whose been a major disappointment this season, but he's not very appealing. An impending UFA, Ryan Smyth would certainly interest a lot of teams looking for scoring and leadership, but he owns a no-movement clause and I don't believe he would waive it after coming back to Edmonton.
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are currently vying for a playoffs spot, battling both the Washington Capitals and the Winnipeg Jets for the division lead. The team would like to get rid of unproductive forwards Marco Sturm and Sean Bergenheim to find the missing pieces to contend.
As for UFA blue liner Jason Garrison, he is drawing a lot of interest around the league because of his very affordable salary ($650,000) and offensive touch (13 goals), but the team would be foolish not to re-sign him.
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings made their major move when they acquired Mike Richards' best friend Jeff Carter from Columbus in exchange for puck-moving defenseman Jack Johnson.
Dustin Penner, who's been a frequent healthy scratch, is still being shopped around the league, as the impending UFA is having a tough year and was victim of a pancake injury earlier this season.
Contrary to some rumors, captain Dustin Bown is not available as per GM Dean Lombardi. While young goalie Jonathan Bernier would be a viable option for teams looking for a quality netminder (Lightning and Jackets among others), the Kings won't likely trade him before the draft as they prefer to keep as an insurance policy for the playoffs.
Also, the Kings have announced today that they have extended rearguard Willie Mitchell to a two-year deal worth $7MM.
Minnesota Wild
Ravaged by injuries up front, the Minnesota Wild are falling down the standings faster than Keanu Reeves’ career, going 3-5-2 in the past ten games.
With injuries to key players like Mikko Koivu, Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Guillaume Latendresse, the team desperately needs offensive help before it’s too late. The team is currently dangling UFA goalie Josh Harding as a trade bait to acquire a top-six forward.
Possible rentals for the Wild are Wojtek Wolski, Andrei Kostitsyn and Brad Boyes. The team could also trade veteran defensemen Greg Zanon (UFA) and Marek Zidlicky to get much-needed scoring punch.
Montreal Canadiens
After trading veteran Hal Gill to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a second round choice and forward Blake Geoffrion, the Montreal Canadiens are now last in the Eastern Conference, eight points out of the eighth spot. I analysed the Habs' best trade options in an article last month, and with Gill gone, the most likely candidate to be trade is now AK46.
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are doing all they can to re-sign defenseman Ryan Suter before the deadline, and if they can’t he might become available but the price will be hefty.
After the acquisition of Hal Gill, the Predators might be willing to sacrifice a young defenseman like Jon Blum or Ryan Ellis to add top-six forward to an already potent line-up. And that player could very well be Sergei Kostitsyn's older brother Andrei Kostitsyn.
New Jersey Devils
After acquiring forward Alexei Ponikarovsky last month, and with the impending return of forward Travis Zajac from a recurring Achilles heel injury, the New Jersey Devils are set up front.
However, with blue liner Henrik Tallinder out six to eight weeks with a blod clot in his left leg, and Adam Larsson still out with a bruised lower-back following a P.K. Subban body-check, the Devils will certainly look to add a depth defenseman.
Player such as Jaroslav Spacek, Chris Campoli or Roman Hamrlik could be good fits.
As for impending UFA Zach Parise, he will not be dealt this season, but look for GM Lou Lamoriello to extend him before July 1st. If Parise wants to test free-agent market, then Lamoriello will trade him and see what hefty return he can get for the nifty Parise.
While both Martin Brodeur and Johan Hedberg will be UFAs at season’s end, don’t expect them to be dealt as they both want to re-sign in New Jersey.
New York Islanders
With the New York Islanders eight points out of a playoff spot, it is likely that GM Garth Snow will be a seller before the trade deadline.
Players that could be moved include goalie Evgeni Nabokov, even if there are rumors about him re-signing with the team after Rick Dipietro's career ending injury.
Also, veteran rearguards Milan Jurcina, Mike Mottau, Steve Staios and Mark Eaton who are all slated to become UFAs at season’s end could be dealt to contenders.
Still, the most prized trading bait might be Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau who’s making an affordable $1,250,000 this season and has 54 points in 60 games this year. PAP will be one of the top targets come deadline day and the price will most likely be a 1st rounder.
New York Rangers
Currently leading the Eastern Conference with 81 points, the New York Rangers will definitely be buyers this season, but don’t expect a major overhaul in the Big Apple.
GM Glen Sather has already managed to trade under-performing tweener Erik Christensen to the Wild, and is still looking to unload Wojtek Wolski.
While the Rags are certainly interested in sniper Rick Nash and have the assets to acquire him, I really don't think they will trade for him in the next 72 hours.
Look for the Blue Shirts to tweak their line-up and add a depth forward such as Daniel Winnik or Adam Hall, and a veteran defenseman such as Scott Hannan or Jaroslav Spacek to mentor their young blue liners.
Ottawa Senators
Currently ranked seventh in the Eastern Conference, the biggest surprise in the NHL this season, the Ottawa Senators, will certainly be buyers.
Bryan Murray will not mortgage the future to make a major acquisition, but look for the Sens to add a top-nine forward like David Jones or Eric Belanger. These players would complement a young core led by the likes of Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson and Milan Michalek.
Murray could also try to add an insurance policy in net following Craig Anderson's injury (finger cut), that he sustained against the Capitals on Wednesday.
San Jose Sharks' Antero Niittymaki could be a cheap option in goal.
Stay tuned for the third and final part in this three part series, tomorrow!
--- Follow me on Twitter for more updates on the trade deadline and the NHL in general.
Yikes, that was ugly last night wasn't it? Watching the Habs fall 4-1 to the Capitals, it has become painfully clear that most on this team don't care anymore.
Moreover, the players, for the most part, looked like they were just going through the motions, in anticipation of player movement before the deadline.
Let's face it folks, not only are the Habs going to miss the playoffs but, despite what they say in the media, many of the players have also thrown in the towel.
Sad, but perhaps a fitting way for the last 20 games of this ungodly season to play out.
Still, it is Saturday and there are two more days until the trade deadline. Will Pierre Gauthier and co. be active? Will Travis Moen, Andrei Kostitsyn, Mathieu Darche, and others, find new homes by Monday?
We'll soon find out but, given their last place standing in the Eastern conference you sure hope that Gauthier gets to unloading players quickly!
With about 72 hours to go before the February 27th NHL trade deadline, rumors are swirling all over the Internet.
Especially on Twitter, as fake insiders try to get the attention of hockey fans by spreading out false trade rumors.
I will try to dissect some of the hottest rumors around and tell you which players are most likely available, on a team-by-team basis.
Yesterday the first major trade happened when the Columbus Blue Jackets traded disgruntled center Jeff Carter to the goal-starving Los Angeles Kings, in exchange for blue liner Jack Johnson and a first round draft pick in 2012 or 2013.
What follows is part one of three:
Anaheim Ducks
With their recent playoff push, the Anaheim Ducks are only looking to trade impending UFAs Jason Blake and Niklas Hagman, albeit they are not drawing much interest because of their lack of production and their high salary.
The Ducks might trade veteran rearguard Tony Lydman who has drawn interest from the Chicago Blackhawks. Teemu Selanne, Bobby Ryan, Corey Perry, and Ryan Getzlaf are not going anywhere.
Boston Bruins
With the uncertainty surrounding Nathan Horton (concussion-like symptoms) and the knee injury that will sideline Rich Peverley for four to six weeks, the Boston Bruins will like add a depth forward to an already potent forward group.
Tim Thomas and Tuuka Rask are not going to be traded.
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are actively trying to move Derek Roy and Brad Boyes. Pending UFA Paul Gaustad is drawing a lot of interest among the NHL as the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vancouver Canucks are interested in his services.
Overpaid veteran Jochen Hecht is off the market after he sustained his third concussion in a span of three months. The Sabres will not trade Ryan Miller during the season, but they might feel the trade market this summer.
Calgary Flames
Back in the thick of the playoff race, and following the acquisition of Mike Cammalleri and the departure of Brendan Morrison, the Calgary Flames will most likely be pretty quiet and add a depth forward in the next 72 hours as they will rather wait for their injured players to come back.
Curtis Glencross who missed five weeks due to a knee injury made his return yesterday, giving the Flames an extra boost.
All-Star winger Jarome Iginla will not be traded.
Carolina Hurricanes
After re-signing rearguard Tim Gleason and forward Tuomo Ruutu to long-term contract extensions (boy did they overpay!), and trading forward Alexei Ponikarovky to the New Jersey Devils, the Carolina Hurricanes don't have much to offer other than blue liners Bryan Allen and Jaroslav Spacek.
Spacek is drawing interest from the New Jersey Devils, the Chicago Blackhawks and the San Jose Sharks, among others.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are looking to trade for a second line center to round out their top-six and have interest in Derek Roy and Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau.
Both players are extremely gifted players that would fit very well in the team’s up-tempo system.
The Hawks are also looking to bolster their blue line with a veteran defenseman such as the Ducks Tony Lydman or the Canes Bryan Allen. Chicago would also like to add a veteran goalie to the mix, but other than Nikolai Khabibulin, they are scarce this season as Evgeny Nabokov is reportedly off the market.
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are desperately trying to unload Paul Stastny's hefty contract of $6.6 million per year, but they are not finding any takers. The team is also dangling winger David Jones and gritty forward Daniel Winnik.
The latter is drawing a lot of interest because of his affordable $950,000 contract. Impending UFA Shane O'Brien is also a good option for teams looking for a gritty and physical defenseman to round out their top six.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets began their house clearing earlier this week when they unloaded under-performing center, Antoine Vermette, to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for a pair of draft picks. Then, yesterday they traded disgruntled sniper Jeff Carter to the Los Angeles Kings for defensive stud Jack Johnson and a first rounder.
So what about Rick Nash?
While Nash is drawing interest from the New York Rangers, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the San Jose Sharks, I highly doubt the star winger will be traded before the deadline since the asking price is quite high.
He will most likely go at draft in June.
As for pivot Derrick Brassard, he is not on the trade market anymore after recording ten points in his last ten games, but the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens have been sniffing around.
The Blue Jackets are also trying to unload impending UFAs Samuel Pahlsson and Kristian Huselius.
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars, who are in the thick of the playoff race, are likely to stand pat and only make minor moves such as unloaded pending UFAs Radek Dvorak and Adam Burish.
The team already traded defenseman Nicklas Grossman last to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for two draft picks. However, the player who's garnering the most interest is Steve Ott as the Vancouver Canucks, Phidelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs are kicking tires to acquire him.
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings already made their big move when they traded a first round pick to acquire blue liner Kyle Quincey from the Colorado Avalanche (via the Tampa Bay Lightning). The team won’t make another big move, but will most certainly add a depth forward such as Daniel Winnik and Mike Knuble.
Detroit could also trade Jiri Hudler, an impending UFA, who’s been on the trade market for the past two years.
Look for the next two editions of the Rumors Galore: trade deadline to be published in the next 48 hours.
--- Follow Fred on Twitter for more updates on the trade deadline and the NHL in general.
(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images North America)
As fate would have it, big Hal Gill was the first to go in what I thought was a very good deal for the Habs.
It is not what I had hoped - Gill as part of a package for Chris Stewart - but realistically was a decent return.
Now that I have looked at the blueline and the dominoes have begun falling, the question is what to do with the forward unit.
Without further ado, here is the final half of what I would do if I were sitting in the GM chair.
The Foundation: Who Stays
From the current roster my quick list which includes Max Pacioretty, Erik Cole, Brian Gionta, David Desharnais, Ryan White, Lars Eller, and Louis Leblanc.
Together they represent two-thirds of the forward unit and, I would argue, the current and future core of the team. They possess a blend of size, skill, speed, and leadership that should not be tampered with.
Having said that, absolutely no forward on my team is an “untouchable”. Any player can be had if the right deal presents itself.
For instance, if a desperate Anaheim team were to pick up the phone and offer me Ryan Getzalf in a one-for-one deal, then Pacioretty would have to go.
Who is available?
Mathieu Darche
Mathieu Darche has, without a doubt, been playing the best hockey of his Montreal Canadiens career in the past couple of weeks. Nonetheless, he is an older, fringe NHL player who is getting more minutes than he should.
There is an obvious problem when a player like Darche is one of the most utilized, and number one RWer, alongside Tomas Plekanec and Rene Bourque.
Mr. Darche you have served your time as a Montreal Canadien and it is time to go.
It is so very difficult to put a value on a player, but there are certainly teams around who would like to add an experienced, depth player like Darche.
What I would do: Mathieu Darche will be dealt to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a conditional sixth round pick. If the Sharks win the cup it remains a sixth, if they do not then it becomes a seventh.
Andrei Kostitsyn
For the life of me, I cannot understand why anyone would defend this guy and plead that he be re-signed by the Habs. It is time for Mr. Kostitsyn to find employment elsewhere.
If the Habs are to become a consistent threat in the post season then they need to forget about inconsistent Kostitsyn-like players.
With so very few sellers at the 2012 deadline, Kostitsyn is going to be a fairly hot commodity. Teams like Los Angeles, Colorado, Detroit, Nashville, Pittsburgh or even Ottawa will be looking to add a rental player of his nature.
With limited players available this deadline, it is extremely safe to say that a return similar to Hal Gill - a mid-level prospect, a second round pick and a utility player - is not out of the question.
What I would do: Kostitysn becomes a member of the Florida Panthers. There is no better place to play in obscurity. In exchange Montreal will receive Keaton Ellerby and a secound round pick.
Travis Moen
I am a big fan of Travis Moen. When it was announced that he had signed a three year contract with the Habs, it was one of the highlights of my summer that year.
However, with his contract nearing its end there is talk of him departing.
I would like to see him remain a member of the team. Still, I am torn because Moen is one of the best rentals available and teams would almost certainly pay a premium for his services.
Travis could fetch a second round pick plus an added piece, making it hard to resist dealing him. Yet, few in the upcoming crop of UFA forwards can bring his character to the table.
If Moen remains in Montreal, I will not be upset. If he is dealt and fetches the above return, I will not be upset either.
Elite clubs look for players like Moen before embarking on a playoff run.
What I would do: I believe that Travis will remain with the organization. If he is in fact dealt, then look for him to be headed to a name that nobody is talking about, the Phoenix Coyotes.
Phoenix needs depth on their bottom-six and the big winger would fit the bill nicely. Look for him to be dealt for Mikkel Boedker and a second round pick.
So that's it folks, that's how I'd retool this team.
What do you think of my moves? Would you trade other players like Bourque or Plekanec?
--- Bryan is a Marketer by day, writer for HabsAddict.com by night and full time fan of the game. Follow me on twitter @BryanWilley78 but don't bother looking for me on Facebook, I'm just too old for that now!
(Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images North America)
After focusing on the Montreal Canadiens' potential bait, namely Travis Moen and the recently departedHal Gill, our trade deadline preview turns its attention towards potential targets for GM Pierre Gauthier.
As alluded to by Bryan Willey, winger Chris Stewart is having a difficult season under new St. Louis Blues' coach Ken Hitchcock and could be on the move.
Given his size and skill set, he could be exactly the type of player the Habs would love to add to their lineup.
Why he could be traded - After emerging as a legitimate power forward with back-to-back 28 goal campaigns, Stewart has seen his stock tumble and now finds himself firmly entrenched in Ken Hitchcock's doghouse.
Compared to last season, his average overall ice time has dropped by nearly 90 seconds and his powerplay utilization has also fallen by about a minute per game.
As of this writing, he is pointless in his last six games and is on pace for a mere 15 goals. In a recent contest against the New York Islanders, he was demoted to the fourth line and played just over 13 minutes.
In short, Stewart's decreasing role with the Blues has fed the belief that he could be made available.
Why the Canadiens could be interested - In spite of his recent struggles, there is little doubt that Stewart fills the stereotypical portfolio of a power forward.
At 6-2, 230 pounds, he is not lacking for size. And, as his hit per game average demonstrates, he is willing to use it.
Beyond his enticing frame, Stewart is still quite young at 24 years old and has the ability to be a consistent 25 goal scorer in the NHL.
Having said that, he has already played for two teams and appears to be headed out of St. Louis as well. As a result, there are some potential red flags about Stewart's attitude and work ethic.
While these concerns are perhaps not deal breakers, Montreal does not have the best track record with perceived problem players.
In the end, the question is whether the Canadiens can provide the proper environment for Stewart to succeed.
Nonetheless, with the possible departure of Andrei Kostitsyn and the irregular contributions of Rene Bourque, the Toronto native could fit nicely on one of the Habs' top two lines.
What he could be worth - A combination of two of the following: first round pick, first round prospect, top-six forward, top-four defenceman
It is hard to get a proper read on a young , high ceiling winger like Chris Stewart. But, in spite of his struggles, it is clear that he will not be had cheaply.
Last year, perpetual underachiever Dustin Penner went from Edmonton to Los Angeles in return for a first round pick and Colton Teubert.
Two seasons ago, the far less impressive Wojtek Wolski was sent to Phoenix for Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter.
Evidently, to pry Stewart away from St. Louis, a similar, if not better, package will need to be presented.
--- Louis is an Associate Editor at HabsAddict.comand an Editor at HabsWorld.net. Born in Chicago, Louis grew up in Quebec City where he earned Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Université Laval.
He currently resides in Ottawa and works for the Coaching Association of Canada. Find him on twitter@LouisMoustakas
So how are you feeling about your Montreal Canadiens this morning, Hab addicts?
It's a bit rough, isn't it?
Montreal dropped a disappointing decision to the Dallas Stars last night. It was a game in which the Habs simply didn't show up. Sure they had a few flashes but were, overall, flat.
A lot of fans are scratching their heads this morning, wondering how a team fighting for their playoff lives can come play so poorly with so much on the line.
The answer is pretty simple: they're not very good.
There are a lot of positives going on with the team such as Erik Cole's play, Lars Eller, David Desharnais, Max Pacioretty on a 30-goal pace, Carey Price playing like a star most nights, P.K. Subban starting to look more settled and more.
But, ultimately, this team has too many holes that need to be filled and too much dead weight pulling them down.
With only 21 more games to play and 58 points in the standings, the Habs would need upward of 16 more wins to qualify for the post-season.
As such, I think it's fair to say that, as I've been saying since December, the Habs will not make the playoffs.
Time to sell
We had some discussions on the Sunday Shinny this past weekend, as to whether the Habs were officially sellers or not. There were arguments as to the meaning of the word "seller" but to me, that is all semantics.
Trading pending UFA defenseman, Hal Gill, signals (at least to me) in no uncertain terms that the Habs are sellers.
Gill is the first piece to fall but players like Andrei Kostitsyn, Mathieu Darche, Travis Moen and Chris Campoli, among others, could still be shipped out of town.
Kostitsyn is a player whose name has been circulating a lot in recent days. And, while nothing is confirmed, there is talk that he is actively being shopped. I recently wrote an article explaining why I think the Habs should re-sign him, but I can't say I'd be surprised to see him moved.
Moen is another player who is attracting a lot of interest, from teams such as the Detroit Red Wings, among others. However there are whispers that Montreal might not want to trade him.
In fact, it seems there is a chance they want to try to re-sign him in the off-season.
If the Habs do indeed want to retain Moen they should be trying to sign him now, and not in the summer. If this proves to be the Habs intention then it shows that Pierre Gauthier et al still do not know how to run a team under the salary cap.
To properly run a team under the cap, you must know if you are going to be able to sign upcoming UFA's before the trade deadline. And if you can't, they must be traded for picks and prospects.
That is how you run a team under the cap.
Holding players whose contracts are expiring, until the off-season, is a recipe for wasting assets. For more on this see Koivu, Saku or Komisarek, Mike or Souray, Sheldon or Kovalev, Alex or Tanguay, Alex.
I could go on, but you get my point.
The second issue here is that I believe trying to re-sign Moen is a mistake.
Don't get me wrong because he's a good player, but Montreal is not a team on the cusp of contending. They need to restock the cupboard, shed salary and gather picks and prospects.
As good as Moen is, he is making too much money ($1.5 million) for a third liner. He can be replaced by younger, cheaper options and, considering the Habs cap mess with contracts like Scott Gomez's and Tomas Kaberle's, getting cheaper should be a prime goal.
Going, going, Gomez...
I've had a lot of people asking me about trade scenarios on Twitter, Facebook and the like, recently. But I have to say that out of all of the conversations, I still can't believe some feel that Gomez is tradeable right now.
I've even heard people say that Chicago is desperate for a center, and could make a play for him. Come on people!
If it was at all unclear, Gomez isn't going anywhere. At least not this season.
He has a grand total of nine points (2G, 7A) and is a minus-5 though 31 games played. And he carries a $7.35 million cap hit for the next two seasons (after this year).
Untradeable.
No one is going to be even remotely interested in taking him off the Habs hands. Moreover, the only two people foolish enough to actually trade for Gomez already work in the Habs upper management.
So there will be no takers.
The best bet, and what the Habs are certainly hoping for, is that there is a new buyout clause put in place for the upcoming CBA. Players like Wade Redden and Sheldon Souray getting demoted to the minors, have shown teams and players alike that having an albatross of a contract on the books can kill your team.
Moreover, players don't want to be demoted to the AHL and the teams don't want to buyout a contract but still have a cap hit to worry about.
What they want is amnesty for taking on or signing a player to a stupid contract.
That said, I can very easily see a new clause put in place, allowing teams to buyout a player's contract while also freeing up cap space. Currently, if you buy a player out you have to pay him two-thirds his remaining salary over twice the remaining term.
But I think a new clause will mean the player would get paid, no matter what, but the team could rid themselves of the "mistake" and get cap relief in the process.
Sounds like a win-win to me.
I think that this is exactly what the Habs are hoping to see in the new CBA this summer and, in a lot of ways, they're banking on such a clause.
TSN 990's Tony Marinaro tweeted this morning "Disappointed Habs fans do not worry. I have been told that everything will play itself out this summer. Everything."
Vague, but, to me, that speaks to the Gomez situation, the Gauthier situation, Cunneyworth, Markov and any other questions marks currently plaguing this team.
For now, though, don't expect miracles and don't expect Gomez to go anywhere.
New Sunday Shinny and Blake Geoffrion interview
I know I'm a little late in posting it, but here is the latest Sunday Shinny podcast for last Sunday.
The best part about it? We did an interview of newest Hab, Blake Geoffrion. The interview is about 20 minutes in and is worth a listen.
He talks about being traded to Montreal, the pressure, the legacy of his family. He even tells some awesome stories about sitting around the table with his Grandfather, Boom-boom, talking about the Rocket and Guy Lafleur.
It's pretty compelling stuff!
And the best part? You can hear the pride and excitement in his voice.
Click play below to listen in:
Check it out and enjoy the rest of your week. Oh, and try not to get down about the Habs. It's February and it's 10 degrees outside.
That should be enough to put a smile on anyone's face!
--- Kamal is a freelance writer, Senior Writer/Editor-in-Chief of HabsAddict.com, Montreal Canadiens Blogger on Hockeybuzz.com and featured columnist on PowerScoutHockey.com. Kamal is also a regular contributor to the Sunday Shinny segment of The Franchise weekend morning show, on TSN Radio 990 (AM 990) every Sunday from 9 - 10 AM. Listen live at http://www.tsn.ca/montreal/
