Canadiens acquire forward Devante Smith-Pelly from the Anaheim Ducks in return for Jiri Sekac

[Guest habs1952]

Don't really know anything about Smith-Pelly but I still have 2 thoughts:

(1) I'm glad we got someone who hits

(2) Our world class coach will turn him into a world class player.

[habs_93]

Really sick of giving up skill for "grit", particularly when we've got more than enough of it as it is. Zero chance Smith-Pelly's PIMs stay as low here, as well.

He's not a 4th liner! When games get nasty and ugly he's the go to guy. The Ducks usually use puck possesion and speed. The Ducks are gonna miss him.

Your insight is very appreciated on this. Thanks! It's true about the Ducks being a sound possession team. Unfortunately, the only forward who's been worse for you in possession this season was Dany Heatley, who's in the AHL. All while having the benefit of playing with considerably better players than he'll have as linemates on the Habs.

[Guest]

I know, but I blame him for not really giving him a proper chance. MT had yet to test Sekac on the top line. But he was never going to because, well...Therrien. So I blame him for making it easier for MB to trade him. Had he been played properly I think his true value would have been realized. I honestly think that MT is the worst thing that could have possibly happened to this team. Even worse than Gomez! I might saying things out of emotion right now, but that is only because I wanted the best for our team. It seems like we take one step forward and two steps back.

No problem at all with you expressing an opinion ( a popular one BTW) . MT pretty much gets blamed for everything in here but the weather, so i just thought if you really hated this trade then some of that anger should have been directed at MB.

[kinot-1]

MB on his presser said (paraphrasing), "There are some palyers that get you to the POs. and some players that get you thru the POs". Also believes that DSP, has not achieved his potential.

[Guest]

I just heard MB is in final talks of a trade with the Leafs for their 1st Zamboni driver.

He cuts nice, neat lines and finishes in a timely fashion.

Should be a great backup to our 1st driver.

Updates to follow.

That's about all i would be interested in from the Leafs.

Personally,,,, i think it's refreshing to make a move with a Cup contender rather then always going for losing teams scraps.

[ramcharger440]

seems odd at first glance.....hope there is more coming to make this make sense. I quite liked Jiri!

[kinot-1]

DSP has 147 hits this year, tied for 1st on the Ducks.

[HabsRuleForever]

Thoughts from the media:
Brian Wilde: “Sekac was not liked by Therrien. Simple. Sekac has talent and this could come back to bite Habs. It’s a great trade for Sekac away from MT.”
Roman Jedlicka: “Jiri Sekac didnt get ice time he deserved in Montreal. I always liked this kid, his work ethic. Good trade for Anaheim”
Dennis Bernstein: “Sekac LW, assuming he gets a trial run with Getzlaf/Perry.”
Curtis Zupke: “Looks like I’m not the only one surprised the Ducks were so quick to let DSP go, but one of those kids was going to go at some point.”
Bob McKenzie: “It was pretty clear Jiri Sekac wasn’t able to win over head coach Michel Therrien. We may get a better idea of Sekac’s ability in ANA.”
Dan Wood: “#NHLDucks sought a skilled LW. Believe Jiri Sekac fills the bill.”
Elliott Teaford: “Ducks getting more skill and speed with deal for LW Jiri Sekac and Habs get more size and grit with RW Devante Smith-Pelly. Opening salvo?”
Richard Labbe: “Sekac trade comes as a bit of a surprise, considering #Habs had won bidding war over him this summer. But did not fit in Therrien’s system.”

Hmmm I see a recurring theme

[Guest]

TSN Summary of the trade...

Verdict: The immediate edge goes to Montreal, since Smith-Pelly seems a safer fit for what Montreal needs. While Sekac might offer a higher potential ceiling, as his puck skills and agility are advantages, both he and Smith-Pelly have generated so few shots that it’s hard to put huge expectations on their offensive production going forward.

[jedimaas]

TSN Summary of the trade...

Verdict: The immediate edge goes to Montreal, since Smith-Pelly seems a safer fit for what Montreal needs. While Sekac might offer a higher potential ceiling, as his puck skills and agility are advantages, both he and Smith-Pelly have generated so few shots that it’s hard to put huge expectations on their offensive production going forward.

yeah, the bolded part is why, for now, im not going to get down on the deal. MB and his scouts have shown they have a great ability to seek out players who are undervalued elsewhere and see a "diamond in the rough' so to speak. I dont think that the cost was too high (lets face it, Sekac likely didnt have a substantial amount of trade value at this point) I just dislike that we gave up on him in such short order.

My guess is that we really wanted Smith-Pelly and the only way Anaheim would bite was Sekac.

[kinot-1]

TSN radio is having a conference call with DSP around 3 today.

[Guest]

Some comments from the Duck board...

This trade angers and excites me at the same time. DSP was so clutch last playoffs playing on the first line. He came out a little rusty this year and was banished to the 4th line. Borque has had more opportunity on a scoring line then DSP. We are going to miss his physical presence. I think the potential is there with DSP he just needs the opportunities.

Don't know much about our new dude but it seems as if MTL likes dumping their dead weight onto our team. If sekac doesn't produce now we have lost that physical grinding aspect we just lost for another dead weight winger, we will have got borque'd times 2

we'll with our coach BB he's going to get the same treatment and being moved around every game and in the middle games.

I think DSP will serve your team's needs very well for now and into the playoffs. Think of him as a Subban body type but as a forward, very physical when he wants to be, has the speed and some skills to score. I think he's going to want to impress and when you see him hit, it should make some good oohs and aahs. Since BB moved him up and down the line this entire year, MT can slot him anywhere really. the recent scratches isn't for his poor play but rather to give some of the guys shared play time.

Welcome Habs fans. DSP has good skills, and can be a wrecking ball when he hits you. He disappears at times, and when he doesn't hit, he's not effective. He's been scratched a couple of times as well. He was great in the playoffs against Dallas last season and clutch when it was needed most (5 goals in 12 games against Dallas & LA).

The trade fills a need for both teams. If DSP could have fit and produced on the top line, this trade never would have been made. He is a bottom six guy, who is versatile enough to play top six minutes in a pinch, but not permanently.

See it as a good trade for both teams.

[HabsRuleForever]

Still don't know why they didn't go after Rene Bourque. I heard he was a good playoff performer.

[Guest]

Still don't know why they didn't go after Rene Bourque. I heard he was a good playoff performer.

See post #1 from the Ducks board. :P

[Habsology2]

No problem at all with you expressing an opinion ( a popular one BTW) . MT pretty much gets blamed for everything in here but the weather, so i just thought if you really hated this trade then some of that anger should have been directed at MB.

Oh, most definitely. I am very irate over this trade. It's not like we got Getzlaf or Perry in return. Other than that blip of a Vanek deal, MB hasn't really impressed me much. He seems to pander to MT's proclivities, rather than the other way around. The only reason my hate for MB is less than MT's is because MT is the one that has created this situation.

[Manatee-X]

yeah, the bolded part is why, for now, im not going to get down on the deal. MB and his scouts have shown they have a great ability to seek out players who are undervalued elsewhere and see a "diamond in the rough' so to speak. I dont think that the cost was too high (lets face it, Sekac likely didnt have a substantial amount of trade value at this point) I just dislike that we gave up on him in such short order.

My guess is that we really wanted Smith-Pelly and the only way Anaheim would bite was Sekac.

I agree with you about Bergevin's scouting ability so far. With that said, one of the diamonds that I was impressed with him finding was.... Jiri Sekac.

The cost for Smith-Pelly wasn't high in terms of what we are giving up now (since Sekac wasn't playing a real key role at present) but watching Sekac I tend to think of him as a guy who's going to break out a bit in the next few years. But yes, the same could be said of DSP based on what folks are posting from the Ducks' board.

Best case scenario is that both players end up doing well in their new homes. A "diamond exchange", if you will.

[HabsRuleForever]

I agree with you about Bergevin's scouting ability so far. With that said, one of the diamonds that I was impressed with him finding was.... Jiri Sekac.

The cost for Smith-Pelly wasn't high in terms of what we are giving up now (since Sekac wasn't playing a real key role at present) but watching Sekac I tend to think of him as a guy who's going to break out a bit in the next few years. But yes, the same could be said of DSP based on what folks are posting from the Ducks' board.

Best case scenario is that both players end up doing well in their new homes. A "diamond exchange", if you will.

The umbrella!

[habs_93]

Smith-Pelly's performance in last year's playoffs is getting thrown around a bit. While 5 goals in 12 games is nice, his 19.2% shooting percentage isn't exactly likely to be repeated. Given that Smith-Pelly's output has regressed significantly this season, it doesn't strike me as something which should have that much weight.

[Kindred]

a plus with this trade, we didn't give up our 1st round pick to get DSP.

I'm sorry i have nothing for this. Did not see this coming and like alot i am scratching my head saying "who?"

[kinot-1]

He will wear #21 for the Habs.

[Woodenhhead]

wat

[Kindred]

Still don't know why they didn't go after Rene Bourque. I heard he was a good playoff performer.

hell with that! we could have gone after Danny Briere. There is a playoff performer. Or better yet, Paul" The Beard" Mara.

I am going out on a limb and assuming the Canadiens expect whoever we face in the first few rounds to be a physical team. Hence the reason to go after someone who likes to hit people.

*shrug*

[HabsRuleForever]

hell with that! we could have gone after Danny Briere. There is a playoff performer. Or better yet, Paul" The Beard" Mara.

I am going out on a limb and assuming the Canadiens expect whoever we face in the first few rounds to be a physical team. Hence the reason to go after someone who likes to hit people.

*shrug*

[jedimaas]

hell with that! we could have gone after Danny Briere. There is a playoff performer. Or better yet, Paul" The Beard" Mara.

I am going out on a limb and assuming the Canadiens expect whoever we face in the first few rounds to be a physical team. Hence the reason to go after someone who likes to hit people.

*shrug*

Which is fine if you're trading DD for S-P but Sekac is actually a bigger player & while he doesnt hit much, he's very strong on the puck.

[habs_93]

I am going out on a limb and assuming the Canadiens expect whoever we face in the first few rounds to be a physical team. Hence the reason to go after someone who likes to hit people.

We've tried the "reply in kind with quasi-physical but otherwise something to be desired" players thing before, of course. It's been a fantastic way to lose.