2015-16 Habs Rumors

[BigTed3]

This is the place to post those Habs rumors you find out about. Whether it's from anyone from Bob McKenzie to Tony Marinaro or Eklund, you decide whether it's worth posting and discussing here.

- Will the Habs go after a top 6 winger?

- Will the Habs trade one of their long-standing players like Markov or Plekanec?

- Is there a player who has requested a trade?

If you think you know something, this is where it goes!

[kinot-1]

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the Blackhawks and Canadiens were working on a deal involving Versteeg, but it fell through before the recent NHL draft was completed.

Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos speculates this (PAP buyout), could open room for Bergevin to pursue Anaheim Ducks UFA left wing Matt Beleskey. The Montreal Gazette’s Pat Hickey wonders if pending Winnipeg Jets free agent Michael Frolik is on the Habs’ radar.

[Guest habs1952]

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the Blackhawks and Canadiens were working on a deal involving Versteeg, but it fell through before the recent NHL draft was completed.

Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos speculates this (PAP buyout), could open room for Bergevin to pursue Anaheim Ducks UFA left wing Matt Beleskey. The Montreal Gazette’s Pat Hickey wonders if pending Winnipeg Jets free agent Michael Frolik is on the Habs’ radar.

Everything I've read lately concerning Belesky indicates he's asking for toooooooo much money after last season.

[kinot-1]

Everything I've read lately concerning Belesky indicates he's asking for toooooooo much money after last season.

EOTP:

"Beleskey is rumoured to have immediately rejected a $4M long term deal from the Ducks, which indicates that he's banking on a desperate team to open up the vault come July 1st."

[RicochetII]

Is there word out there anywhere on Cody Hodgson other than from Eklund?

He mentions Montreal liked him since he was in Vancouver, but don't know where that came from either.

I'm trying to figure out if he was a cause or a casualty in Buffalo, but it's difficult to tell.

[habsisme]

I don't even want Frolik but we better not sign Belesky!

[RyderRocks73]

Somebody must have heard some whisper of something about Chicago's situation. Specifically about Sharp. Do they need to sort things out with Oduya or Versteeg before making a move? Are Montreal still reported to be legitimate contenders? There's been no talk of any substance about him around the league for a few days now.

[fnveenie]

Somebody must have heard some whisper of something about Chicago's situation. Specifically about Sharp. Do they need to sort things out with Oduya or Versteeg before making a move? Are Montreal still reported to be legitimate contenders? There's been no talk of any substance about him around the league for a few days now.

Here's the latest.

Edit. No blog links please.

[NewfoundlandHab]

I have no written source for this, but anyone who might have speculated about trading Fucale to EDM during the season may have been on to something.

A good friend of mine has a close relative who played with the Quebec Ramparts this past season. After Zach was traded to Quebec, Zach used to pick him up before games and practices. One particular morning, he went to get into Zach's car, but Zach made him wait outside while he was on the phone. Once he got into the car, Fucale told him that is was his manager on the phone and that he was indeed almost traded to Edmonton. I don't know if his agent was letting him know that he was almost traded, or saying that he had for sure been traded, but the deal ended up falling through.

Obviously it doesn't mean much now, but I figured I'd share it here for anyone who is interested. I'd be interested to see what the return was or if anyone else from our side was included.

[jedimaas]

A good friend of mine has a close relative who played with the Quebec Ramparts this past season. After Zach was traded to Quebec, Zach used to pick him up before games and practices. One particular morning, he went to get into Zach's car, but Zach made him wait outside while he was on the phone. Once he got into the car, Fucale told him that is was his manager on the phone and that he was indeed almost traded to Edmonton. I don't know if his agent was letting him know that he was almost traded, or saying that he had for sure been traded, but the deal ended up falling through.

No offense meant to your friend but this seems very suspect. Usually GMs go out of their way to make sure players do not know if they have been 'almost traded.' It puts the player on edge & usually makes them second guess their play with that team. The only circumstance where you do see it (the player knowing ahead of time) is if the player is asked to waive a NM or NT clause.

This is why we so often hear about players "finding out on Twitter" or tsn or whatever. The usual MO is GMs will agree on a trade - submit to the league for approval and once that is OK'd - then, and only then - tell the player. This way if something falls through or the league rejects it, the player in question is none the wiser. So im not saying it didnt happen in Fucale's case but it does seem very odd.

[NewfoundlandHab]

No offense meant to your friend but this seems very suspect. Usually GMs go out of their way to make sure players do not know if they have been 'almost traded.' It puts the player on edge & usually makes them second guess their play with that team. The only circumstance where you do see it (the player knowing ahead of time) is if the player is asked to waive a NM or NT clause.

This is why we so often hear about players "finding out on Twitter" or tsn or whatever. The usual MO is GMs will agree on a trade - submit to the league for approval and once that is OK'd - then, and only then - tell the player. This way if something falls through or the league rejects it, the player in question is none the wiser. So im not saying it didnt happen in Fucale's case but it does seem very odd.

I totally agree. It definitely seems odd to be told you're almost traded, or that you have been before a deal is finalized. Just reporting what I heard

[NewfoundlandHab]

^I also recognize that there could have been some miscommunication somewhere along the line as well. Buy hey, it's the rumours thread

[jedimaas]

If you believe in fairy tales like Bigfoot, the tooth fairy or Eklund:

I just got off the phone just now and I was told the Canadiens are discussing possibly moving a Center...Eller or Desharnais, to Washington for a D-man.

Montreal's plan has long been to open up a spot for Galcheynuk to move to his natural Center position...

Will update as more info becomes available...

I do hope we are trying to open up room for Galchenyuk.

I do hope we are shopping desharnais, but i do not believe we are looking for defensmen.

Besides which, Washington has an elite centre, several very good depth centres, a couple of potentially high end young centres and are as strong, if not stronger than us at that position. I dont see them wanting Desharnais. But even more odd would be us wanting a defensman from them. We have probably our strongest core since the 80s and easily already much stronger than Washington's crew. I could see the caps wanting a defensman from us, but not the other way around.

[NewfoundlandHab]

If you believe in fairy tales like Bigfoot, the tooth fairy or Eklund:

I do hope we are trying to open up room for Galchenyuk.

I do hope we are shopping desharnais, but i do not believe we are looking for defensmen.

Besides which, Washington has an elite centre, several very good depth centres, a couple of potentially high end young centres and are as strong, if not stronger than us at that position. I dont see them wanting Desharnais. But even more odd would be us wanting a defensman from them. We have probably our strongest core since the 80s and easily already much stronger than Washington's crew. I could see the caps wanting a defensman from us, but not the other way around.

I could see a trade like Eller-Johanson making sense for both teams. WSH needs a 3C, Eller is a solid one. If we were to try to move Galchenyuk to C, we'd need a 2LW. Johanson is one. I wouldn't want to move Eller, but I wouldnt be opposed to this deal. Johanson has also played with Semin.

It would depend on Johanson's contract demands.

[Guest habs1952]

Desharnais for Ovechkin and the Caps retain some salary.

[ramcharger440]

I like that last one....................

[jedimaas]

Desharnais for Ovechkin and the Caps retain some salary.

They'd need to throw in something else. We're losing age there. Maybe Madison Bowey + Ovechkin for DD and the caps retain 80% of OV's salary.

[East_Coast_Juggalo_13]

I have to wonder how realistic of a possibility Galchenyuk being traded is...If he is "On the Block"; what would be an acceptable return?

[AvogadroHab]

Nothing because I bought his shirt....

[kinot-1]

Nothing because I bought his shirt... jersey.

Fixed for ya . YW.

[jedimaas]

I have to wonder how realistic of a possibility Galchenyuk being traded is...If he is "On the Block"; what would be an acceptable return?

I dont see it. I mean its possible, sure, but very very unlikely in my opinion. IF we were to think about shopping him, you'd have to consider we'd be after a very similar sort of player in return - Jonathan Drouin - for example, but thats such a risky move it almost never pays off because one of those players is probably going to blossom while the other doesnt. If you draft a guy & he doesnt pan out, thats one thing but if you turn around & trade him & see him flourish elsewhere? Yikes.

I sure hope he doesnt get traded because i think he still hast the potential to be elite. Time will tell.

[RicochetII]

I have to wonder how realistic of a possibility Galchenyuk being traded is...If he is "On the Block"; what would be an acceptable return?

We would have to feel like we had to trade him, such as a contract or "character" situation (his current negotiation isn't a concern).

So unless he has alluded to some exorbitant expectations, has issues with the organization, or has an aspect of character issues that we have somehow missed, there is no way he is on the block right now.

With that in mind, any player is available for the right price (aka, an offer the GM would look foolish for refusing). So just for the entertainment of speculation ...

Filip Forsberg or Nikita Kucherov are a couple of examples of players who could start a deal. Lower drafted young players who are perhaps closer to realizing their potential earlier in their careers. A player like Seguin or Ryan Johansen, similarly drafted and further along in their careers, could also spark interest.

In either case, most player-for-player scenarios would be a lateral move, at best, and you don't make a lateral move unless you are the one shopping. We have no reason to trade Galchenyuk for any one of those players at this juncture, if we were to be approached with that type of offer. Galchenyuk could be as good or better than any of those players and has the advantages of being affordable and developed within ("the devil you know").

If any of those teams approaches you and offers one of those players, they would have to accompany it with at least some further incentive.

For Kucherov, adding Drouin or a 1st still isn't enough. There is no reason for us to make a lateral move that "may" have further reward. Adding on Killorn or Callahan (with retained salary) "might" be enough, but only as an example of value. I still wouldn't make that trade, but a pair of GM's in the right respective situation(s) might do well to make that kind of trade.

I'd probably do it for Kucherov, Drouin, and Hedman, which is roughly double the value of Galchenyuk (in my estimation), and would have enough impact on the roster to justify making the trade.

[East_Coast_Juggalo_13]

I dont see it. I mean its possible, sure, but very very unlikely in my opinion. IF we were to think about shopping him, you'd have to consider we'd be after a very similar sort of player in return - Jonathan Drouin - for example, but thats such a risky move it almost never pays off because one of those players is probably going to blossom while the other doesnt. If you draft a guy & he doesnt pan out, thats one thing but if you turn around & trade him & see him flourish elsewhere? Yikes.

I sure hope he doesnt get traded because i think he still hast the potential to be elite. Time will tell.

I would never want to see Galchenyuk traded...I think he's a part of the core this team is building around...I think he resigns and may find himself on a line with either Eller and Semin or DD and Semin...I'm still waiting to see how camp shakes out before I assume that MB is done tinkering though...A line I would like to see in training camp would be; Sherbak, Galchenyuk, Semin...

[jedimaas]

I'm still waiting to see how camp shakes out before I assume that MB is done tinkering though.

I have a very strong feeling that going into camp MB is going to tell MT to play Galchnyuk at centre full time to see if he can manage there. If he does, look for a centre (most likely DD but possibly pleks or eller) to get moved.

[fnveenie]

I'd probably do it for Kucherov, Drouin, and Hedman, which is roughly double the value of Galchenyuk (in my estimation), and would have enough impact on the roster to justify making the trade.

And you would never get something like that for Chucky at this stage of his career, which is why trading players like him is pointless and rarely happens. The Seguin trade is an example of why you just don't trade young players with elite potential.