2016 Trade Deadline

[East_Coast_Juggalo_13]

I was really hopin when I saw Murray come right out and say that OTT really needed a centre that DD would go to OTT for Chiasson or something close.

[Guest Regis2]

Two nothing trades / acquisitions -

As MB said'

“You only do some things if you know you’re going to make the team better,” Bergevin said when he met with the media at 5 p.m. ET at the team’s San Jose hotel. “And there was nothing out there that I felt was going to make the team better. So to do something just to do something and to be popular, that’s not what I’m here for. I’m here to make the Canadiens the best I can and there was nothing today that I felt would make us better.”

When asked what direction the Canadiens were headed in now, the GM responded: “The right direction.”

[kinot-1]

Here's a complete list of today's trades:

Trades
Arizona acquires F Sergei Plotnikov from Pittsburgh for F Mattias Plachta & a conditional 2017 7th round pick.

Chicago acquires G Drew MacIntyre from Carolina for D Dennis Robertson

Colorado acquires F Mikkel Boedker from Arizona for F Alex Tanguay, F Connor Bleackley, & D Kyle Wood

Dallas acquires D Kris Russell from Calgary for D Jyrki Jokipakka, F Brett Pollack, conditional 2nd round pick.

Colorado acquires D Eric Gelinas from New Jersey for a (year tba) 3rd round pick

Anaheim acquires F Brandon Pirri from Florida for a 2016 6th round pick.

NY Islanders acquire F Shane Prince and a 2016 7th rounder from Ottawa for a 2016 3rd rounder

Boston acquires F Lee Stempniak from New Jersey for something

Boston acquires D John-Michael Liles from Carolina for F Anthony Camara, 2016 3rd round pick, and 2017 6th round pick

Minnesota acquires D Connor Allen from Ottawa for F Michael Keranen

Anaheim acquires F Jamie McGinn from Buffalo for something

Montreal acquires F Stefan Matteau from New Jersey for F Devante Smith-Pelley

[BigTed3]

The positives from this week:

- The Weise/Fleischmann trade was a good deal. We dealt two guys who wouldn't have been back next year for two assets. They're not ideal assets, but we have some return to talk about, and there's some potential upside to having Danault (could be a quality 3rd/4th line player if used correctly) and the 2018 2nd rounder (if used to trade for an asset next year).

- The DSP trade was also a good deal. Again, we dealt a player who wasn't going to be back for another asset with some potential to help us.

- Acquiring two francophone players... not top-end talent, but if it helps to allow us to trade Desharnais, a win's a win.

- Many of the young players rumored to be available didn't move elsewhere. So even though we didn't make a splash, guys like Drouin, Yakupov, RNH, Backlund, and so on are still likely to be available in the off-season and give us time to assess what we have and what we can do to acquire a bona fide offensive talent.

- We didn't trade Eller or Galchenyuk.

And the negative:

- We didn't move any of veterans with big contracts, like Markov, Emelin, or Desharnais. It would have been hard, but a nice bonus nonetheless to free up some cap space.

- Acquisition of Mike Brown... why? Does it really help us to have Mike Brown when we could be giving NHL time to Hudon or Lessio or Scherbak or so on.

- The team's reluctance to play the best centers at center. Bergevin stated today that he liked Galchenyuk at wing and that there was no plan to move him back to center. Therrien has decided to play Danault at center over Galchenyuk and DLR and Mitchell. So these moves show a complete lack of understanding by both the GM and coach as to what the needs of the team are. We upgraded our 3rd/4th lines a little bit, but we didn't address any of our actual needs. And while MB can say a big trade is hard, he can't deny that an in-house solution like putting Galchenyuk at his natural position is hard. It's an easy solution that's being ignored for no reason other than a complete misjudgment of talent... so even though this week was a win in itself, the big picture is that our coach and GM don't understand the talent they already have and how to use it.

[Guest Regis2]

Ill be brutality honest

We did nothing today to make the team better

We got rid of 3rd / 4 th liners ( who sometimes played on the 1st line ) and replaced them with more 3 rd / 4 th liners .

Only time will tell if the guys we got will be better than the one's we had but I figure so long as we have same coach next year , which Im expecting we will, then nothing will change .

[BigTed3]

Ill be brutality honest

We did nothing today to make the team better

We got rid of 3rd / 4 th liners ( who sometimes played on the 1st line ) and replaced them with more 3 rd / 4 th liners .

Only time will tell if the guys we got will be better than the one's we had but I figure so long as we have same coach next year , which Im expecting we will, then nothing will change .

And improving the 3rd/4th lines is good. The problem is that you can't just improve the 3rd/4th lines without addressing the need to improve the coaching staff, the top 6 winger situation, and the top 4 LH D man situation. All three of those are relatively more important. Bergevin has had 4 years to work and hasn't addressed any of those 3 things. Not that the trade deadline this year was the time to do it, but Bergevin's presser today suggested he doesn't get it. He doesn't identify that there's a problem past Carey being injured. He doesn't identify that he can't find a number one center via trade but refuses to play the number one center he already has at that position. He can't identify that he's feeding players to Therrien that are being deployed in very inappropriate roles (i.e DD as a #1 center, Gally as a winger, Markov getting 24 minutes a night, Byron and Flynn and Weise and DSP having played the top 6, Bartley over Ellis, Emelin over Beaulieu, and so on). Bergevin's not making bad moves, he's just making moves that are of little significance in the big picture of things.

[Habs_Hockey_Nutz]

Ill be brutality honest

We did nothing today to make the team better

We got rid of 3rd / 4 th liners ( who sometimes played on the 1st line ) and replaced them with more 3 rd / 4 th liners .

Only time will tell if the guys we got will be better than the one's we had but I figure so long as we have same coach next year , which Im expecting we will, then nothing will change .

Time may tell a different story... we may see some positives that incrementally make the team more competitive vs. tougher/bigger opposition.

And improving the 3rd/4th lines is good. The problem is that you can't just improve the 3rd/4th lines without addressing the need to improve the coaching staff, the top 6 winger situation, and the top 4 LH D man situation. All three of those are relatively more important. Bergevin has had 4 years to work and hasn't addressed any of those 3 things. Not that the trade deadline this year was the time to do it, but Bergevin's presser today suggested he doesn't get it. He doesn't identify that there's a problem past Carey being injured. He doesn't identify that he can't find a number one center via trade but refuses to play the number one center he already has at that position. He can't identify that he's feeding players to Therrien that are being deployed in very inappropriate roles (i.e DD as a #1 center, Gally as a winger, Markov getting 24 minutes a night, Byron and Flynn and Weise and DSP having played the top 6, Bartley over Ellis, Emelin over Beaulieu, and so on). Bergevin's not making bad moves, he's just making moves that are of little significance in the big picture of things.

I agree that the coaching staff has to be improved (and likely the GM too). Although there is a need to improve the top-six winger conundrum (be that at right-wing, center or both), one wonders if any of what the Habs already have in prospects could fill the void enough with an improved team because of 3rd/4th line improvement. By saying this, I don't mean playing any of the 3rd/4th liners in the top-six. I do mean playing prospects in the system already... like Andrighetto, Carr, Hudon, Scherbak and of course Big-Mac. Or perhaps using some of these players to acquire an experienced and valuable top-six player.The top-four d-man is an issue... and maybe it will require more than one to fix that problem (I'm still not convinced Petry is top-four material at this juncture).

[Guest Regis2]

And improving the 3rd/4th lines is good.

Did we really improve the 3 rd / 4 th lines or were these just lateral moves

We got rid of 2 UFA's

I agree they had to be moved, as they were UFA 's and not coming back , but is PD the answer ?

His 1 st day here , he gets in the lineup , meanwhile guys in the AHL are waiting for a call up opportunity .

And when they do get called up they sit in the pressbox or get 3 minutes of ice time and get sent down

DSP another player fallen into MT's doghouse . So I'm fine . He wasn't working out . Move him.

Now we get a young kid who wasn't working out in NJ and hope he 'll work out in the hotbed that is Montreal

Why does MB always think a change of scenery will revitalize some players ( see Kassian , DSP )

Maybe this team needs a new coach at the NHL and AHL level to work with their young players since the current NHL coach doesn't do it

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/cowan+bergevin+hopes+change+scenery+kick+starts+matteau/11753111/story.html

Things didn’t work out with him in New Jersey, obviously, because you don’t move a young former first-rounder after a short period of time, so it didn’t work out,” Bergevin said about Matteau. “It’s going to be up to him to seize the opportunity to become a regular NHL player, but that’s going to be up to him. I can’t do the work, neither can Michel or anybody else.

“We did our due diligence,” Bergevin added. “He’s a good kid and I hope it works out for him.”

[Guest habs1952]

Two nothing trades / acquisitions -

As MB said'

“You only do some things if you know you’re going to make the team better,” Bergevin said when he met with the media at 5 p.m. ET at the team’s San Jose hotel. “And there was nothing out there that I felt was going to make the team better. So to do something just to do something and to be popular, that’s not what I’m here for. I’m here to make the Canadiens the best I can and there was nothing today that I felt would make us better.”

When asked what direction the Canadiens were headed in now, the GM responded: “The right direction.”

Then why trade for Matheau and pick up Brown off waivers? Just to be popular?

[Guest Regis2]

Then why trade for Matheau and pick up Brown off waivers? Just to be popular?

It was a trade and pick up that had to be made . If I could tell you why , you would understand but I can't

[Guest Regis2]

Time may tell a different story... we may see some positives that incrementally make the team more competitive vs. tougher/bigger opposition.

I agree but I read this after every acquisition they make yet do not see any improvement

[Guest Regis2]

This is kinda what I was attempting to explain

http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=871380&navid=DL|MTL|home

This seems to be the kind of trades MB's capable of, sending away 4th liners in exchange for other 4th liners or young "should-have-made-it-by-now-but-haven't" that we don't know if they will earn a spot or will soon be forgotten.
I really don't understand what's going on on this team. When DSP was brought here many were positive and looked forward to seeing him throwing his body around and score some goals in the process. Pretty soon though he turned into a mediocre invisible player who merely skated around like an old alumni on his shifts. And this has happened to a number of players the last couple of seasons

[Guest habs1952]

It was a trade and pick up that had to be made . If I could tell you why , you would understand but I can't

Touché!

This is kinda what I was attempting to explain

http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=871380&navid=DL|MTL|home

This seems to be the kind of trades MB's capable of, sending away 4th liners in exchange for other 4th liners or young "should-have-made-it-by-now-but-haven't" that we don't know if they will earn a spot or will soon be forgotten.

I really don't understand what's going on on this team. When DSP was brought here many were positive and looked forward to seeing him throwing his body around and score some goals in the process. Pretty soon though he turned into a mediocre invisible player who merely skated around like an old alumni on his shifts. And this has happened to a number of players the last couple of seasons

Ahhhhhhh, the Montreal nightlife.

[BigTed3]

Time may tell a different story... we may see some positives that incrementally make the team more competitive vs. tougher/bigger opposition.

I agree that the coaching staff has to be improved (and likely the GM too). Although there is a need to improve the top-six winger conundrum (be that at right-wing, center or both), one wonders if any of what the Habs already have in prospects could fill the void enough with an improved team because of 3rd/4th line improvement. By saying this, I don't mean playing any of the 3rd/4th liners in the top-six. I do mean playing prospects in the system already... like Andrighetto, Carr, Hudon, Scherbak and of course Big-Mac. Or perhaps using some of these players to acquire an experienced and valuable top-six player.The top-four d-man is an issue... and maybe it will require more than one to fix that problem (I'm still not convinced Petry is top-four material at this juncture).

For now, the best solution to our lack of top 6 forwards is to promote those young players into those roles. We have players like Scherbak, McCarron, Hudon, Andrighetto, and so on who could in theory become top 6 players, but there are two problems with what you just said:

1. If you want to grow your team through the draft instead of via trade, you actually have to be willing to use the young guys in the right roles. You can't call up Andrighetto, play him in the top 6 for three games, then bench him and demote him for a month, then recall him and play him on the 4th line. You can't recall Thomas, play him on the 4th line for two weeks then demote him and trade him as a failure. You can't recall McCarron and playing him 5 minutes on the 4th line, alternating between center and wing. That doesn't do anything for the development of young players in the right role. If you want Hudon to be a top 6 player, he needs to play in a top 6 role. He needs to play with skill players, with O zone starts, and PP time. And you need to see what he can do IN THAT ROLE. We do indeed have players who can fill the top 6 void, but right now management hasn't developed players internally either. They won't even play our best potential center at center.

2. We have a nucleus of core players right now who could win us a Cup. Price is the best goalie in the league. Subban is a top 3 defenceman. Pacioretty is a top 10 goal-scorer. Plekanec is one of the best two-way centers. Eller is a great possession player and shutdown center. Gallagher is a hard-nosed top 6 winger. Beaulieu and Petry are good players. But... all these guys are in or near their prime right now. In 2-3 years, the Habs won't have some of these guys around or else they'll have to start paying out more money for the use of these same players. Galchenyuk will cost more. Beaulieu will cost more. Pacioretty will cost more. Eventually Price will cost a bomb. So the time to win is now. Bergevin is blowing the window we have, and yes, you can work a Hudon or a McCarron into the line-up on top of what you have, but you can't work 4-5 rookies in at once on a Cup contender and you can't do it if you're doing things at the snail pace Therrien uses, where he's unabashedly afraid to give young players roles of importance.

[Guest Regis2]

. And you need to see what he can do IN THAT ROLE. .

Lou Lamoriello said today the Leafs brought up 5 rookies from the AHL specifically to see what they can do .

Same with trading Reimer . They have 2 young goalies they needed to see what they can do against NHL players

The Habs are out of the palyoffs this year and should be taking the same approach

[Habs_Hockey_Nutz]

For now, the best solution to our lack of top 6 forwards is to promote those young players into those roles. We have players like Scherbak, McCarron, Hudon, Andrighetto, and so on who could in theory become top 6 players, but there are two problems with what you just said:

1. If you want to grow your team through the draft instead of via trade, you actually have to be willing to use the young guys in the right roles. You can't call up Andrighetto, play him in the top 6 for three games, then bench him and demote him for a month, then recall him and play him on the 4th line. You can't recall Thomas, play him on the 4th line for two weeks then demote him and trade him as a failure. You can't recall McCarron and playing him 5 minutes on the 4th line, alternating between center and wing. That doesn't do anything for the development of young players in the right role. If you want Hudon to be a top 6 player, he needs to play in a top 6 role. He needs to play with skill players, with O zone starts, and PP time. And you need to see what he can do IN THAT ROLE. We do indeed have players who can fill the top 6 void, but right now management hasn't developed players internally either. They won't even play our best potential center at center.

2. We have a nucleus of core players right now who could win us a Cup. Price is the best goalie in the league. Subban is a top 3 defenceman. Pacioretty is a top 10 goal-scorer. Plekanec is one of the best two-way centers. Eller is a great possession player and shutdown center. Gallagher is a hard-nosed top 6 winger. Beaulieu and Petry are good players. But... all these guys are in or near their prime right now. In 2-3 years, the Habs won't have some of these guys around or else they'll have to start paying out more money for the use of these same players. Galchenyuk will cost more. Beaulieu will cost more. Pacioretty will cost more. Eventually Price will cost a bomb. So the time to win is now. Bergevin is blowing the window we have, and yes, you can work a Hudon or a McCarron into the line-up on top of what you have, but you can't work 4-5 rookies in at once on a Cup contender and you can't do it if you're doing things at the snail pace Therrien uses, where he's unabashedly afraid to give young players roles of importance.

I did agree that the coaching staff and perhaps even the GM need to be improved (replaced). Perhaps a new leadership of management and coaching staff can get it right. So, yes, I get what you're saying in your first point loud and clear. That said, we do have some potential that could either develop with the Habs or be used in trade to find what is needed.

As for your second point... again, yes the Habs do have some players that form a decent core. And IMO since Bergevin took over he has really done nothing of great significance to improve that. In fact with Therrien and his methods seemingly supported by Bergevin, it could be argued he has done the opposite.

[Habs=stanleycup]

2. We have a nucleus of core players right now who could win us a Cup. Price is the best goalie in the league. Subban is a top 3 defenceman. Pacioretty is a top 10 goal-scorer. Plekanec is one of the best two-way centers. Eller is a great possession player and shutdown center. Gallagher is a hard-nosed top 6 winger. Beaulieu and Petry are good players. But... all these guys are in or near their prime right now. In 2-3 years, the Habs won't have some of these guys around or else they'll have to start paying out more money for the use of these same players. Galchenyuk will cost more. Beaulieu will cost more. Pacioretty will cost more. Eventually Price will cost a bomb. So the time to win is now. Bergevin is blowing the window we have, and yes, you can work a Hudon or a McCarron into the line-up on top of what you have, but you can't work 4-5 rookies in at once on a Cup contender and you can't do it if you're doing things at the snail pace Therrien uses, where he's unabashedly afraid to give young players roles of importance.

Great insight BigTed3, in seeing the big picture.

[Habs=stanleycup]

Lou Lamoriello said today the Leafs brought up 5 rookies from the AHL specifically to see what they can do .

Same with trading Reimer . They have 2 young goalies they needed to see what they can do against NHL players

The Habs are out of the palyoffs this year and should be taking the same approach

That is the key, they should, but Habs management and their current qualifications at this time, pale in comparison to the Laffs management, and the results will be, I predict, dramatically different from ours in a year or two.