The full extent of the Montreal Canadiens’ offseason plans began to take shape today, as the team traded defenseman Jeff Petry and center Ryan Poehling to the Pittsburgh Penguins. One major name that many have connected to the Canadiens is that of Winnipeg Jets center Pierre-Luc Dubois. It doesn’t take any detective work to understand why that connection is being made: Pat Brisson, Dubois’ agent, has communicated that his client would like to play in Montreal, and Dubois has reportedly communicated to the Jets that his intention is to leave as a free agent in two years time. Many have speculated, then, that the Canadiens would attempt to acquire Dubois this summer, and it appears that that sort of speculation is grounded in reality.
According to Arpon Basu of The Athletic (subscription link), Dubois attended the NHL Draft in Montreal because he “believed a trade would be completed on the draft floor.” Furthermore, Basu adds that “it is believed” that Winnipeg is “holding up a trade” because they want Montreal to include a player in the compensation package for Dubois that Montreal has no interest in moving. As we saw with the trade of Alexander Romanov to get Kirby Dach on draft night, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes is willing to trade players he isn’t actively looking to deal if he believes the player he’s getting in return is worth it. Dubois is extremely talented, but as a result the player the Jets could be seeking from Montreal could be someone too important for the Canadiens to move.
Now, for some other notes on ongoing offseason activity:
- Hughes spoke to the media today following the Petry deal, and mentioned, as relayed by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, that the Canadiens would in all likelihood be looking for a right-side defenseman to fill the hole left by Petry’s absence. Star offensive defenseman John Klingberg’s name sticks out as the best right-shot defender on the market, but he’s likely out of the Canadiens’ price range. Veteran defenseman Anton Stralman and Michael Stone are other UFA options, but neither truly inspire confidence. Perhaps the most intriguing option for the Canadiens is a possible return for P.K. Subban, who last played for the team in 2015-16. Subban maintains an active philanthropic presence in Montreal and his ties to the city have survived the many years he’s spent playing for other teams. While he may not be a long-term option for the Canadiens, his signing would definitely attract attention.
- Nazem Kadri is perhaps the best remaining UFA on the market, although he may not be without a contract for long. According to Peter Baugh of The Athletic, multiple teams are attempting to clear cap space in order to have room to sign Kadri. Kadri “wants to be on a contender” and has “ruled out” teams not considered true Stanley Cup threats. Kadri scored 28 goals and 87 points last season and just recently won the Stanley Cup. The contract he receives will likely be one of the biggest given out this offseason.
Hello Ethan,
Can you fix the sentence of the word ‘that’, you put ‘that’ twice? Please & thank you.
“and it appears ‘that that’ sort of speculation is grounded in reality”.
@Josip Tomic – “grammer” (You may still have time to fix it!) :) If not, a small “Errata” would suffice. (Just kidding!)
Now, you see it, MacJablonski–NotVegasLegend?
@Josip Tomic – That looks good! Well done!
Thanks!
I guess signing Sam Girard to that long term deal seemed like a good idea at the time, but I imagine Sakic and McFarland are litetally begging someone to take that contract so they can re-sign Kadri.
@Gbear – *Some* of us didn’t think so, even at the time. That move, alone, must still keep GMDP chuckling behind closed doors. Why he was drafted anywhere above the seventh round is mind-boggling. He truly is Barrie V2.0–not so new, and not improved. I hope they can dump him and reclaim the Nazmanian Devil before he gets snatched up. Naz just fits there.
Yep. I’ve been complaining about the Girard deal since it was announced. Worst thing Sakic did by far.
To be fair, you have been complaining about it to no one but yourself since the contract was signed but now that you have a pal that will whine about it with you, you are ready to make you complaint public. Way to take a stand.
Actually I’ve posted about the Girard deal a few occasions, when it was relevant to the article and I had an opinion to share. @doghockey, I’m not sure what your post was about. Just attacking for the sake of attacking? Bravo.
Anyway, I do wonder what Girards trade value would be around the league. His strongest attributes are his skating and puck moving, which is a luxury that many teams are willing to overpay for while overlooking the defensive shortcomings. The issue in colorado is that he just doesn’t fit. Makar and Toews and far superior to him in every way, even Byram looks to be a more valuable player already. There is no need to spend 5 million on another offensive defenseman who really isn’t that good at his own strengths.
Dubois complained his way out of Columbus. Now, he’s doing the same thing in Winnipeg. Addition by substraction for Columbus and the same will be the case when he’s gone from the Jets. He literally quit on the ice for the Jackets.
You noticed that too huh? That PLD guy is a headache. When he gets what he wants he’s gonna find a new thing to complain about in MTL
I believe the Avs actually have three number one defenseman In Makar, Toews, And Girard, And we know how Important defense Is In the playoffs, So why would Colorado overpay for Kadri when he’s In his 30s when they can spread that money around for some solid and Important depth. There are alot of bargains out there. In the dog days of winter when fatigue and injuries are a factor four bodies are always better than one. GMs have to change there way of thinking.
Uh. Because you think that the likes of Bowen Byram, Josh Manson and Erik Johnson are chopped liver? Now they don’t have the money to sign Kadri without serious surgery, but c’mon, man. Colorado has the strongest defense corps in hockey. What they need least of any team in the league is to sacrifice elite scoring for MORE warm bodies on the blue line.
Yes Wilf, NHL GMs should be thinking like you. Especially those guys in Colorado and Tampa who never seem to find any success with their current ideas. Oh, and please keep posting – you are highly entertaining.
Memo to any team interested…..
Do you have a player with a 1 year high cap hit salary and you really really really really want to sign Kadri?
The Buffalo Sabres will help you out.
For every $3mil per in salary it’ll cost you 1st round draft pick for that 1 player that really really really really want to move.
*If the salary does fall over $1.5mil above the $3mil threshold that’s a extra 2nd round draft pick (extra fee).
Now in regards to Winnipeg Jets center Pierre-Luc Dubois the Jets should just sign him to a 2 year contract & trade him in year 2 at the trade deadline to another team.
?? It says right there that he won’t sign an extension with them so what are they going to do, hold him hostage and force the pen into his hand?
Just watch the Lightning, Getting to the finals three years In a row In a salary cap league Is epic but not surprising when you have a blueprint. The Lightning do what I call pruning the tree every summer and It works.
Girard to the Habs for Baron + 2nd not so hard….
Or to Ott for Branstrom + a 2nd
Kadri not worth 9.5 million grant it worth 7.5 and if The Wild move out Dumba I can see him landing there…
The number of teams that can GIVE Kadri $9.5 MM is pretty small right now. Leaving aside the Chicagos (full-on rebuilds already shedding stars) and the Ottawas (looking to contend but with too many roster spots still to fill with the money), there are damn few contenders with that much cash to spare for a single player. So it’s pretty much a matter of whether Kadri wants to play in Calgary, because they’re the only contending squad out there who can handle a contract that size without surgery.
In fact, this is a number that the PHR gang might want to consider. As of yesterday, there was $205 MM in cap space available, league-wide. There are 57 contract slots to fill, league-wide, so that’s about $45 MM in league-minimum contracts that will be handed out. $160 MM left, to sign every remaining RFA/UFA out there.
And that’s also presuming every team spends to the cap. Which you know Chicago won’t do, and Arizona sure as hell won’t do, and Buffalo and Anaheim aren’t likely to do. So the longer the game of musical chairs goes, the number will go down and down. The Phil Kessels of the world will wind up taking smaller contracts than they might have, and I’m thinking that John Klingberg may well not get that $7+ MM payoff he’s expecting.
Habs fans,
Is Ryan Poehling more than a warm body?
I’m not a Habs fan, but no. The guy’s poor at faceoffs, hasn’t shown much ability to score, has mediocre defensive and possession metrics, and the local media hasn’t been kind to him.