After being hinted at for most of the morning, in order to become salary cap compliant for the upcoming season, the Vancouver Canucks have traded Tanner Pearson and a 2025 third-round draft pick to the Montreal Canadiens for goaltender Casey DeSmith.
After the trade, the Canucks will have freed up $1.45MM in cap space if no salary is retained, making compliance with the salary cap a much more manageable endeavor. Also, by acquiring DeSmith in the deal, as well, Vancouver has a much more capable backup netminder to put behind Thatcher Demko, something the team did not have last season.
From the standpoint of Montreal, they also worked out their own dilemma, no longer having three playable goalies on the roster to start the season. After acquiring DeSmith from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the same deal that would land Erik Karlsson in Pittsburgh, it had been rumored for weeks that the Canadiens would eventually look to move out DeSmith as well.
All-in-all, simply for their involvement in the Karlsson trade, Montreal has acquired Pearson, Gustav Lindstrom, Nathan Legare, a 2025 second-round pick, a 2025 third-round pick, and a conditional 2025-fourth round pick in exchange for Mike Hoffman and Rem Pitlick.
This is a solid trade haul for Kent Hughes and the Canadiens, but after finding a solution to one problem, another has been created entirely. Now with Pearson in the mix, the team already has a projected 12 forwards on the roster according to CapFriendly, with Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Sean Monahan, still to return from injury. Even aside from those players, players such as Sean Farrell and Owen Beck also appear close to being NHL-ready.
At any rate, both teams solved issues for the time being with this particular trade and should alleviate some concerns heading into training camp.
Darren Dreger of TSN was the first to report Pearson was heading to Montreal.
Chris Johnston of TSN was the first to report no salary had been retained by the Canucks.
Dreger was the first to announce the trade details.
Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff was the first to report the full trade details.
What’s the return?? DeSmith??
Yes, I read a 3rd rder is also going to the Habs.
WHOA! Tanner and a 3rd for DeSmith! HA!
I’m hearing it’s Pearson and a 3rd rd pick, from O’Leary of TheScore. Not bad considering he didn’t seem to have much value this offseason…
BRING OUT YOUR BUSTS
BRING OUT YOUR BUSTS
WE’LL TAKE YOUR WHIFFED DRAFT PICKS AND BLOATED CONTRACTS
Predicted this a month ago; Canucks bleeding draft picks just so they don’t have to scout many CHL games…
Crazy return for the habs when you consider Pitlick and Hoffman are addition by subtraction.
Well, they are eating 2.34M * 2 years on Petry and Pearson may fetch an additional asset at the deadline. He’s their only rental as of right now so it may be an option to use the last retention slot.
I still like Pitlick and think he should have got way more of an opportunity, especially considering the lack of talent they rolled out last year.
Pearson was an average 3rd liner before his 4 hand surgeries and missed season. He’s also 3+ million
What value do Habs fans think they are getting?
It’s just the 3rd that has any value.
The way I see this, they turned veterans either underperforming or blocking prospects into a variety of assets. There is no universe in which the recent trades made by the habs is a loss for a rebuilding team, even if these assets end up not working to their fullest potential. It’s worth the roll of dice..no risk, some reward
JR losing a trade again
Montreal is really doing a lot of smart work to improve the team in the long term. Toronto should take some notes…
Pearson will save the season.
What a deal for you
I’m a Sharks, Panthers and Jackets fan. I have no stake in the Habs. But I live 2 hours down the road from Toronto, and it’s fun to laugh at them.
And I’d rather catch a game in Buffalo or Detroit if I’m being honest.
I like the trade for both sides. MTL building up assets when we need to over pay for FA we want. Bucks get a decent back goalie. Tanner will be traded by the deadline unless hurt.
It seems Hughes is paying for a solid 3rd round pick.