Hughes Dropping the Ball & Pacioretty Trade Revisited
Also, we have why both the Habs and Jonathan Drouin are benefitting from their split.
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In today’s edition, we look at why Kent Hughes is dropping the ball with trades, how the Max Pacioretty trade has aged, and more.
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Revisiting the Golden Knights’ Trade for Max Pacioretty
January 18, 2024 by Ben Fisher
They say that the best trades in sports come when both teams involved stand to benefit, but try telling that to fans of the Vegas Golden Knights in the aftermath of the Max Pacioretty blockbuster that occurred a little over three years ago. There’s no question that the now-35-year-old veteran winger delivered after arriving in Vegas, but it’s hard not to look towards the Montreal Canadiens – even as they struggled last season – and feel at least a pang of regret.
Sensing an open window for Stanley Cup contention, the Golden Knights went all in to acquire a top-line scoring threat and proven leader in Pacioretty, parting ways with then-prospect Nick Suzuki, Tomas Tatar and a 2019 second-round draft pick that became Samuel Fagemo. In that sense, there was always the risk that the deal’s immediate dividends would ultimately give way to long-term losses. Perhaps Vegas brass just didn’t know those losses would be so directly evident in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Canadiens’ Kent Hughes Dropping the Ball on Trading a Goalie
January 16, 2024 by Rob Couch
When teams have younger starters or goalies who should be in tandems at this point in their careers, a veteran like Allen is a trade target that those teams generally like to add for insurance down the stretch and for the playoffs. It is also never a bad idea to have goaltending depth, as a season could come crashing down based on an injury in net. In a market where teams are looking for help in net desperately, the Canadiens have done nothing yet.
Canadiens, Drouin Had Good Reason to Walk Away from Each Othern
January 16, 2024 by Ryan Szporer
At the seven-minute mark of ex-Montreal Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin’s first game against his old team, the hometown crowd gave him a touching ovation. That wasn’t the surprising part, even considering the struggles he suffered through over his six seasons with the Habs. To a degree, the class move was to be expected.
Nor was it surprising that the crowd booed Drouin at every other opportunity. How else are you going to let him know how you really feel after all? It wasn’t even surprising that Drouin tallied an assist in the contest. Of course he did. If anything, it’s surprising he didn’t score more, because isn’t that how this usually works?