With the Montreal Canadiens struggling considerably out of the gate with a 2-6-1 record, some have speculated that they could be a team that looks to make an early trade or two to shake things up. However, GM Marc Bergevin tried to put an end to that speculation at a press conference today, stating to reporters, including Sportsnet’s Eric Engels, that they won’t be making a move for the sake of merely doing a trade and that he feels the solution to their early struggles can be found by their current team.
Despite saying that, the speculation likely won’t stop, especially with the amount of cap space the team has to work with; they have the room to add another $7.7MM in salary at the moment per CapFriendly, an amount that will only increase by the day. Considering that the cap room doesn’t carry over to next season, they’ll be expected to make use of that room sooner than later.
More from Montreal:
- Bergevin also noted during his press conference that rookie defenseman Victor Mete will be staying with the team and burning the first year of his entry-level contract (via Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette). The 19-year-old has spent the majority of the season on the top pairing alongside Shea Weber and is averaging just shy of 20 minutes per game. As is the case with the other junior-aged players, the next threshold will be 40 games on the active roster (not necessarily played) that will result in Mete accruing one season towards eligibility for unrestricted free agency.
- In his latest 31 Thoughts column, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggests that Montreal might be willing to move winger Andrew Shaw and retain part of his $3.9MM cap hit to do so. Shaw is in his second season with the team but is signed through 2021-22 which would likely complicate things as moving secondary players with that much term hasn’t happened particularly often in recent years. Through nine games this season, Shaw has two assists and has been surprisingly sharp at the faceoff dot, winning over 61% of his draws.
I wasn’t a fan of the Shaw trade and really did not like that contract. I don’t see him holding any value and eating money to facilitate a trade would be foolish based on how many years remaining and how tight Montreal’s cap situation could be going forward. The only way I could see a trade being made is if Montreal took back an ineffective player who has shorter term but more expensive player.
Shaw and a pick for Shipachyov and Hunt?
As a Habs fan, I’d do that deal in a heartbeat if the pick was a 2nd or lower. But I don’t think VGK would want any part of Shaw’s contract since it runs for another 4 years. And if VGK were wiling, they’d probably want a 1st with him and there’s no way I’d do that.
Also Bergevin has said he has no interest in Shipachyov. Not sure if he was speaking the truth or just posturing, but according to sportsnet that’s what he said.
I’d assume it’s both. He’s targeted Ship I’m back to back years but adding a 2nd year was an apparent dealbreaker. The tough start mixed with certain media members constantly bringing up PK(and now Sergachev), Bergevin is probably willing to add someone but on his terms only. No way will he make a desperation move.
** in back to back years.
I swear autocorrect is getting worse and worse with each phone update lol
Maybe they could sell VGK on Shaw, a 2nd, and a 4th or 5th? Even a 2 year deal for Shipachyov at 4 or 4.5, I forget the exact number, isn’t a crippling deal by any means. Bergevin may not have wanted to give it to him, but replacing him with Shaw is an upgrade, and improves their cap outlook long term. Even if Shipachyov collapses and only has 30 points this year, he’s an expiring deal the following season anyways.