The latest NHL trade rumors buzz has the Montreal Canadiens refusing to negotiate an extension with captain Max Pacioretty
The Montreal Canadiens are not having an ideal offseason. A few days ago, they learned that star defenseman Shea Weber will be out until at least December. According to the latest NHL trade rumors, the Habs aren’t going to negotiate an extension with captain Max Pacioretty.
This report comes courtesy of The Athletic.
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It’s worth noting Pacioretty will be a free agent after the 2018-19 season. He was nearly traded at the 2018 NHL Draft and has been the subject of trade rumors for the better part of the past year. Pacioretty scored 17 goals and had 37 points in 64 games.
His 17 goals were his fewest in any season since the 2012-13 lockout-shortened season and his fewest in a season with at least 50 games played. Previously, Pacioretty had five consecutive seasons with at least 30 goals (excluding the 2012-13 season).
This puts the Canadiens captain back on the trade market. Unfortunately, it appears Montreal will have to trade him for a lesser package than they would like.
It’s never good when you lose leverage in a trade. By letting this get out, the Canadiens just lost theirs.
Montreal appears to be heading towards a rebuild. After all, if you don’t want to re-sign one of the very few players left on your roster who can score goals, why shouldn’t you be rebuilding? Especially since cap space isn’t an issue?
Should the Canadiens trade Pacioretty, this means their top two goal scorers since the start of the 2014-15 season will have been moved out this offseason. Hopefully, Pacioretty can net Montreal a much better return than just Max Domi. Which is all they have to show for Alex Galchenyuk, who is two years removed from scoring 30 goals.
Next: Ranking Marc Bergevin's 5 Worst Trades
Nothing the Canadiens are doing right now makes any sense. If Montreal’s offseason doesn’t improve quickly, this could be the end of Marc Bergevin’s tenure with the Canadiens.