The Anaheim Ducks have traded winger Devante Smith-Pelly to the Montreal Canadiens for winger Jiri Sekac.
Ducks ship Devante Smith-Pelly to the Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin has once again dealt for a forward near the trade deadline. He wanted to add physical size to his forward lines and gets it in Smith-Pelly, a 22-year-old promising power forward who can play either wing but was seeing irregular ice time of late. Smith-Pelly also has some playoff experience. The Ducks land a 22-year-old rookie forward in Sekac, who has shown some promise as a skill winger but was a healthy scratch in several recent games. It should work out as a good deal for both clubs.
Nice. Bergevin could be the winner here if DSP can realize his full potential in Montreal. That said, Sekac is no slouch either and should give good depth for the Ducks. Great trade for both sides.
Considering that it cost the Canadiens nothing to acquire Sekac, he was a free-agent, M.B did well to add Pelley to his roster. I think I might be on to something if I suggested Jiri asked to be traded because he wasn’t being used the way he was told he would be.
Sekac could play more in Anaheim and Habs get someone who could fit into a specific role on their roster for cheaper. The move will free up cap space for a bigger trade later on or to re-sign players this summer. All in all both teams address their needs.
Horrible deal as far as I am concerned. Murray rolled Bergevin in flour and fried him like a freshly caught lake smelt. Habs traded possession numbers, creativity and shooting % for hits. When your team is hardly able to score more than 2 goals per game, you don’t trade you don’t trade one of your best offensive player for a grinder. MT has once again wrecked another promising young player by employing him inappropriately. He should have been given an opportunity to replace Parenteau; instead of that MT played Weise on the top line, and stubornly put Sekac in the role of a grinder. Bergevin will regret that one.
I’m a Habs fan and was happy when they signed Sekac this offseason but saying Bergevin got rolled is an overstatement. Considering your whole post is about offense, its worth pointing out Smith-Pelley has more points than Sekac this year and was great in last years playoffs. Sekac hasn’t scored since December. Its possible that Sekac may turn into a great top 6 forward but Smith-Pelley is the same age and has potential, too. This trade also likely shows that DLR stays on the team.
Bergevin knows what he’s doing. He hasn’t made any glaringly bad trades. The way people are talking about this trade reminds me a lot of how the Habs would regret trading Kristo for Thomas.
17 vs 16 points in four more games is hardly something I would call a better offensive production. Sekac was playing hard minutes with Eller. He was not given the opportunity to start in offensive zones, nor with the most offensively gifted players. Without saying that he was a stud offensively, his possession numbers, given his employment, on a team that SUCKS on Fenwick and Corsi, would be a sufficient reason to keep him. Traditional thinking is the team that gets the most talented player wins the trade. There is no doubt who is the most talented. Bergevin overpaid for a grinder who has shown very little upside; one that he already has too many in the team (Prust, Weise, Bournival).
How does 39-16-5 83 translate in Corsi and Fenwick?
I think both teams filled a need. I am really looking forward to seeing DSP in a Habs jersey.
I will admit that MTs deployment is really hard to watch though. But hey, he’s coached the team to the top of the east. You can I can’t say the same.
I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but why are the Habs, the worst team possession team still in playoff contention, on top of the league? Therrien? Or a certain wall named Price, perhaps?
hey rich why do you think the sens are bottom dwellers?? cause they don’t have bergervin!!
Well that comment was one of the all time great failures as a comeback
wasn’t a comeback just the truth! murray isn’t a great gm
Hey Jello! The only reason why the Habs are doing good is because of players drafted before Bergevin. And it seems to me that the Habs have a losing record against the Sens. But…patience….We will talk next season.
Another Sens fan here. As you pointed out, Sekac had (rightly or wrongly) lost his role in Montreal. He’s not being used in a scoring role, and he’s not suited to a grinder role where Bergevin feels he has a need. Bergevin obviously thinks his club has an opportunity right now, so it’s worth trading scoring potential to fill an immediate need. In Smith-Pelley he gets another young cheap player for his own young asset instead of an aging overpaid vet.
Well said Rich
As a Habs fan, I was generally pretty ok with this deal. I don’t know DSP well, but it looks like we lose some skill, get some size. I agree with Spec’s assessment, it’s a pretty good trade.
However, I did just see this on TSN’s list of statistical Zeroes from last night:
“Devante Smith-Pelly – Played just 5:12 at even-strength against Detroit and managed to get zero shot attempts for and 10 against in that time. Then he woke up Tuesday morning to news that he had been traded to Montreal for Jiri Sekac.”
Wow. Those numbers are UGLY. Like, almost impossibly ugly. 10 shots against in 5:12? Bad game or bad player or bad attitude? (e.g. was he hungover, pouting, etc)
Anyone know more about him as a player to assuage my fears?? 🙂
At one point during last nights game, Detroit was outshooting Anaheim by something like 23-10. It wasn’t just Smith-Pelly, they got thoroughly dominated as a team through two periods.
Thanks, Sovtech! Breathing a little easier now 🙂
He’ll fit right in with the type of players MT likes to play!
I,d say Therrien lost him more than Sekac lost his way. But I would take Sekac with the Sens right now. I went to see the Habs (yeah, I admit, my brother game me tickets and I was in town) in Mtl. Sekac was all over the ice, and he was the only one actually transporting the puck into the offensive zone. He was also relentless in his checking; it reminded me of Mike Fisher in his first few years. I think that given a little more offensive time, and perhaps a little sheltered minutes, he would have done very well. Habs paid too much.
DSP is like a bowling ball. He is not very tall, but has a very big frame. He uses his body well to place timely checks. He wasnt the scoring guy the ducks drafted. He is a grinder and will go to the net and take punishment. I am sad he had to go. But we needed a finisher and hope we get that in Sekac. He could slide right in with the twins, or on the wing with kesler. We need two lines that can score. Solid move by both GM’s. Now if Sekac can score like he is projected to do, then the Ducks would win this deal. but only time will tell
i’m unfamiliar with Sekac but i’ve seen a lot of the ducks and think habs fans will be happy with what they’ve picked up. smith-pelly has had trouble getting regular minutes and regular linemates in anaheim -but the ducks have a glut of both established scorers and promising prospects so it’s hardly a knock against smith-pelly and he’s hardly alone in his struggles to play regularily.
when he’s played he’s shown a willingness and ability to do whatever was asked of him, bottom-six, top-six. hit, drive the net, screen the goalie, grind in the corners, shot, skate, whatever. given a change of scenery and a shot at regular time he could blossum in a quality power forward.
Fun to see Sens/Leafs fans trolling around. Montreal is first and will be in the playoffs for the next ten years. Sens and Leafs won’t go anywhere for the next decade.
So instead of bashing, why not joining us? You’ll save 10 years of frustration and mediocrity.
Admit Marc Bergevin has made this team better and Michel Therrien get the best of his players.
I like Sekac, but with a defensive minded team, you need big bodies. Give him one period and a couple of hits, and Smith-Pelly is gonna be a God in Montreal.
I agree with Bill. Leafs fans and Sens fans are so quick to judge. I think this is a good trade for both teams. Allows montreal to bulk up a bit and use DSP to slow the game when they need to. They already have plenty of speedy forwards that can take a stretch pass or create a quick transition. Anaheim is a fairly sizeable team, which inversely can use a bit of speed in their line up. I’d like to see what Sekac can do on one of the top two lines in Anaheim. This is a solid hockey trade. I’m always impressed with MB’s trades – hes done a good job of adding to the team without loosing too much to get it done.