Could the Montreal Canadiens trade Tomas Plekanec this season? Are the Ottawa Senators still looking to add a veteran player?
Could Galchenyuk shift to center mean the end of Plekanec in Montreal?
Could the Montreal Canadiens trade Tomas Plekanec this season?
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Jack Todd, in a short piece regarding the upcoming selection of a new captain for the Montreal Canadiens, suggests Tomas Plekanec (“arguably the most under-rated player ever to wear the CH”) for the role. However, if its true the Canadiens might move Plekanec to make room for Alex Galchenyuk at center, then “all bets are off.” Todd expresses doubt that Galchenyuk is ready to play as full-time center on the top two lines, saying he wouldn’t be surprised if Galchenyuk is moved back to the wing by Halloween, “in which case the whole “trade Plekanec” thing is on hold, if, indeed, it was ever a possibility.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Plekanec’s eligibility for UFA status next July and his recent admission there’s been no contract extension talks with management undoubtedly prompted the trade speculation among those with over-active imaginations. Even if moving Galchenyuk to center proves a roaring success, the Canadiens won’t trade Plekanec, as they’ll need his two-way skills during the regular season and playoffs.
If the Habs name Plekanec their captain, that will signal their intent to re-sign him, though I expect they’ll try to keep him even if they name someone else to the captaincy. I can see the Canadiens attempting to ink Plekanec to a three-year deal worth maybe around his current annual cap hit of $5 million. He turns 33 in October, so the Habs won’t want to commit more than three years or to go too far above $5 million annually. I also expect they’ll evaluate his performance over the course of the season before opening contract talks.
If the Canadian dollar remains at its current level (around .75 cents US), the salary cap isn’t likely to rise very much next summer, which could give the Habs some leverage in contract talks with Plekanec. While superstars like Steven Stamkos and Anze Kopitar will still get top dollar, second-tier talent like Plekenac could find lucrative deals hard to come by outside of Montreal.
Latest on the Senators.
OTTAWA SUN: In an interview with Bruce Garrioch, Senators general manager Bryan Murray attempted to bring in another experienced player for the upcoming season, but was unable to do so for “a variety of reasons”. While he hasn’t ruled out that possibility, Murray is hopeful his young players are capable of getting the job done. He noted center Jean-Gabriel Pageau will get an opportunity for regular ice time, and expects improvement from forwards Bobby Ryan and Alex Chiasson, as well as defenseman Jared Cowen. He also points out they’ll have Marc Methot on defense for the start of the season, Patrick Wiercioch’s Team Canada participation had a big influence on the rearguard, Cody Ceci looks bigger and there could be improvements by forwards Zack Smith and Curtis Lazar.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If most of the players noted by Murray improve this season, the Senators will be in good shape and won’t have to look elsewhere for depth. The pressure is certainly on Ryan, Chiasson and Cowen, who were disappointing last season.
I caught the Bergevin press conference live on XM91 & I came away with the perception that yes Galchenyuk was going to be moved to C but the player moving to the wing would be Eller. LW to be precise. How it all shakes out I’m not certain with Pacioretty injured to start the season that will delay the final lines.
It sounds to me like Galchenyuk will be centering the 3rd line but continue getting his 2nd line pp time, earning his opportunities to move up ahead of Desharnais & or Plekanec. People slag Desharnais but he plays very well with Pacioretty & is a solid face off man. Galchenyuk is the heir apparent at C currently in Montreal’s system but he’ll have to earn it. They appear to essentially be flip floping Eller & Galchenyuk.
My choice for captain is Pacioretty. Plekanec if resigned prior to the start of the season would have been an option & Subban deserves strong consideration as well but still might not be mature enough & be best suited to the role currently. Any would be great choices.
Weird, He actually talked about how good Desharnais was on the wing. How they liked strong centres, and how Eller won battles as a centre and performed in the playoffs. He was leaning towards Desharnais moving over.
Regardless Galchenyuk is an offensive player. They won’t play him on a checking line, it wouldn’t suit his skill set.
galchenyuk will not be moved to the third line he has too much skill, eller is a good third liner it will be desharnais moved to the wing no question about it
Striker,
I don’t know much about how the various habs players get along, but I wish the team could pick their own captain – this also being true for all the teams. Anointing someone who makes big bucks, but may not have the proper qualities to motivate his team mates is just.. meh.
Pacioretty may be the perfect guy, honestly no idea. The coach / gm anointing someone just seems wrong nowadays. Is it me? (might be)
I agree Joseph. I have coached a ton of teams to fairly high levels in 3 sports & I always gave my players the right to vote by private ballot. I tried to express that it wasn’t a popularity contest & in all my years the chooses were pretty solid & at least acceptable. Only once did I choose to sub out 1 of the choices with another player I felt was a better option but I never told the team. It was more an issue in that I wanted my best 1st year hockey player in Bantam A to wear an A as it allowed for a transition of leadership into the following year.
joseph… when you have a gm that played as long as bergevin did it is better for him and therrin to pick to make sure to not let the “cliques” influences the players
Not sure I’m buying the whole idea that because a gm played its a great idea for him to just appoint who a captain should or shouldn’t be…Doug Wilson played along time been a gm of a good team and stripped Joe Thornton of the C …look how that worked out in SJ.
Murray has been after a top 6 winger for some time yet his criteria always seemed to be a younger veteran. Say 26ish in age and still term on his contract. That is a difficult thing to acquire for a budget team (Yes it is official they are a budget team. 10 million below the cap still). Its a hockey trade to be made with another team needing the hockey trade aswell.
Actually, their cap space heading into this season is $7,199,166. To me, that leaves room to bring someone in should the need – and opportunity – arise. I don’t view that as being a “budget” team so much as using good management judgement, so as not to wind up in situations facing Boston and Chicago (until those salary dump deals).
George they are a budget team
It’s all in the eye of the beholder, bigbear. LOL.
Not sure Bobby Ryan Agrees
Joseph and Striker, on general I agree, the team should choose the captain. That said, it is Montreal, and what goes in the room may not play in the media. The fact is the Canadeins captain is in many ways the captain of the province. It is hplover from the Rocket who really was a key voice for French Canadians before the Quite Revolution. I think the best option is for management to select the ballot and them a player vote. But to listen to the team, they know who the leaders are and the C is ceremonial anyway.
Pacioretty’s absence will give a huge chance for Fleischman to earn a spot. A decent training camp and he gets an affordable one year deal and ends up on the 2nd line. Chucky stays at center no matter what. This year will be tough for him but it is the only way to get him over the hump
100% agtee with Spector re Plekanecs. Therpe will be a trade involving a center not named galchenyuk or Plekanics (provided he does not have a really rough season) and involving either Tinordi or Patteryn, depending on who plays better.
pacioretty will be playing when the season starts ive always liked Fleishman but montreal has a lot of younger forwards that can step in. you never know bergevin might want the experience in there or if he has a trade brewing
I have not seen/read any time table for his return. He will be back for sure but might miss the start of the season. You are right that Montreal has enough young guys who could step up
he has already started skating I read they are trying for the start of the season
Bigbear would know (big Habs fan).
CO(typical leaf fan) what happened with the Habs leafs prospect game?? You the the leafs prospects would kill the Habs? Lol
I didn’t make any predictions about the rookie tournament, though the Leafs fared well. What I said was Marner and Nylander (and I’ll add Kapanen) are head and shoulders better than any habs prospect. And the Leafs have better players in their system right now. That’s news to no one but you.
Habs to unveil new team mascot: Bandwagon Bigbear
“I thought one more experienced guy would help us and we weren’t able to do that for a variety of reasons,” Murray said.
1. Couldn’t afford them
2. Didn’t want to play here
3. …
And you know this definitively how? Melnyk has given Murray authority to spend what he wants if an acquisition is seen as someone who can help the team take that next step. Murray doesn’t need to be told not to spend like a drunken sailor.
Just referencing the fact that 09/10 was the last time they spent near the limit. The last 6 years they’ve averaged about $10M under the cap. http://stats.nhlnumbers.com/teams/OTT?year=2010
Just fiscally conservative?
To my second point, everyone asks to be traded.
Yeah, Karlsson, Stone, Zibanejad, Phillips,Neil, Anderson, MacArthur, Ryan, Ceci, Wiercioch, Cowen, Borowioecki, Methot have all been beating the drum asking for a trade. Look, I understand you are a Leafs fans – probably one of those who have a “hate on” for the Sens – but that kind of juvenile, unsubstantiated crap has no place in a forum such as this. “everyone asks to be traded …” Jaysus man get a life.
You’ve gotta let me have a little fun. The Leafs certainly get their fair share of roasting on this site.
Besides, nothing unsubstantiated about it. The Sens have had a hard time holding onto their best players. From Chara to Heatley to Alfredsson to Spezza.
Habs are a very interesting team this year, the team could go either way. But even if they fall back, they still have Price to prop them up. Alex Galchenyuk move and the success of that move may be the key to this entire team. Still not sold on giving Petry all that bread, but we will see how it works out. Head coach’s seat is a little warm.
Totally agree, so much depends upon Galchenyuk taking the next step.
It would be strange to see the habs without Plekanec. He has been such a fixture and emblematic of the team character (cocky, annoying pest that he is). But Gionta was as well and they haven’t missed him. If ‘Pleks’ leaves and Markov’s play declines will they have the depth to make up for those losses?