Max Pacioretty has become the Rodney Dangerfield of the NHL.
No matter what good he does, he can't get any respect.
Especially from his team's GM Marc Bergevin.
Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic is reporting that the moribund Montreal Canadiens will not, repeat will NOT be negotiating a new contract with their captain Max Pacioretty. It is the intention of Habs GM Marc Bergevin to trade his team’s 30-goal scorer “as soon as possible.”
I'm confused. Wasn't it four weeks ago that there was buzz out of Montreal that Pacioretty and the Habs were talking about a contract extension?
That's when Pacioretty for the ten thousandth time in the past six months professed his love and admiration for teh city of Montreal and the great fans of Les Habitantes.
What happened since mid-June? Why the about-face?
Pacioretty has been a frequent flyer in the NHL trade rumor air space for the past six months. He is a high producing forward at a value price of $4.5M AAV for one more season. Pacioretty is only 29 years old and needs to escape Montreal immediately if not sooner. Pacioretty's 6-year, $27 million contract expires at the end of the 2018-19 season.
Now is the ideal time for Bergevin to trade him away for badly needed assets for Bergevin to use in his re-build of the failing Canadiens.
There were rumors leading up to the NHL Draft in Dallas that Pacioretty was leaving Montreal. Nothing substantive happened on draft weekend other than Pacioretty firing his agent and signing with a new one.
Since then, Bergevin has been radio silent on Pacioretty’s future with the Habs. Until today.
Which teams can use a complete, scoring forward?
Buffalo, San Jose, Dallas, Minnesota, LA, New Jersey and Carolina to name a few.
Buffalo makes a ton of sense for Pacioretty. The Sares have a need for a veteran leader of his pedigree.
Sabres GM Jason Botterill loves his alma mater, the University of Michigan. Pacioretty played collegiately for Wolverines legend Red Berenson.
Two weeks ago, Botterill traded for left winger Conor Sheary to add speed, skill and scoring to his top six forward group. Botterill is still bullish on wanting to add another veteran scoring winger to slot in next to Jack Eichel or beside Casey Mittelsatdt. Botterill is well armed with three, count 'em three, first round draft picks in the 2019 NHL Draft. Botterill also has bevy of prospect forwards to include in a deal for Pacioretty.
Pacioretty, a five time 30+ goal scorer for the Canadiens, suffered an off year in 2017-18 scoring only 17 goals in 64 games played. Is his offensive production in a steep decline?
Hell no.
In 626 career games with the Canadiens, Pacioretty has scored 226 goals and 222 assists for 448 points. In 38 career playoff games, he has 10 goals and 9 assists.
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