Hockey Central at Noon panel discusses if the Montreal Canadiens need to make a major trade to shake things up.
- Damien Cox of Sportsnet: Jonathan Drouin only scored two goals in 19 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and hasn’t been lighting it up during his AHL stint with Syracuse. It might cause some teams to pause if they are thinking of trading for him.
- After the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Carl Hagelin from the Anaheim Ducks, the Pens now have $39.1 million committed to seven forwards next season. Can add on another $13 million for Marc-Andre Fleury and Kris Letang. They will send their first round pick to the Maple Leafs only if they make the playoffs. If they miss the playoffs this year, “all bets are off with what happens in Pittsburgh.”
- As of now, it’s looking like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets and likely the Edmonton Oilers will be sellers at the deadline. Leafs winger Leo Komarov has 16 goals so far this season and carries a reasonable $2.95 million cap hit for the next two seasons. The Leafs might be looking for a first round pick if they want to move. A first may be a bit much for him.
- The Kitchener Rangers (OHL) traded for the rights to Robby Fabbri from the Guelph Storm for three future draft picks. Theory might have been that if the Lightning were able to acquire Fabbri in a trade with the the Blues, they may not be able to fit him on their roster. They would possibly have to send him back to junior for the season.
On the Montreal Canadiens …
- Syracuse Hockey: The Montreal Canadiens had both Rick Dudley and Doug Wilson watching Syracuse and Jonathan Drouin yesterday.
- Marc Antoine Godin: “I don’t think Bergevin wants to fire Therrien. But Bergevin has a boss too, and a boss who expects a playoff team.”