On the Montreal Canadiens and Alex Galchenyk …
John Lu: Forward Alex Galchenyuk said that there was no mention of him moving back to center during his exit meeting on Monday. He did add that he felt he gained more trust from coach Claude Julien as their season progressed.
On the Montreal Canadiens and Max Pacioretty …
CP on Sportsnet: Max Pacioretty’s name was in the rumor mill at the deadline. He’s entering the last year of his deal, and if they don’t plan on re-signing him, they’ll likely trade him. There haven’t been any talks about a new deal.
“I love playing in Montreal,” Pacioretty said as players gathered this week for the last time before the off-season. “I haven’t played with another player who loves playing here as much as I do.
“I live here all year. I’m invested in the city every day. I’m out every day with the fans and I just love everything about it. But as we all know, hockey was below par this year for the team, for myself, and when that happens everyone has to look for answers. Whether that’s changing players or making other moves, I can’t control that.”
GM Marc Bergevin can say that they want Pacioretty as part of their plans, but he knows that can change quickly.
“It was tough flirting with the idea of seeing myself in another uniform but I think at the time, given the way the season was going and the way my season was going, if it were to happen, if I were to get dealt like rumours said I was going to, I was just focused on the hockey part of it and finding my game,” he said. “Once the deadline passed I calmed down.”
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Darren Dreger was on TSN 690 talking about the Montreal Canadiens and if there is anything out there that would suggest Max Pacioretty will be back or not next season.
Dreger said he hasn’t really heard much. He added that before the trade deadline there my may have been some hope that a deal would happen, and would think that expectation would continue.
From what knows, there was no formal trade request from Pacioretty, but that may a change of scenery may be best for all side involved for a fresh start.
“But as we talked about leading up to the deadline, the ask for Pacioretty was significant. And I think we can appreciate why. It was the multiples pieces, as it always seems to be, for a player like that given his contract and his past history as a goal scorer.
“So of course things can change, and maybe the position of Marc Bergevin doesn’t change. If he doesn’t get what he needs to move Max Pacioretty, then Max Pacioretty is coming back to Montreal for the final year of his contract.
“But I do feel like somebody is going to at least try and take a big swing and step up at the draft.”