On the Montreal Canadiens, Alexander Radulov and Alex Galchenyuk …
Pierre LeBrun: Hearing that Alexander Radulov‘s latest asking price was for six years at $7 million a season. There is no way the Canadiens would do that.
Chris Johnston: Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin on Radulov’s contract negotiations: “We have limits.”
Bob McKenzie: The Canadiens need a defenseman or two (before David Schlemko trade), a center or two and it sounds like they are going to trade Alex Galchenyuk at some point.
David Pagnotta: The Canadiens haven’t spoken with Galchenyuk’s agent in the last few days. With the expansion draft, it was anticipated.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Darren Dreger on TSN 690 talking about the Montreal Canadiens and Alex Galchenyuk trade talk. Dreger notes the Montreal market may be harder on Galchenyuk that the rest of the league.
“My sense though is that Bergevin is still in the wait and see mode. He’s still in the listening stage of this scenario. He knows what his needs are. They’ve been well documented. Of course he needs to add a defenseman and of course he’d like to add a center.
“But maybe he can get Galchenyuk signed to an affordable number and maybe he’s a good fit with Jonathan Drouin. Or maybe he’s matured to some degree if that’s an area of concern and he’s the best player he’s been to this stage of his career.”
The Canadiens have lots of options to consider when looking at Galchenyuk. Had he already developed into a top two center already, we may not be talking about him in this way.
“Maybe Bergevin is just waiting for the price to go up. Maybe he’s looking at Hamonic. Maybe he’s looking at de Haan. Maybe he’s looking at Ryan Strome. I don’t know. But I definitely think that he’s in a position where he values the asset enough that he knows that he’s not just pushing him out the door, that he’s getting the right deal on the return back.”
Dreger on if he sees Matt Duchene as a fit in Montreal.
“I think if Matt Duchene gets traded, it’s likely for a defenseman. So that’s why, unless it’s a three-way, I don’t see Montreal as being a strong fit there.”