The Montreal Canadiens have traded forward Max Pacioretty to the Vegas Golden Knights for forwards Tomas Tatar, Nick Suzuki and a 2019 2nd round pick (previously acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets).
The 29-year old Pacioretty was drafted 22nd overall in the 2007 draft by the Canadiens. He’s in the last year of his deal and carries a $4.5 million salary cap hit.
The 27-year old Tatar was drafted 60th overall in the 2009 draft by the Red Wings. He has two years left on his deal at a $5.3 million salary cap hit.
The 19-year old Suzuki was drafted 13th overall in the 2017 draft by the Golden Knights.
Chris Johnston: “Montreal retained 10% of Max Pacioretty’s contract in the deal with Vegas. The Golden Knights retained 9.34% on Tomas Tatar — giving the #habs a $500,000 AAV savings for the two seasons beyond this coming one.”
Chris Johnston: Tatar’s salary cap hit lowers to $4.8 million this year and next, but they “hold back some money on Pacioretty this season to mitigate the actual financial savings.”
David Pagnotta: “The Golden Knights have engaged in contract extension talks with Pacioretty, and those discussions will continue, but as of now, a new deal isn’t close. Wheels in motion, though, so you never know.”
Thoughts from the media
Eric Engels: “Nick Suzuki was drafted 13th overall in 2017, is a natural centre, and he scored 100 points in 64 games in his last year in junior. That he came to MTL with Tomas Tatar and a 2nd round pick for Max Pacioretty… it’s an impressive return under the very public circumstances.”
Tony Marinaro: “Like I have been saying on The Montreal Forum, no way Max Pacioretty would still be a Hab by Habs Golf Tournament. This became a PR battle in last couple of months last thing Habs wanted was to have Max, Geoff, Marc, Claude & other players answer more questions about Max & Habs.”
Greg Wyshynski: “1. This is a solid return for Bergevin and the Habs, considering the circumstances. Top 6 forward, blue chipper, 2nd. Would have liked a 1st instead, but again, circumstances are what they are.”
Greg Wyshynski: “2. This is good from McPhee and VGK, too. Turns the Tatar mistake (and dear lord was it a mistake) into an elite goal scorer in need of a change. Even if it’s just one year with Patches, you shoot your shot (but hopefully for more than one year).”
Chris Johnston: “Tomas Tatar doesn’t have any no-trade protection for the remainder of his contract. It was negotiated into the original deal with Detroit, but hadn’t kicked in before he was sent to Vegas — voiding it, as per the NHL’s CBA.”
Nick Cotsonika: “Gotta think the Golden Knights will keep together that great first line and put Pacioretty with Stastny, his U.S. teammate. Now do they put Tuch on the wing with them? Move Haula from 2C to 3C? Wow.”
Nick Suzuki, acquired in the Max Pacioretty trade, has been an elite centre in the OHL for two seasons. Creativity and intelligence are his selling points.
In the CHL tracking porject, Suzuki was one of the CHL's most dangerous multidimensional threats: pic.twitter.com/3xQijHe71d
— Mitch Brown (@MitchLBrown) September 10, 2018
If you trade max pacioretty, you leave a big top-line hole in your roster. Not very many players with similar results. pic.twitter.com/QPWoMPOlUU
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) December 31, 2017
Max Pacioretty
Tomas Tatar
Nick Suzuki