Rumor Roundup: Are the Canadiens ready to promote on the deadline?

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The Montreal Canadiens’ slide down the standings has GM Marc Bergevin contemplating his choices forward of the deadline. In the meantime, the Colorado Avalanche crease might be an space that is addressed earlier than the commerce freeze.Carey Value and Shea Weber|Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty ImagesThe Montreal Canadiens’ latest eight-game winless skid despatched them plummeting to 25th within the league standings. Regardless of profitable their previous two video games, the Habs are seven factors out of an Japanese Convention wild-card spot.
With their season on the brink, there’s rising hypothesis over whether or not GM Marc Bergevin will change into a vendor main as much as the Feb. 24 commerce deadline. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday Bergevin will wait till Montreal completes their remaining video games earlier than the all-star break to fulfill along with his workers and decide their plans. Some pundits, nevertheless, aren’t losing time speculating over which Habs may hit the commerce block if Bergevin turns into a vendor.
Le Journal de Montreal’s Michel Bergeron believes it’s time for the Canadiens to think about shifting Carey Value and Shea Weber. He feels it’s time for Bergevin to attempt to discover locations the place the 30-something stars can play for the Stanley Cup. Bergeron acknowledged Value’s no-movement clause, however thinks the previous Vezina Trophy winner would waive it to affix a Cup contender. The New York Submit’s Larry Brooks, in the meantime, recommended the Carolina Hurricanes put in a name for Value, expressing skepticism over their probabilities of a deep playoff run with their present tandem of Petr Mrazek and James Reimer.
Don’t count on to see Value or Weber hit the commerce block anytime quickly. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reviews  Bergevin stated he has no intention of shifting both participant. Because the Canadiens restock with youth, the Montreal GM feels the veteran stars can present invaluable management. And even when Bergevin peddled Value or Weber on the deadline, Bergeron’s colleague Jean-Francois Chaumont considers their contracts too costly to maneuver.
Cynics will level to Bergevin denying he had plans to commerce P.Okay. Subban earlier than swapping him for Weber in June 2016. Shifting Value and Weber, nevertheless, would depart two vital voids within the Canadiens’ lineup that would take years to exchange. Except they ask to be traded, they received’t be going anyplace anytime quickly.
Chaumont additionally believes main scorer Tomas Tatar and second-pairing defenseman Jeff Petry would fetch strong returns, although he felt the Habs is likely to be reluctant to half with Petry. Tatar is a yr away from unrestricted free agent standing and will hit the commerce block if Bergevin feels now’s the time to money in whereas his commerce inventory is excessive. Current acquisitions Ilya Kovalchuk and Marco Scandella may enhance their commerce worth ought to they proceed enjoying effectively. Kovalchuk and Scandella every would possibly fetch a draft choose.
Max Domi will change into a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer season. Chaumont wonders if Bergevin would possibly store the 24-year-old heart if he proves too tough to re-sign.  Domi is among the many Canadiens present youth motion and considered one of their few expert scorers. Except his wage calls for change into outrageous, he’s not going anyplace.
COLORADO CHASING A CREASE KING?The Colorado Avalanche’s latest struggles have some observers involved about their goaltending. Starter Phillip Grubauer has simply two wins in his previous 9 begins whereas backup Pavel Francouz is winless in his previous three.
Mike Chambers of The Denver Submit reviews Avalanche coach Jared Bednar stays assured Grubauer will snap out of his mid-season funk. But when he doesn’t, and if the Avs lack confidence in Francouz to hold the load, Chambers suggests pursuing New York Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist.
The 37-year-old Lundqvist is signed by way of 2020-21 with an $eight.5-million annual cap hit, although Chambers notes he’ll earn $5.5 million in precise wage subsequent season. He factors out the Avs have the cap area and the depth in draft picks and prospects to tempt the rebuilding Rangers. With the Blueshirts carrying three goalies and Lundqvist’s probabilities of profitable a Stanley Cup in New York fading, Chambers thinks he would possibly waive his no-movement clause to affix a contender.
Lundqvist, nevertheless, has given no trace he needs out of New York and there’s no indication Rangers administration has requested him to waive his no-movement clause. They’re listening to commerce presents for a goalie, nevertheless it’s not ‘King Henrik’.
On Saturday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman stated the Rangers are prepared to take calls on Alexandar Georgiev. The asking value might be a younger NHL-ready ahead. The Avalanche may simply afford Georgiev, however they in all probability don’t see him as an improve over their present tandem.
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Tags: montreal canadiens, colorado avalanche, ny rangersAbout the AuthorLyle RichardsonLyle Richardson is a contributing author to THN. His Rumor Roundup has been a daily function since 2007. He additionally runs the web site spectorshockey.internet. A Canadiens fan married to a Leafs fan, Lyle’s Saturday nights throughout hockey season can get fairly entertaining at his house.