Winnipeg Jets Trade Options: Could They Look To Quebec?

Welcome back to Winnipeg Jets Trade Rumor Week! Today we will be tackling the vicious mess of the Montreal Canadiens’ season. I will try and switch up the method of which these are written to keep things fresh. I’ll do a little bullet-point style today.

The Montreal Canadiens have been a polarizing team this decade. They’ve kind of skirted the line between good and bad. At times, they have looked like Cup contenders. At others, they have looked vulnerable. Most of this has been a mediocre team built around Carey Price, who is incredible.  Not to blame Price, but he’s been average this year. Maybe a bit below. And he can’t do that and have the team succeed. Not when your team is 29th in goals for. This all leads us to who the Canadiens could sell off in the coming week. Let’s dive in.

• Carey Price – I see no reason Montreal would unload their franchise netminder, unless it was for a ridiculous package. Toss in his injury history, being on the wrong side of thirty, and a bad season, I don’t see it happening. If he returned to form and became a tandem to keep Hellebuyck refreshed, that would be a fun video game scenario. Not likely, however.
• Max Pacioretty – Hey, why not scope the Jets out yet another team’s captain. After seeing if Ryan McDonagh or Erik Karlsson trades are doable, Max Pacioretty is up next. He’s underwhelming this season after breaking the 30 goal barrier each of the past 3 seasons. It would take a run to get there this year, but you have to wonder if the lack of talent around him is wearing him down. If acquired, the Winnipeg Jets would be betting big that an uptick in teammate skill would lead to a lot more goals. If so, that would be a great get.

Interjecting here to say while I don’t foresee a Pacioretty trade, it would be fun to see the Jets seek out a strength of the team and make it an elite area. Say, acquiring a big shutdown defenseman, an elite scorer, or even another starting caliber goalie (not that I see that happening) to make sure they’ll have the advantage against anyone in that category.

• Shea Weber – A true shutdown defenseman who hasn’t played since December 16, I don’t see this coming to fruition. It would be odd to see Montreal giving up on what they gave up PK Subban for so early. Weber is still really good but yikes, has that trade tilted in Nashville’s favor.
• Jeff Petry – Has stepped up in Weber’s absence and been a steadying force. Well, I guess steadying force doesn’t really apply to a dumpster fire (51 points are tied for third lowest in the league, behind perennial disappointments Arizona and Buffalo). But his 27 points are fifth on the team, and at 30, doesn’t offer the team that much long term value. I’m not sure he offers enough to be an upgrade in Winnipeg, however.
• Brendan Gallagher – The 25 year old leads the team in goals with 21. Sort of a breakout season, he should surpass his career high of 24. The alternate captain is signed through ’20-21 with a $3.75 million cap hit, which means he wouldn’t come cheap. But he’s not super young, and maybe they could pry him free to add to Winnipeg’s complement of good young players. Also, it wouldn’t cram up the cap space they’re certain to require in the near future. Expensive, but maybe. I haven’t seen any reports that Montreal is willing to move on, however. Doesn’t mean that they aren’t, just that I have not seen them.

As a team likely headed for some sort of rebuild, it’s doubtful the Habs would move their young talent, which is reason for the omission of most of the interesting 23 and under players. Jonathan Drouin, Alex Galchenyuk, and Victor Mete would be worthwhile adds, but I wouldn’t count on it happening.

Next: Winnipeg Jets Game #60: Overthrow the Kings

It’s worth noting that the Habs have some extra cap space they could use to absorb a contract. I am not certain how much it helps Winnipeg, but it’s there. Montreal using that to add an extra pick would be a smart move. As far as anyone on the Jets, maybe Tobias Enstrom? Enstrom is making $5.75 million and is fairly replaceable. That contract comes off the books at the end of the season, but would help if Winnipeg attempted to take on someone like Erik Karlsson.  All in all, unless you’re getting a steal, it doesn’t appear that Montreal has a ton to offer Winnipeg.