Hockeywiztalks Hockey Blog

As everyone should know by now, Erik Karlsson has been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of a three-team trade with the San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens.  Here is the full breakdown of the trade: Pittsburgh acquires defenseman Erik Karlsson , forward Rem Pitlick, forward Dillon Hamaliuk, and San Jose's 2026 third-round draft pick. Karlsson is signed through the 2026-27 season and his contract carries an average annual value of $11.5 million. San Jose is retaining $1.5 million of his salary yearly.  San Jose acquires Pittsburgh's 2024 first-round draft pick (top-10 protected), forward Mikael Granlund , defenseman Jan Rutta and forward Mike Hoffman . Montreal acquires Pittsburgh's 2025 second-round draft pick, defenseman Jeff Petry , goaltender Casey DeSmith and forward Nathan Legare. Jeff Petry is signed through the 2024-25 season and his contract carries an average annual value of $6.5 million. Pittsburgh is retaining $1.5 million of his salary yearly. Althoug...

 It is no secret that many teams around the league are trying to tank this season in order to land Connor Bedard, a potential generational talent. One of those teams that is among the favorites to land Bedard is the Montreal Canadiens, who are in dire need of game-changing talent. However, the Canadiens team is it is right now is too good, and would win too many games, so it would be best for them to trade away their valuable players. This is what the Montreal Canadiens need to better their chances at landing Connor Bedard. At the Trade Deadline, Montreal makes a few trades Montreal Canadiens trade Christian Dvorak, Mike Hoffman, and Josh Anderson to the Dallas Stars for Denis Gurianov, Ty Dellandrea, 1st round pick '24. This is a massive haul to get in return for three good players, who will instantly make the Dallas Stars better, while Montreal gets younger and are in better shape for the future. The Canadiens also trade Brendan Gallagher and Joel Edmundson to the  New York ...

The Montreal Canadiens had a disastrous season, but they can turn it around in the offseason, and build to be better next season. These are the moves that I would make if I were GM of the Montreal Canadiens. Before the 2022 Draft, a few trades are made Montreal Canadiens trade Jeff Petry to the Carolina Hurricanes for Ethan Bear, Ryan Suzuki, 1st round pick '23. The Hurricanes improve their defense with the addition of Jeff Petry, while the Canadiens get Ethan Bear, Ryan Suzuki, and a 1st round pick next year. The Canadiens also trade Jonathan Drouin, and Mike Hoffman to the LA Kings for Gabriel Vilardi, Jaret Anderson Dolan, 2nd round pick '22. The Kings get Jonathan Drouin and Mike Hoffman, two impact forwards, who will give an instant boost to the offense, while the Kings get two great prospects in Vilardi and Anderson-Dolan, as well as a 2nd round pick. Paul Byron and Joel Edmundsson are traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Kailer Yamamoto, 3rd round pick '23. Montreal ret...

 The Montreal Canadiens are a borderline playoff team with an aging core and many overpaid veterans, so the best thing for them to do is rebuild through the draft to build a contending team again. This is how I would rebuild the Montreal Canadiens At the 2022 Trade Deadline, two trades are made: Montreal Canadiens trade Jonathan Drouin to the Florida Panthers for Grigori Denisenko, Noel Acciari, 2023 2nd round pick. If the Panthers make the playoffs, the Canadiens get the Panthers 2023 1st round pick. Jonathan Drouin improves the scoring for the Panthers, while the Canadiens add more depth to the lineup with Denisenko and Acciari. The Canadiens also trade Ben Chiarot to the Minnesota Wild for 2022 2nd round pick. The Minnesota Wild beef up their defense for the playoff run, while the Canadiens add an additional 2nd round pick. The Montreal Canadiens miss the playoffs in the 2021-22 season and end up with the 14th pick in the draft. Before the 2022 draft, one major trade is made: M...

This is an extension of Podcast 112: What teams need to do to advance in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs; Here are my thoughts on what needs to be done for North Division teams to advance. Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens have a historic rivalry in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and they look to renew it in the 1st round of the 2021 playoffs. Contrary to popular belief, I don't think this will be a cakewalk for the Toronto Maple Leafs, because the Montreal Canadiens are a tough team to play against. Toronto should be aware that Montreal in the playoffs is a completely different team than Montreal in the regular season. Toronto is obviously the better team on paper, but Montreal is not as bad as most people think. The Maple Leafs are top 6 heavy, while Montreal has tremendous depth and role 4 lines and 3 D pairs. It has been said before that the teams that do well in the postseason have better role players, if that is the case then Mo...

 The Montreal Canadiens are a borderline playoff team right now, but if they were to add a star player, they would immediately become a legit threat in the North Division. This is what the Montreal Canadiens need to do to become a legit contender. The Montreal Canadiens Make two major trades: Montreal Canadiens trade Phillip Danault, Joel Armia, Victor Mete, and a 2021 2nd round pick to the San Jose Sharks for Tomas Hertl, Marcus Sorensen. The Canadiens get Tomas Hertl, a great second-line center, and Marcus Sorensen, while the Sharks add Phillip Danault, a great two-way center, Joel Armia, and Victor Mete, two good depth players and a 2nd round pick. The Canadiens also trade Paul Byron, Artturi Lehkonen to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Emil Benstrom, Eric Robinson, and a 2021 3rd round pick. The Blue Jackets get Paul Byron and Artturi Lehkonen, two top 9 forwards, while the Canadiens get Emil Benstrom and Eric Robinson, two solid young players, and a 3rd round pick. The Montreal C...

 Taylor Hall is going to be one of the top free agents in 2020 and the Montreal Canadiens are one of the teams that are rumored to be after him. The Thing is that Montreal already has Tomas Tatar and Jonathan Drouin at LW, why would they need Taylor Hall? Well to put is simply, the Canadiens lack a star forward and Taylor Hall would provide that star power up front. If the Canadiens do end up signing Taylor Hall, the Canadiens would need to trade either one of those two players to address other needs on the roster. Before the 2020 draft, the Canadiens make a few trades: Montreal Canadiens trade Tomas Tatar, Max Domi to the Nashville Predators for Eeli Tolvanen, 1st round pick 2020. Nashville Needs skilled wingers with Mikael Granlund and Craig Smith leaving in Free Agency, so adding Tatar and Domi will more than fill that void. For Montreal, the get a young forward in Tolvanen and a 1st round pick. Montreal also trades Jeff Petry, Jonathan Drouin, Ryan Poehling, 1st round pick 2021...