If a deal is to be made, it will likely be made with another struggling club whose GM is likewise motivated to make a deal. We’ve heard the following teams are looking to shake things up
Montreal
Ottawa
Buffalo
Pittsburgh
Bergevin is putting pacioretty on the table but wants a young scoring forward in return. Can’t see a fit and Haven’t heard Rumors of us scouting each other. Only remote possibility (stress remote) I can see is Backlund in exchange for Plekanec (money retained) and a pick if we determine that we aren’t going to pay Backlund what he will make in free agency and we don’t lose him for zip. Plekanec bridges the gap until next season when Bennett moves back to C.
Dorion wants to cut costs and will want to drop money and get good young players. While there are attractive players available dorion will want assets that we don’t have or we don’t to move. Realistically I can only see Ryan as the only possibility if we have interest. Would be more of a cost cutting deal than a hockey trade if it were to happen at all. Given Ryan’s rocky history with Burke not sure if this is even plausible.
Buffalo is where we’ve seen a lot of smoke and probably the best fit. Need an upgrade on blue line and have attractive pieces up front. Hoping for a Brodie for O’Reilly centred deal. Oreilly has a good give a damn meter and can play wing. Previous regime was very interested in bringing him in. If elements of pro scouting department are still around they probably still think highly of him.
Pittsburgh looking to shake things up. Looking for a good 3 line C. This might be a potential destination for Backs (again, premised on us moving on from him and wanting assets back) but Pittsburgh would need to send money back. Can see them filling their needs through a Letang trade which would make more sense than any potential fit with us.
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