It wasn't long ago that the Habs had the best assembly of young D (or something like that) coming up. Defencemen take time, and not having enough experience back there really makes it difficult for them as a unit to take a step forward. The result is having to give up youth with promise that hasn't achieved expectations for middling (decent, but not great) player just to help stabilize things.
I also don't think it helps having a head coach with limited experience in St. Louis, while at the same time having Robidas as the defensive coach who is also of limited coaching experience. They were both very high-end players, but coaching is another beast entirely. I imagine it is probably; a bit tough on these defensive prospects in Montreal. The trade makes sense from this standpoint - Carrier should help stabilize them as Montreal is the 5th worst team defensively (in terms of GAA) even though Montembeault is considered to be a pretty good goalie and his stats aren't bad either. This trade should help Montreal get better. Carrier is only 28, and Barron was 23 - so not a huge gap in age, but it was a huge gap in experience and defensive ability at this point in time. Montreal is pretty tired of being at the bottom of the standings.
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