Real reconciliation or simple boost to its CEO to hide appearances? Hard to say, but Jeff Petry changed his tune on Saturday in Brossard.
Posted at 5:25 p.m.
The defender of the Canadian took advantage of his last passage of the season in front of the microphones to indicate that he did not close the door to a return to Montreal. From the arrival of Martin St-Louis behind the bench to Joel Edmundson’s return to the game, via — perhaps — the launch of a series of interviews with Serge Fiori, all the elements are there to remind the number 26 that life in Montreal can be good.
Since Martin arrived, I found my game, launched Petry. What he implanted helped me find my game. I will take a step back to reflect, go back to my loved ones and have a discussion with them.
Jeff Petry
Let’s take it one item at a time. First, the head coach. Many of them complimented St-Louis on this day of emptying the locker rooms. But none put as much love into it as Petry, who seemed genuinely grateful. The fluid skater cited as an example the efforts that St-Louis made to allow him to see his three boys and his wife, pregnant with their fourth child. The four stayed in Michigan after the holidays.
At the end of March, for example, the Canadian was to play matches in Sunrise, Raleigh and Tampa. The little family planned to join him there, but Petry was injured on March 24, a few days before the start.
“Martin told me to come and stay in Fort Lauderdale while the team went to Carolina, and just join the group in Tampa. He did everything to give me options. I couldn’t go in the end, but his effort really touched me. He also allowed me to return home at Easter for a short stay. I appreciate what he has done. He understood my situation. »
That said, his performance was still up and down, a trend that seemed to ease with Edmundson’s return in mid-March. Remember that Petry had spent a good part of the last season by his side, as well as almost all of the crazy 2021 series.
The two accomplices were reunited as soon as Edmundson returned. For Petry, it was day and night.
Petry without Edmundson: 4-9-13 in 51 games, -9 record
Petry with Edmundson: 2-12-14 in 17 games, -2 record
“It was a big loss for the team and for me. Last year, things were going well between us and I’m really comfortable with him. Our styles are different, but we play well together. After the game [de vendredi], he hugged me and said, “I wish we had played together longer this year.” He’s a guy who really helps me. »
The downsides
That said, despite this surge of enthusiasm, Petry also did not assert with conviction that he wanted to end his career in Montreal. “I don’t want to close the door and say this is the last time I’m coming here,” he repeated, later relaunched.
We understand that it will be a family decision. “We love this city (Montreal). We’ve loved it for eight years. We love schools for children. But you see our videos, it’s a little crazy with us! We need all the help we can get and not having any, with the schools closed and the uncertainty of the closures, we have decided that they will stay at home, to have all the help necessary. »
Whatever the Petrys think, there is another person involved in the decision, by the name of Kent Hughes. First of all, it should be noted that Hughes spoke to the media at the start of the day, before his end-of-season meetings with the players.
Hughes was not overly moved by Petry’s performances in tandem with Edmundson.
We knew that Jeff was better than the player we saw in February. The question was rather family. We said if we could trade it, we would. But it had to work for the Canadian too, because he’s a good player.
Kent Hughes, general manager of the Canadiens
In short, Hughes has not changed his position, and it is also a way of protecting himself against his counterparts who would like to get Petry at a discount simply because the player wants to change his environment.
One thing is certain: the GM has a plan B if he were to trade Petry. He should most likely be replaced by “a veteran who has leadership,” Hughes immediately replied, when asked what would happen in the event of a transaction. On two other occasions during his 30-minute press briefing, he brought up scenarios involving Petry leaving.
Either way, it’s a case that’s more likely to move closer to the draft, somewhere in early July. Jeff Petry will then have had time to think about his future, while Hughes will know more about what is available on the market. If he is looking for a veteran who has leadership to replace Petry, he can always try his luck on the free agent market, where his former client Kris Letang, an offensive right-handed defender who must exercise some leadership, is expected in particular since he’s been wearing an “A” in Pittsburgh for five years.