The Canadian caused a thunderclap in the Bell Center – and in the NHL – by carrying out two transactions in quick succession.
Posted at 7:50 p.m.
Updated at 8:09 p.m.
The team first sent defenseman Alexander Romanov and a fourth-round pick (98e in total) to the New York Islanders against their first-round pick (13e total). This choice was immediately passed on, with a third-round choice (66e total), to the Chicago Blackhawks in return for forward Kirby Dach.
It was expected that the Habs would be an active team on the trading market on this draft night, but these two actions nevertheless come as so many surprises.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Alexander Romanov
Romanov’s progress had been one of the few positive elements of the last season for the Canadian. The 22-year-old Russian has literally established himself as a pillar, within a battered defense it is true. His departure creates an immediate void in this position, but takes on meaning when you consider all the succession that the CH have in defense, with in particular Kaiden Guhle and Jordan Harris, both left-handed, who will make the jump full-time among professionals in 2022-2023.
Alexander Romanov was a second-round pick (38e in total) of CH in 2018. He has so far played 133 games spread over two seasons.
Dach’s case is intriguing. A very high prospect in the junior ranks, he was selected third in the first round in 2019, behind Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko. This 6’4″ forward, identified as a center on the NHL website, is however slow to establish regular production in the NHL. After 152 games, he has only 59 points. A pace similar to that of Kakko, but lower than that of Cole Caufield (48 points in 77 games), drafted the same year.
Despite its size, it is not known for its robustness. It was known that the Blackhawks were trying to trade him, according to the rumors reported about him by the most connected informants in the circuit.
Both Dach and Romanov are out of contract for the next season. They are both restricted free agents.