It’s been a little over three months since Jeff Gorton replaced Marc Bergevin as head of Canadian hockey operations. A quick look at what Gorton and his January-hired GM Kent Hughes have accomplished so far.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
They arrived
Rem Pitlick: We can already call it a good move, for the simple reason that it cost the Canadian nothing. Claimed on waivers, the surprising forward has 18 points in 26 games and will try to prove by the end of the season that he deserves a permanent place on a second or third line.
Kale Clague: He didn’t cost anything either, but when the Canadiens were stuck close to the 50-contract limit, his might have been too many. The 23-year-old defender was unable to establish himself as an offensive defenseman even though the door was wide open.
Tyler Pitlick: We have not yet seen the other’s cousin at work because he is injured, but everything suggests that the 30-year-old striker was simply a transfer of money in the transaction from Tyler Toffoli. He will become a free agent in the summer.
William Lagesson: Acquired Monday from the Oilers, he will have to hope for an injury to another defender to play. At 26, he is still unestablished in the NHL and was playing an average of 12 minutes in Edmonton.
Justin Barron: When we said that Lagesson will need an injury to play, it is in particular because Barron is added to the group of defenders. If he’s ready for the NHL, there will be room for him on the right with the probable departure of Jeff Petry.
Emil Heineman: A 20-year-old striker acquired in the transaction of Tyler Toffoli, he has just signed a three-year contract in Sweden. With 16 points in 38 games, this second-round pick in 2020 is not yet dominant in his league.
Ty Smilanic: Another 2020 draft pick, in his case in the third round, who continues his development at Quinnipiac University, where he is finishing his second season. He has 22 points in 39 outings and will advance to the NCAA National Championship if healed in time.
Seven draft picks (two first-round, two second-round, one fourth-round, one fifth-round, one seventh-round): Of all the players named above, Rem Pitlick and Justin Barron have the most potential . The most interesting assets acquired by the new regime are then the two first-round picks (Calgary Flames in 2022, Florida Panthers in 2023).
They left
PHOTO DARRYL DYCK, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Tyler Toffoli
Tyler Toffoli: Hughes is trying to clear space under the salary cap, but ultimately the $4.25 million a season Toffoli makes through 2024 is his only savings beyond this season. He already has 15 points in 17 games with the Flames.
Ben Chiarot: His departure was inevitable if the Canadian wanted to make room for youngsters Jordan Harris or Kaiden Guhle on the left side of defence. At 3.5 million per season, he’s a bargain, but the contract he will sign next summer, as a 31-year-old free agent, may not be as advantageous for his team.
Artturi Lehkonen: He too could get a nice raise next summer. He will give a solid boost to the Colorado Avalanche’s penalty kill, which is average this season. At 26 (27 in the summer), he still has several great seasons ahead of him.
Brett Kulak: Like Chiarot, he too was going to occupy a position which could have gone to a youngster next year. With a second-round pick on the table, could Hughes really turn down the Oilers’ offer?
Michael McNiven: With young Cayden Primeau and veteran Kevin Poulin, there was no more room for him in Laval.
Brandon Baddock: A strong man that Kent Hughes sent to his friend Bill Guerin in Minnesota, in order to obtain goaltender Andrew Hammond and send Primeau to Laval.
Arsen Khisamutdinov: Did you forget him? Not us. This Russian, sixth-round pick in 2019, made the little-used route from Trois-Rivières to Riga this season.
He arrived, and he left!
Andrew Hammond: He leaves the Canadiens with a team record: the most wins among undefeated goalies in a Habs uniform! The 34-year-old doorman has won all three of his starts.
*Stats were compiled prior to Monday’s matches.