Bergevin's trade deadline cheat sheet

Can Bergevin balance immediate need with Habs long term goals?

Heading into the April 3^rd trade deadline, there are 2 areas of concern for Marc Bergevin to address so we’re about to find out just how focused he is on the long term retooling of the Habs with the playoffs crowding his field of view.

With the waiver claim of Jeff Halpern we saw a measured, low risk attempt to improve the 2^nd penalty kill unit and if Bourque, Prust and Diaz are out much longer with no NHL-ready offensive help coming from Hamilton, the Habs will need to trade for a top 9 physical, scoring winger and a shooting defenseman who can also handle 2^nd unit power play duty.

The problem is that from 2008-2011, the Habs traded away 7 top 3 round draft picks so while having 6 picks in the top 90 this summer, including 3 2^nd round picks are burning a hole in the pockets of those who want trade(s) for immediate help, I suspect hope Marc Bergevin will move cautiously and protect most of those picks.

While Bergevin might target a rental or two, it’s likely he’ll try to pull off a couple cold-filtered hockey trades for players with term/value left on their contracts with prospects and their own 2^nd and 3^rd picks this summer on the table, keeping the higher round picks from Calgary, Nashville and Dallas for themselves. Failing that, prospects bundled with a 2^nd or 3^rd in 2014.

The Habs currently have $3.68 million in cap space and another $4.25 million stuffed inside Tomas Kaberle’s bloated carcass that could be swapped for an equally bad contract with term to address an immediate need who would replace Kaberle as the Habs 2^nd buyout option this summer, if necessary.

With the addition of Jeff Halpern and David Desharnais sitting on a cherry 4 year contract, I believe Bergevin is done tinkering at center, at least until the summer, so I won't bother detailing trade options down the middle. 

As for Ryane Clowe, a pending UFA who turns 31 before next season, hasn't played since March 16 but is supposedly close to returning after re-aggravating a shoulder injury that's bothered him most of the year. From the cheap seats, Clowe has all the markings of someone who'll need off-season surgery so I'm not sure he's worth the risk to pay a high rental price.

What follows is a list of top 9 wingers and supporting cast defensemen who might/should be on Marc Bergevin's short list, either as a rental or keeper:

WINGERS

Troy Brouwer (L/R) - 6’03, 213, 27 (WAS) - 32 GP: 12G 11A - 3 more years at $3.67m

Corsi Rel QoC: 0.950        Corsi Relative: 4.4            O-Zone Start %:44.7        O-Zone Finish %: 42.1     Corsi On: 1.28

Brouwer is a physical winger that can play either side. Average speed but provides secondary offense and is capable of playing top 6.

Curtis Glencross (LW) - 6’01, 197, 30 (CAL) - 29GP: 13G 8A - 2 more years at $2.55m (NMC)

Corsi Rel QoC: 1.028        Corsi Relative: 8.5            O-Zone Start %:48.8        O-Zone Finish %: 50.9     Corsi On: 3.70

Glencross has a No Movement Clause but the two-way winger is fast, physical, drives the net, can work the PK and provides secondary offense.

Jamie McGinn (LW) - 6’01, 210, 24 (COL) - 30 GP: 5G 9A - 1 more year at $1.75m

Corsi Rel QoC: 1.166        Corsi Relative: -1.2           O-Zone Start %:53.4        O-Zone Finish %: 55.9     Corsi On: -4.87

McGinn is a hard working winger that plays a physical, two-way game with hands to pitch in offensively.

Lauri Korpikoski (LW) - 6’01, 205, 26 (PHX) - 32 GP: 6G 5A - $1.85m UFA

Corsi Rel QoC: 1.319        Corsi Relative: -7.0           O-Zone Start %:46           O-Zone Finish %: 48.9     Corsi On: -1.01

Korpikoski is a two-way physical winger that can play all 3 forward positions and work the PK while providing secondary offense.

Ryan Jones (LW) - 6’01, 201, 28 (EDM) - 14 GP: 1G 1A - $1.50m UFA

Corsi Rel QoC: 0.163        Corsi Relative: -5.8           O-Zone Start %:48.9        O-Zone Finish %: 47.7     Corsi On: -21.46

Jones is finally healthy and slowly rounding into form. A physical winger that can play either side and pitch in offensively. Needs to work on his defense and discipline.

Eric Fehr (LW) - 6’04, 212, 27 (WAS) - 29 GP: 6G 6A - $600k UFA

Corsi Rel QoC: 0.163        Corsi Relative: -5.8           O-Zone Start %:48.9        O-Zone Finish %: 47.7     Corsi On: -21.46

Fehr has average speed but has the size and hands to play in traffic. A solid, two-way winger that can provide secondary offense.

DEFENSEMEN

Ryan Whitney (D) - 6’04, 209, 30 (EDM) - 24 GP: 3G 7A - $4.0m UFA (NTC)

Corsi Rel QoC: -0.537      Corsi Relative: -13.2        O-Zone Start %:46.5        O-Zone Finish %: 49.4     Corsi On: -21.96

Solid puck mover who handle help run a power play. Last two years in Edmonton have been a disappointment but change of scenery and promise of playoffs could do wonders.

Derek Morris (D) - 6’00, 200, 34 (PHX) - 27 GP: 0G 9A - 1 more year at 2.75m (Limited NTC)

Corsi Rel QoC: -0.264      Corsi Relative: 7.4            O-Zone Start %: 64.7       O-Zone Finish %: 55.7     Corsi On: 10.74

Can still contribute to the power play and penalty kill. Physical with a strong shot.

Nikita Nikitin (D) - 6’03, 217, 26 (CBJ) - 28 GP: 3G 3A - 1 more year at 2.15m

Corsi Rel QoC: 0.229        Corsi Relative: -2.5           O-Zone Start %:46.3        O-Zone Finish %: 50.6     Corsi On: -6.96

Doesn't play physical but can help on the power play and penalty kill. Excellent shot and mobile.

Jordan Leopold (D) - 6’01, 206, 32 (BUF) - 25 GP: 2G 5A - 3.0m UFA

Corsi Rel QoC: 1.040        Corsi Relative: -4.8           O-Zone Start %: 47.3       O-Zone Finish %: 50.6     Corsi On: -13.78

Solid puck mover that can handle power play and penalty kill minutes. Not physical enough.

Ladislav Smid (D) - 6’03, 207, 27 (EDM) - 32 GP: 0G 2A - $2.25m UFA

Corsi Rel QoC: 0.705        Corsi Relative: 0.7            O-Zone Start %:47.6        O-Zone Finish %: 49.9     Corsi On: -12.48

Solid defensive defenseman that's solid on the penalty kill.