After months of rumours, the Montreal Canadiens have agreed to trade captain Max Pacioretty to Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Tomas Tatar, Nick Suzuki and a second-round pick in the 2019 draft.
The Canadiens have acquired forwards Tomas Tatar and Nick Suzuki, and a 2nd round pick in 2019 from the Vegas Golden Knights (Columbus’ pick previously acquired by Vegas), in return for Max Pacioretty. pic.twitter.com/HEt3uEXOo5
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 10, 2018
The Montreal Canadiens Have Traded Max Pacioretty
The Habs completed a trade early Monday with the Golden Knights. The Habs acquire forward Tomas Tatar, prospect Nick Suzuki and a pick in exchange for left wing Max Pacioretty.
Both teams are retaining salary in the deal. The Canadiens are retaining 10% of Pacioretty’s salary, while Vegas is retaining 9.434% of Tatar’s salary.
Trade Update:
Montreal retained 10% of Max Pacioretty contract.
Vegas retained 9.434% of Tomas Tatar contract. https://t.co/GBLAKrzOGj
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) September 10, 2018
Key Players
Vegas acquires a goal scorer in Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty will help the Golden Knights with his offensive firepower. Pacioretty has netted at least 30 goals in each of his last five complete seasons. He also brings his veteran experience and his leadership as captain of the Habs for the past three seasons. He has played in 38 playoff games with the Habs recording 10 goals and nine assists in those games. Pacioretty has 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points in 64 games this pas season. His possession numbers are 53.0 percent Corsi, and a relative Corsi of +2.9.
Pacioretty has 226 goals and 222 assists for 448 points in 626 career games with the Habs. He was originally drafted in the first round, 22nd overall in the 2007 NHL Draft.
Pacioretty has one more year left on his six-year $27 million dollar contract ($4.5 million AAV). He is set to be an unrestricted free agent after next season.
Montreal gets a still improving goal-scorer in Tatar, who has 119 goals and 109 assists in 427 career games. Vegas picked up the forward from the Detroit Red Wings at the 2018 deadline. Tatar scored 20 goals and dished out 14 assists in 82 regular season games. He only appeared in eight postseason games for the Golden Knights.
Habs Bring In A Young Centre
Trading Pacioretty fills the Habs biggest need in bringing in a young centre. Suzuki is someone that Montreal can build around.
He reached 100 points after netting 42 goals and supplying 58 assists. Suzuki also appeared in one Calder Cup playoff game for the Chicago Wolves.
MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 07: Max Pacioretty #67 of the Montreal Canadiens looks on during the warm-up prior to the NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Bell Centre on January 7, 2018, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
