After a complicated start to the season, Kirby Dach finally finds his rhythm and his impact in the game of the Montreal Canadiens.
With four points in six games during the team’s last trip and an increasingly evident dominance in puck possession, Dach is getting closer to the level that made him a centerpiece in 2023.
His resurgence in form poses the million-dollar question: will Kent Hughes dare to sacrifice Dach to acquire Elias Pettersson?
The Vancouver Canucks have very clear requirements for their star player. According to Vancouver media, a trade for Elias Pettersson must include a top center.
Nick Suzuki is untouchable in Montreal. And Kirby Dach is not a top center as we speak, far from it.
But Kirby Dach remains a young and promising center who could immediately contribute and who is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel after a disastrous start to the season.
CH’s 2025 first-round pick, currently 13th, but who could go down if the Habs start losing again, would make Dach more attractive in the eyes of the Canucks.
But with that in mind, Vancouver wants a third element in the transaction: a top prospect.
And according to what is circulating in Western Canada, the Canucks would really like a young right-handed defenseman.
The Canucks are desperate to strengthen their defensive brigade, particularly on the right flank, where the current options – Tyler Myers, Noah Juulsen and Vincent Desharnais – are pitiful.
We’re talking about the least mobile right side in the entire NHL.
Filip Hroneka’s injury has put Vancouver in trouble. This is why GM Patrick Allvin wants a player capable of filling this void in the long term.
Among the hopes that the Canadian could offer, Logan Mailloux seems a natural candidate. However, according to Vancouver journalists, Mailloux does not match the desired profile.
Despite his offensive potential, he is seen as a player still developing, far from ready for major responsibilities in the NHL.
Vancouver requires a right-handed defenseman who is more complete or ready to play now…or who has a less problematic off-ice attitude than Mailloux.
This lack of interest in Mailloux complicates the negotiations for Hughes. The CH CEO could have to include David Reinbacher, who has greater value than Mailloux, even injured.
Acquiring Pettersson also means absorbing his imposing contract of $11.6 million per year, which forces Montreal to include a significant salary to balance the finances.
Two names come up in discussions: Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher.
Let’s say Josh Anderson is more attractive to the Canucks.
His contract of 5.5 million per year until 2027 is not that bad and his robust style of play appeals to the Canucks, especially with a view to the playoffs.
Brendan Gallagher is finished, whatever anyone says.
Yes, his leadership and experience are valuable, but his $6.5 million per year contract until 2027 and his magnate body make him a much less attractive asset for Vancouver, even as a “salary dump.”
Dach’s return to form has not gone unnoticed. His recent performances demonstrate why Kent Hughes took a gamble on him in 2022 by sacrificing Alex Romanov to the Islanders for the 13th overall pick, then sending that pick to Chicago for Dach.
With increasing ice time (almost 20 minutes in Colorado) and a direct impact on the CH’s success, Dach proves that he can be a cornerstone of the reconstruction.
Still, he is not untouchable. His inclusion in a trade for Pettersson could be the key to unlocking negotiations with Vancouver.
Dach would give the Canucks a young, tall and promising center to replace Pettersson in the medium term. With a 1st round pick and Logan Mailloux, we’re talking about an offer that’s starting to look bad.
But not enough for GM Allvin…at least for now…
Despite the obstacles, Kent Hughes could still surprise on the transaction market.
The addition of Pettersson would instantly transform the CH into a serious playoff contender, with a Pettersson-Suzuki-Dvorak-Evans center line capable of competing with the best teams.
We’re talking about an offensive-defensive center line built for the playoffs.
Kent Hughes has not said his last word. With Dach regaining value and a roster in full progress, the CH could adjust its offer and convince Vancouver to complete the exchange.
The question is whether Hughes is willing to sacrifice everything for Elias Pettersson.
Could Dach, Anderson, Mailloux and a first-round pick be enough to tip the scales?
We are talking about a heavy price. But this transaction could allow the Canadian to take an important step forward and transform its future in the short and medium term.
Did we give up on Pettersson’s dream in Montreal too soon? Not yet.
Hughes must now choose between the present and the future.
And the Canucks need to open the door to Logan Mailloux.
When the defenseman’s name is mentioned in rumors surrounding a possible trade for Elias Pettersson, a major problem arises: he is not considered a defenseman on the rise, but rather a player on the downward slope.
Initially seen as a promising defender with a powerful shot and offensive skills, Mailloux saw his progress slowed by defensive shortcomings and such inconsistent play.
The worst part is that he no longer produces at all offensively in the American League, to the point of having lost his place on the first power play unit.
One measly goal, three measly assists for four measly points in his last 20 games. (differential of -9)
Not for nothing that recruiters are starting to question his real ceiling.
In this context, Mailloux’s current profile does not correspond to the expectations of the Canucks. They want a defenseman who not only has long-term potential, but who can also play a significant role very soon.
However, Mailloux is seen as a medium-term project whose development could stagnate or even regress.
After showing encouraging signs last season, Mailloux struggled to maintain consistent momentum.
Scouts note an apparent drop in confidence in his game, which limits his value on the trade market as we speak.
Is he plateauing? This is the question that haunts the Canucks GM.
If only he could start producing in the American League again. For this, Pascal Vincent must place him again on the first numerical advantage unit.
Because otherwise, its value will continue to fall.
Such a shame. Elias Pettersson, who would agree to lift his no-trade clause for Montreal, would perhaps already be a member of the CH if Mailloux had not “shocked” his life.
Misery.
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