In the early hours of Monday morning in Montreal, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin pulled off another significant trade, dealing captain Max Pacioretty to the Vegas Golden Knights.
In return, the club acquired forward Tomas Tatar, prospect Nick Suzuki, and a second-round pick. Unlike some of Bergevin's other deals, the package he was able to fetch in Monday's trade got a generally positive reaction.
Here's what people had to say on Twitter:
I endorse the return to Montreal in the Pacioretty deal. Tatar is decent, but didn't gel with Vegas in 20 games. Suzuki has special potential. 2nd rounder is extra lottery ticket. And, they get to move on. Well done. Vegas wants to extend window. Taking risk
— (((Ryan Wagman))) (@RAWagman) September 10, 2018
Re: Pacioretty. Not a bad return for a guy coming off a brutal season with one year left on his deal.
— Conor McKenna (@mckennaconor) September 10, 2018
1. This is a solid return for Bergevin and the Habs, considering the circumstances. Top 6 forward, blue chipper, 2nd. Would have liked a 1st instead, but again, circumstances are what they are. https://t.co/JxQ38RCkcW
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) September 10, 2018
I don't like how MTL handled it in the media but trading a soon-to-be 30-year-old UFA for a high end prospect is good process. Really like this deal for MTL even if Pacioretty is the best player today.
— Stephen Laidlaw (@SteveLaidlaw) September 10, 2018
Woke up this morning to see that Montreal didn't make a bad trade. Wasn't expecting that. #Pacioretty
— Sid Seixeiro (@Sid_Seixeiro) September 10, 2018
Seconded. Habs couldn't do much better. Suzuki 1st rounder who will be NHLer, Tatar will get his G and locked up for 3 seasons - you would have liked 1st round pick but with closure on saga, you take 2nd and move on. https://t.co/uAxevpaliM
— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) September 10, 2018
So #VGK traded a 1,2,3 for Tatar. Then moved him, Suzuki (a 13th overall pick) and a 2 for Max Pacioretty. So they essentially turned five top picks 1,1,2,2,3 for one year - barring an extension - of Pacioretty. That’s... Bad. Even with an extension. #Habs
— Mark Millard (@kramdrallim) September 10, 2018
Good trade for Habs.
— David Staples (@dstaples) September 10, 2018
I hated that Drouin trade, but like this one. https://t.co/CLla6JZepz
Habs centers as soon as next year:
— Mike (@HabsLaughs) September 10, 2018
Suzuki
Kotkaniemi
Poehling
That’s legit.
In other words, not close to the disaster some were expecting. But man, expectations have been lowered in Montreal.
— Down Goes Brown (@DownGoesBrown) September 10, 2018
Of course, as with any trade, there were some skeptics.
We got WHO for our Captain? pic.twitter.com/LpE7Qj7pTT
— Leafs Hub (@LeafsHub) September 10, 2018
#Canadiens get Tatar, who was not able to crack Vegas' playoff roster most of the time, and Suzuki (3rd-best prospect according to The Hockey News), plus a 2nd-rounder that will be really low if Vegas is as good as last year.
— Michael Traikos (@Michael_Traikos) September 10, 2018
Bad trade.#Pacioretty
Montreal should have got defenceman Shea Theodore and top-prospect Cody Glass (a centre) or 2nd-best prospect Erik Brannstrom (defenceman).
— Michael Traikos (@Michael_Traikos) September 10, 2018
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