Hockey Mind at Work

With recent rumors popping up regarding Thomas Plekanec's and Jaroslav Halak's future with the Canadiens, Dany Heatley's future with the Sens, Patrick Marleau's future with San Jose, and San Jose's interest in Heatley combined with GM Doug Wilson's ambition to overhaul his roster, it is not far fetched to think that a possible three-team deal could satisfy all teams involved.

Early on when Dany Heatley disheartened the Senators faithful by demanding to be traded, GM Brian Murray explicitly made it known to other general managers that Ottawa would be seeking young talent that could help the Senators win today, not tomorrow. With Edmonton now out of the running (according to various sources) and most teams short of available cap space, Murray has very few dance partners to tango with regarding Heatley's contract. Some suggest that Murray should retain Heatley, but I beg to differ. Having already caused anger in many Senators fans, retaining Heatley could serve as a distraction to a Senators team that desperately needs to move past a terrible 2007-08 campaign. If a reasonable offer is put on the table, Murray shouldn't think twice and make the deal.In short, if Murray wants to move Heatley, he will have to do so while getting less than Heatley's true market value.

Only four seasons removed from his 95-point campaign, Jonathan Cheechoo has found himself at the bottom of the pecking order in San Jose. A new face in Devon Setoguchi has emerged on the top line, and GM Doug Wilson is looking for takers to hop on board the Cheechoo train. If given the chance, Cheechoo remains a top-6 winger that can easily pot 20-30 goals a season.

A shadow has also been cast over the future of long time Shark Patrick Marleau who has played his entire 11-year career with San Jose. After rebounding last season from a dismal 48-point performance in 2007-08, a big question mark lurks over the future of San Jose's captain. Marleau has been subject to various trade rumors over the past three seasons, and could very well find himself on the move after a disappointing playoff performance.

In Montreal, Thomas Plekanec and Bob Gainey avoided salary arbitration yesterday when the Habs GM inked 'Pleks' to a 1-year, $2.75 million dollar deal. The 26-year old Czech native, who has had three straight 20+ goal seasons is coming off a sub-par year and will be looking to rebound. However, Plekanec's future with 'Les Canadiens' remains in doubt...as is his teammate's, Jaroslav Halak.

Halak, along with Carey Price, will both be restricted free agents at season's end. After serving as the Habs' backup over the past 3 seasons, Halak will be looking elsewhere next year if he sees that the Canadiens are sold on Carey Price as Montreal's number one netminder. Over the course of his three seasons in Montreal Halak has posted a 30-21 record with a 0.914 save percentage. With his potential as a number one goaltender, Halak won't be looking to play second fiddle to Carey Price after this season. For the Canadiens, there is simply no reason to keep both Halak and Price around when it is clear that Gainey is investing long-term in Price.

After considering all these factors, take a look at the following three-team trade:

To Ottawa: Cheechoo ($3 mil), Plekanec ($2.75 mil), Christian Ehrhoff ($2.75 mil), Montreal's 3rd round pick in 2010
To Montreal: Marleau ($6.3 mil), San Jose's 2nd round pick in 2010
To San Jose: Heatley ($7.5 mil), Halak ($750,000),Jason Smith ($2.75 million), Montreal's 4th round pick in 2011 and 5th round pick in 2010


In Cheechoo and Plekanec, Ottawa gains two skilled forwards who are capable of playing top-6 minutes on the Senators' scoring lines. With these additions, Ottawa now adds a play-making center for their second line in Plekanec, and a natural goal scorer to play alongside Jason Spezza.

Although the Senators have a number of defenceman on the roster, they lack a puck moving blueliner who is capable of leading the rush. Last season Ottawa's breakout plays from the defensive zone were hardly adequate. Without a solid puck moving rearguard, the Senators ranked 23rd in the league in goals for per game and 26th in the league in 5 on 5 play. With the acquisition of Ehrhoff, Ottawa adds a puck-moving defenceman who can quarterback the power play and log major minutes...something that they so desperately need.

When was the last time Montreal had size down the middle? Despite adding Scott Gomez at the number one center position along with wingers Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta, media pundits and fans alike began calling "Les Habitants", "Les Hobbitants". By adding Marleau, the Canadiens would finally snatch the big center they have always coveted. At 6'2" and 220 pounds, Marleau brings size, leadership, and skill to an overhauled Habs team. Marleau also has blazing speed that would compliment an already fast forward group and a sound two-way game that would fit well in Jacques Martin's structured system.

When San Jose was eliminated from the playoffs (for the umpteenth time), GM Doug Wilson emphatically stated that he would be shaking up his roster during the off-season. And he would do so by adding some much needed bite to a Sharks team that had very little. Adding Dany Heatley would give the Sharks a true sniper to play alongside Joe Thornton and Smith would be a defensive specialist on the blueline.

Among the uncertain futures in San Jose is that of Evgeni Nabokov's. In various media reports GM Doug Wilson has not stated that he intends to re-sign Nabokov, while Nabokov has said he is willing to waive his no-trade clause. With no depth in the organization between the pipes, the addition of Halak will give the Sharks a young netminder who is capable of being the Sharks new tender should Wilson let Nabokov walk in 2010-2011. By acquiring him now, this allows Wilson to get a good look at Halak to see if he is up to the task should Nabokov leave.

Taking a look at the cap differences, Ottawa and San Jose actually reduce their payroll while Montreal hardly increases theirs.

Ottawa: $10.25 mil --> $8.5 mil = -$1.75 mil (net loss)
Montreal: $3.5 mil --> $6.3 mil = +$2.8 mil (net gain)
San Jose: $12.05 --> $11 mil = -$1.5 mil (net loss)

For Ottawa, it's a win-win-win situation. The Senators acquire young talent that can contribute this season, they put an end to the Dany Heatley saga once and for all, and free up cap space which they need to do by the time the puck drops on opening night.

In Montreal's case, they add an excellent 1st/2nd line center who is an upgrade over Thomas Plekanec. Montreal would be strong and gritty down the middle for the first time in years with Gomez, Marleau, Lapierre, and Chipchura all over 200 lbs.

For the Sharks, San Jose gets the makeover that GM Doug Wilson wanted, and they do so by adding a lethal scoring winger while freeing up cap space. In addition, they add a veteran defensive defenceman in Jason Smith who has great size and loves to use it. Moreover, he would bring that 'bite' to the Sharks lineup and is an excellent leader by example.

With Marleau's $6.3 mil contract expiring at the end of the season, Gainey will have flexibility to negotiate a new contract with Price (as mentioned, an RFA who will be subject to offer sheets) and still have the ability to re-sign Marleau (who is only 29) to a contract extension for less money (for e.g., 4 year, $20 mil contract). If this were the type of deal Marleau should accept, Cammalleri, Gomez, Gionta and Marleau would all be unrestricted free agents following the 2013-2014 season, allowing the Canadiens to start fresh on another one of Bob Gainey's '5-year plan'.

Looking at each team's new scoring lines:

Montreal's top 6:

Kostitsyn-Gomez-Gionta
Pacioretty- Marleau- Cammalleri

Ottawa's top 6:

Cheechoo- Spezza- Alfredsson
Foligno- Plekanec- Kovalev

San Jose's top 6:

Setoguchi- Thornton- Heatley
Clowe- Pavelski- Michalek


Bottom line: All teams involved have a better top 6 than what they had before this trade. Ottawa dumps an unhappy Heatley and goes from a one-line team to two legitimate scoring lines, Montreal adds size and skill up the middle, and San Jose finally gets that sniper they have always wanted and the grit they've needed.

In addition, with these moves, Ottawa falls just below the cap (which they need to do before the season begins) while San Jose also saves a bit of money, and Montreal has the cap space to absorb the extra $2.8 mil.

Now it's up the general managers to make this happen.