Do the Montreal Canadiens make sense for a deadline trade partner?

It’s been reported that the Carolina Hurricanes are scouting Jeff Petry, Ben Chiarot, and Brett Kulak of the Montreal Canadiens as the team seeks to add to the back end in preparation for the push for the Stanley Cup. I’m not sure I completely understand why, but if this is what’s being reported, let’s have a little look at it and whether or not it makes sense for the Carolina Hurricanes to try to make a move for one of these players.

Don Waddell has been very public with his desires for some additions to the backend, saying that he’s not going to subtract from the team that has been s dominant to this point in the season, but it is only right to at least consider the possibility because there’s a lot of weird things that happen in this sport. Would it really shock anyone if the Canes did something completely unexpected like this?

Given what has happened recently with the offer sheet sagas between the two franchises, you would perhaps expect the Hurricanes to be ignoring calls from the Quebecois organization, but there’s no certainty. Montreal and Carolina have found themselves making deals even during this whole debacle. Carolina traded the rights of a pending UFA defenseman to Montreal for a 5th round pick after the bubble.

Reports have suggested that the Carolina Hurricanes are willing to explore all avenues to add a defenseman to their ranks before the NHL trade deadline on March the 21st. Waddell has been publicly saying that they will not make a move for the sake of making a move. It will have to be the right player at the right price for the right need for the Hurricanes organization to discuss the possibility internally. So do any of these players fit the holes the Hurricanes have on the roster?

Jeff Petry

Jeff Petry is the one we’re going to start with. A right-shot defenseman, he’s normally very capable in all three zones. He’s got a heavy shot and is a physical defenseman. At 6’3, 210 lbs, Petry is a big man and is more than capable of throwing his weight around and laying the body on people. He’s capable in the offensive zone, and traditionally okay in the defensive zone too.

You’ll notice I didn’t say with any certainty he’s solid defensively. Petry is undergoing one of his worst professional seasons. Montreal as a whole has been through the wringer this season, and I for one have enjoyed every second. Getting back to Jeff Petry, he’s had a real tough time this season. It’s looking like he’s starting to regress due to his age. At 34 years old, his best days in this league are long behind him.

He’s signed for three years after this one to a contract carrying a $6.25 million cap hit annually. His contract is only going to drop value, and already, there are questions surrounding Petry and asking if he is even an NHL-caliber player at this point in his career. He’s not likely to ever get back to the defenseman he was once upon a time, and that contract has the ability to turn into a complete anchor capable of hemorrhaging a team.

I don’t know how much sense Petry makes to become a Hurricane, but there are reports that the Hurricanes have had a long-standing interest in the Ann Arbor, Michigan native but I think that originated before his legs fell out from under him in a season like the one he is currently undergoing with the rest of the Montreal squad. Injuries and perhaps fatigue build-up has really thrown his ability down the drain.

Brett Kulak

Someone that the Hurricanes organization has been linked with for a long time is depth defenseman, Brett Kulak. Being a depth defenseman, he’s not someone that traditionally gets a lot of love when it comes to the major trade rumors and fans specifically, but Kulak is a defenseman capable of locking down the 3rd pairing and eating up minutes without leaking goals.

We know that the Hurricanes are looking for a depth defenseman and the Edmonton native could be a cheap and affordable option for the organization. Kulak makes $1.85 million until the end of the season. A cap hit the Hurricanes could take on in full, someone like Kulak could be a very handy fit for the blueline, especially as a depth defenseman that can play either side. Flexibility in the playoffs goes a long way.

At 6’2, 190 lbs, there are bigger men on the market than the Canadiens player. However, Kulak is solid defensively, good in transition, and knows what to do when the puck is on his stick offensively. He’s not going to make highlight reels in either zone, and that’s ideal for a third pairing defender. Solid in both zones, cost-effective, and genuine NHL caliber depth piece. They’re difficult to come across.

Don Waddell has said publicly that there’s no such thing as having too many NHL-caliber defensemen so they’re clearly looking to continue to add to the backend wherever possible if the price is right. Kulak very well might be a player that this applies to. You’re likely not going to need to part with more than a couple of mid-round entry-draft picks to land this player with Montreal eating half his deal, and if that can be arranged, it’s well worth it.