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Originally Posted by mark0v
what did we get for Petrov and gilmour last year ?
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Picks but at that time we weren't close to a playoff spot which is a different situation than the one we are right now.
Now for the original question, a pretty good one I might add.
First of all, I don't think Perreault will ever bring us anything else than a mid-round pick at best. I see decent reasons for both side of this question.
He should be traded if the Habs feel they are good enough in the faceoff circle because this is the only use I can see for Perreault right now as he is definitely not in the plans of the team. Do we really want a player like Perreault in the playoffs? He can't check, defend, he couldn't win a one-on-one battle to save his own life, his intensity is lacking even when he tries you see that he doesn't have the strenght or the skating to be an effective hockey player.
OTOH, I think Perreault still can be useful and a decent replacement in case of injury to one of our top two center. I like the way he is used right now by CJ, he's using Perrault as the 2-tools center he is, he was asked to take important faceoff in key situations and was asked to go back to the bench right after the faceoff and this strategy has been pretty effective so far. Begin could be used with Perreault on the wing instead of Langdon on the 4th line to provide intensity, grit and defensive conscience to the line. Faceoffs can be cruticial comes playoff time and the best faceoff man in the league would be handy to say the least. He also proved he could produce in the playoffs two years ago, he could still play on the powerplay and replace one of our top-two center if an injury occurs. I don't think we have the centers to make his 65 FO% expandable.
If Perreault is traded, it will be to a playoff contender and he will have the exact same use that he will have if he stays with the team. I say keep him, he could be useful you never know what can happen in the NHL. If Gainey thinks about trading him, it will surely be to a western conference as I don't feel he wants his trade to backfire in his face. The value we would get is not worth the potential use we could make out of him come playoff time IMO. I hate Perreault but as a tool in a reduced role, I hate him less.
P.S.: I didn't really answer to the question after all, I just said what I would do if I were M. Gainey. Oh well.
