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ROI: Why Josh Gorges is the Asset Montreal Needs to Cash in on Now.

Weather surfing the web, twitter or watching television, it’s widely speculated that Marc Bergevin and the Montreal Canadiens are open to making a deal to improving the team. Rene Bourque a favourite whipping boy for habs everywhere is a name that has surfaced as being openly available and on the market. Rene Bourque is what he is, an inconsistent “power” forward type who turns on the physicality some games and others not, scores goals sometimes, but has his share of cold streaks. I can appreciate that Bergevin is looking to upgrade this position. On the other hand I wonder: what can you expect to get from a declining asset who’s under contract for 2 more years? Is this proper asset management?

 

Picture this: I’m a GM opposite Marc Bergevin, I see a team who could use size in a top-9 that includes: David Desharnais, Brian Gionta, and Daniel Briere, etc. Why is this team who is looking for size looking to move one of their few top-9 forwards with size. How bad must Rene Bourque be if Montreal of all teams can’t find use for him.

 

All Bergevin can gain in a deal with Rene Bourque right now is cap space. Although I’m not looking to be critical, we’ve all saw how questionably MB has handled his cap space despite a great early extension for Max Pacioretty. So I’m one who’s in favour of trying to make it work with Bourque in the meantime. Maybe display some patience with him like the organization has shown with #51 on several occasions.

 

Building off the notion of asset management and dealing a player while they have value, I’d like to transition to the curious case of defensive mainstay, Josh Gorges.

 

It’s flat-out impressive that an unsigned free agent who was  an afterthought of a 2007 deal that brought a 1st round pick (Max Pacioretty) to Montreal for an aging Craig Rivet has not only become a key contributor to the back end, but has cemented himself as part of the leadership group of the Canadiens.

 

One can’t take away the on-ice contributions that have shaped Josh Gorges reputation in his dressing room and across the league. To his credit, he truly lays it on the line night in night out, and embodies the term sacrifice every shift he steps on the ice. 

 

Whether it’s the media, fans, or management, one doesn’t mention number 26 without mentioning his intangibles in the room, off the ice, and with his teammates. Other than spewing clichés with conviction and real belief in his post-game interviews, the notion of Gorges bringing several intangibles does indeed carry weight. This is a player who saw something special in a 19 year old Brendan Gallagher, and kept in touch with him, providing advice and guidance during his own season while Gallagher was finishing up his final junior season with the Vancouver Giants. We’re also talking about a guy who had no issue taking in a teammate and providing Gallagher with a home to live in while he transitioned to the pro lifestyle at 20 years old.

 

A throw-in that turned into a true gem in what is widely considered as Bob Gainey’s best trade might just be the key piece that this organization can afford to move to turn the tides on a personnel group that is lacking a key piece on the offensive end.

 

Overview of the Asset:

 
  • Widely regarded as a top-4 defensive defensemen, 1st wave PK
  • Long-term deal at 3.9M (Fair Value)
  • Still in his prime at 29 years old - Adequately sized at 6’1 203 lbs.
  • Reputation as a leader

 

Why this could make sense for Montreal:

 
  • Abundance of LD (Markov, Emelin, Bouillon, Murray, Beaulieu, Tinordi)
  • Cap Savings
    • Subban will ink somewhere near 8M per
    • Emelin signed long term at 4.1M per
    • Markov will cost somewhere around 6M per if brought back (smart money says he’s re-signed)
  • Prospects ready to transition to full-time roles (Tinordi, Beaulieu)

 

What are the risks:

 
  • Emelin doesn’t return to pre-injury form, Markov retires or signs elsewhere and talent on the left side takes a serious hit
  • Assets coming back in the trade don’t pan out
  • Loss of leadership, only Subban left to mentor group of defense rising from the AHL (Beaulieu, Tinordi, Pateryn, Ellis, Dietz)

 

Why Gorges? Why not Markov who’s UFA and regarded as a higher end player?

 

If you trade a player like Markov it’s at the deadline to a team who’s looking to contend right now. The return you can expect would be a combination of picks and a prospect. Contending teams aren’t unloading significant players at the deadline. Gorges is the kind of asset who would fall into a true “hockey deal”. Montreal is in a position to make this deal because Tinordi and Beaulieu are so close to being regulars and one could even argue they’re ready right now. The expected return to form of Alexei Emelin is really what makes this the absolute right move right now.

 

As referenced above Gorges was brought in addition to a 1st round pick for Craig Rivet in 2007, a stay at home aging defensemen who not unlike Gorges wore an ‘A’ with the Habs at the time.

 

Craig Rivet brought in Max Pacioretty and Josh Gorges Significant lift to the franchise.

 

You don’t have to look far to find a similar franchise changing trade involving a top-4 defensemen.

 

Francois Beauchemin was dealt from Toronto to Anaheim in exchange for Joffrey Lupul and Jake Gardiner. Injuries aside you can’t deny what Lupul has done for the Leafs and Gardiner is fitting into the lineup better each night.

 

Now the following is purely speculation and has no basis but let’s look at a team like the Oilers, yearning for some stability on the backend and oozing with skilled forwards who could provide the goal-scoring Montreal is desperately lacking. If Bergevin chooses to do something bold is this not the route to go?

 

I’m not sure if trading Nail Yakupov is anywhere in the realm of possibility. But if internet rumors carried weight, would Josh Gorges start a conversation? Maybe, but you’d sure have to add. Maybe a high-end goaltending prospect could get talks moving a little faster. Montreal isn’t exactly waiting for a saviour in goal. If Yakupov was available, a 1st overall pick who projects as a dynamic scorer, who’s played with, and has a long-standing friendship with a our one-day franchise forward in Alex Galchenyuk, do you not take a serious run at that possibility?

 

Is Josh Gorges, Zach Fucale, and a 1st round pick out of the question? No. Is it enough? Maybe not, maybe it requires some re-tooling, and maybe it’s not even close.  But this is the type of deal the franchise needs now. It’s time Bergevin to define his legacy and resurrect faith the he’s the GM who will take this franchise back where it belongs.     

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