According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, the Carolina Hurricanes have their eyes set on adding a right-shot, top-four defenceman over the next four days. With not a lot of options available, they’re apparently keyed in on Montreal Canadiens defenceman Jeff Petry.
This is not the first time Petry’s name has come up in trade rumors. He’s been one of many names out of the Canadiens organization to hit the trade boards, but he’s potentially the least likely of all the Montreal names to move, specifically because he’s still got a reasonable contract ($5.5 million) and isn’t a rental. LeBrun admits Montreal may elect to keep Petry but is also hinting that Carolina might be putting together an attractive offer Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin won’t want to turn down.
LeBrun writes:
What kind of package could Carolina throw at the Habs? I’m thinking something like a first-round pick and prospect blueliner Jake Bean, 21, a first-round pick, 13th overall, in 2016. That’s something I think Carolina would do to entice the Canadiens.
That’s a pretty good take for the Canadiens who are clearly sellers at this year’s deadline but there’s a catch. Apparently, Montreal doesn’t view Bean as a top-four defenceman in the future. If so, moving a top-four in Petry means they’d be on the lookout for one to replace him.
Also interesting and likely worth watching is the history between these two teams. Is Carolina really willing to trade with the Canadiens after this summer and the offer sheet for Sebastian Aho?
As for other trades out of Montreal, Ilya Kovalchuk, Tomas Tatar, and Nate Thompson remain names that fans should watch in trade this week.
Related: Chris Kreider Trade Update: Bruins and Avs Favorites
