Golden Knights Acquire Pacioretty from Canadiens
The Vegas Golden Knights were busy late last night, pulling off a huge trade while most of us were asleep.
The Golden Knights acquired Max Pacioretty from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Tomas Tatar, Nick Suzuki and a 2019 second-round draft pick—and Tweeted it out at 1:13am ET.
Deets 👇
We received Max Pacioretty from the Montreal Canadiens
🔄
They received Tomas Tatar, Nick Suzuki & a 2019 2nd round draft pick from us
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) September 10, 2018
Pacioretty scored 226 goals and 222 assists in 626 games as a Montreal Canadien, serving as their captain for the last three seasons. The 29-year-old Connecticut native has five thirty-goal seasons across his 10-year career, including four consecutive seasons from 2013-14 to 2016-17. He uncharacteristically struggled to produce last season, notching only 17 goals and 20 assists in 64 games, which allowed the Golden Knights to acquire him at a discounted price.
2019 Projected Lines:
| Vegas Golden Knights | Montreal Canadiens |
|---|---|
 |  |
Pacioretty’s low personal and on-ice shooting percentages from a year ago suggest a bounce-back season could be in order. While he won’t challenge for Jonathan Marchessault’s spot on Vegas’ top line, he adds another layer of depth to their top-six and a lethal option on the powerplay.
The Canadiens are Tomas Tatar’s third team in two seasons, after the Golden Knights acquired the 27-year old from the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline last season. Despite registering just six points in 20 games with the Golden Knights, Tatar was still able to pick up his fourth-straight 20-goal season in 2017-18. He has 115 goals and 107 assists in 427 NHL games, and will likely begin the 2018-19 season on the Habs’ second line.
The trading of their captain marks a complete rebuild for the Montreal franchise, with Carey Price being the lone core piece remaining from their 2013-14 run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Since the summer of 2016, Habs’ General manager Marc Bergevin has traded away:
- P.K. Subban
- Mikhail Sergachev
- Alex Galchenyuk
- Max Pacioretty
In exchange for:
- Shea Weber (injured)
- Jonathan Drouin
- Max Domi
- Nick Suzuki
- 2019 2nd Round Draft Pick
Centre depth has been an issue for Montreal in recent years, but drafting Jesperi Kotkaniemi with the No.3 overall pick this summer and adding Suzuki last night gives them a bright future down the middle. Suzuki is coming off of his third year with the Owen Sound Attack, where he finished fourth in the OHL with 100 points (42G / 58A) in 64 games. The 2017 No.13 overall pick could challenge for a spot on the Canadiens roster this fall, but is likely AHL bound.