PLD Redux

In PLD the Habs are not really taking a gamble. We have all seen PLD play for years and he has been great on some nights and mediocre on others, but he has been a consistent 60 point player. Unfortunately in LA, Danault was once again underestimated and has outplayed PLD for a top 6 role. Part of that probably has to do with the winning culture in LA that is a lot less forgiving of players taking creative liberties and coughing up the puck.

PLD would fit well on a line with Dach & Newhook, 2 exceptionally hard working guys. He is the kind of guy who needs to be dragged into the fight, but he is incredibly valuable once you get him going.

Let's get the unpleasant part out of the way first. Josh Anderson is an overpaid 3rd line winger who has had a historically bad season and needs out of Montreal in the worst way. He is added to this deal to balance out the overpayment of PLD, but only for the next 3 years. It's a bitter pill for LA to swallow, but because of this, they can also get fair value for PLD in the rest of the deal.

I feel LA will need a backup next season and Primeau will make a good one, especially at 1M salary ahead of his RFA status.

In Beck LA gets an up and coming 2-way forward who is marked by the fact that contending teams in the OHL have traded many assets for him multiple years in a row. He is consistently in the top 5 in faceoff percentage and he has closed out the OHL regular season on a 20-game point streak (talk about consistency!). He is ready to turn pro next year and it's up to LA to decide whether they want him in the AHL or the NHL. It seems likely he can make an NHL team out of training camp.

LA also gets a late 1st round pick in this upcoming draft.