why not just get a ld in free agency rather than trying to fit petry on the left side and deal with his bad contract. yzerman would likely ask for a couple good picks to do this.

I know, I’m trying to treat Petry’s stock as between the Habs fans that say “He’ll definitely bounce back” and ask for full price and others that say “He’s 34 and washed up” and ask for compensation to take him. My guess is that Yzerman would only take it if the price is either very low or negative value, but he’d have to have good projections from his pro scouts.

wings aren't a good fit. petry can bounce back but not to a $6.25m dman. those days are gone.

Maybe he bounces back but the contract is too long and too expensive to chance it. Unless something unexpected happens like Montreal pays to move him or Detroit moves hronek in a deal somewhere else I don't see it.

Here is why habs fans like myself believe Petry will bounce back.

1. He had a career year last year, I don't think there is a single player in the history of the league who has posted the best season of his career then fallen off a cliff due to age or whatever over the course of one offseason.

2. Listening to Hughes press conference yesterday about him trading Petry if there was a deal that worked for both sides, tells me that Petry is not disgruntled with the Habs or fallen off a cliff as many speculate but is dealling with many off ice issues that are wearing on him mentally. Having sent his family back to the states over the Christmas holidays, and dealing with injuries and covid restrictions and not seeing his family for going on two or three months has got to be more than a little depressing. Especially since in normal years his family spends the season in Montreal like Price's do, his sons call Gally uncle and they are adored by the team and staff.

I don't think Petry improves the wings.

Yeah, its important to note that much of Petry's struggles or motivation might be linked to what his wife has been posting about online. Its clear their family is very much against the mandates in Canada, and Montreal having some of the worst. And maybe he has special treatment as a hockey player, his family still has to follow them. And when he gets home he still has to hear about them.

If his family was told to go back to the States, this is likely the reason. With no Weber or Price, Petry also sees Montreal's compete window being slammed shut, and likely wants to be moved to an American team that's contending.


I personally would be willing to retain 50% to make it happen, IF that means we get a decent return.

I agree but to this point Petry has not requested a trade according to Hughes. Which leads me to believe he feels like he still wants to be a part of the organization and that he feels things surrounding the teams and his play will improve even if it is not until next season.

I honestly don't understand getting rid of Petry. He has one half season where he plays poorly and his value plummets. Trade guys with value (ie: Toffoli, Lehkonen, Chiarot, Allen). Let Petry try to regain his value and flip him down the road. If they are rebuilding anyways then who cares about his contract on the habs.

Hughes said he did not "officially" ask for a trade, but he would be traded if it works for both teams. Petry has a NMC, if Petry didn't express interest in being traded, Hughes can't trade him, and therefore that comment would be meaningless.

I think Petry wants to leave, and Hughes is downplaying it to maintain some trade value.

Petry has a NMC, if there is trade talks, its 100% because the player wants there to be.

I didn't say he wouldn't at least be open minded minded about a trade. Doesn't mean they need to trade him though