We recently wrote about Brock Boeser and the reports that he is on the trade market and described the type of player that he is. Now, NHL Insider Darren Dreger also believes that the Canadiens are a very good fit for the Vancouver Canucks right-winger. On the Ray & Dregs Hockey Podcast, Dreger acknowledged that Boeser’s contract won’t be an easy one to move, with two years remaining at a cap hit of $6.65 million.
“Both the team and Brock Boeser think it’s a good thing to explore change for Brock Boeser,” said Dreger. “It won’t be easy from either side, because he still has some term on his deal. We know Montreal has a few intriguing possibilities on the trade front. You throw a name like Brock Boeser in the equation, and I would expect that is going to gain some interest.”
Dreger’s co-host, Ray Ferraro, brought up the fact that the Columbus Blue Jackets traded Oliver Bjorkstrand and only got a couple of picks (3rd and 4th from Seattle) in return. Bjorkstrand had 28 goals for Columbus last year.
As for Josh Anderson, Dreger warned not to focus only on Calgary or New Jersey as teams interested in the power-forward. According to the NHL Insider, any team in the market for a forward have expressed interest in Anderson. He added that Montreal doesn’t have cap issues and they know what he brings on and off the ice and most teams looking for a forward wants a player like him.
Montreal Hockey Now’s Marco D’Amico adds that from the Flames, the Canadiens are asking for a top prospect and a first round pick. That prospect, according to D’Amico, is Jakob Pelletier.
Le CH veut Jakob Pelletier et un choix de premier tour à mon avis.
Il faudra aussi ajouter un ou des contrats pour faire fonctionner le tout.
By JD Lagrange – Living in British Columbia has its disadvantages when it comes to following the Montreal Canadiens. It’s impossible to get a job covering the team through any traditional media outlets as you don’t have access to the dressing room for interviews, for example. But with the internet and technology, we still have access to the same information just as easily as any fan out there living in La Belle Province, particularly when you also speak “la langue de Molière”.
But living in BC, aside from the unmeasurable amount of Crown Land for outdoor activities and its amazing mountains and views, has other advantage when it comes to hockey. For one, we get to watch the games at 4:00 PM our time instead of having to wait to 7:00 PM. We then have the freedom to watch games from the Western Conference at a “normal” time. This alone often gives us a better insight to the teams and players in the West.
Boeser seeking a trade
Last night, during the second intermission of the Oilers and Canadiens’ game, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman informed hockey fans that the Vancouver Canucks have given permission to Brock Boeser and his agent to speak to other teams about the possibility of facilitating a trade. The Canucks’ right winger is not having a good season and he was going to be a healthy scratch last night against the Coyotes until Bruce Boudreau (possibly told by GM Patrik Allvin) changed his mind and inserted him into the line-up.
In 19 games so far this season, Boeser has four goals and 11 assists for 15 points. The points total is fine, but it seems like a pace for 17 goals is not enough for the Canucks… particularly not when you’re carrying a cap hit of $6.65 million for two more seasons after this one. Admittedly, that’s not enough to justify his salary and when you’re tight against the cap the way the Canucks are, people search for scapegoats and GMs, for solutions.
A tough time
Hockey fans, particularly those who aren’t following a team some 5,000 kilometers away from their home, are not always aware of the small details in a player’s life. I say small only because it’s often outside of hockey, but it can be major. Fans look at the stats’ sheet and immediately make a judgement on the said player(s).
For 12 years, Boeser’s father Duke had been battling Parkinson’s Disease. Brock was 13 when Duke was diagnosed. That was just the initial attack by a relentless wave of challenges that would include a brain injury suffered in a car accident, cancer, a heart attack and dementia. Duke Boeser’s battle for life ended at home in Burnsville, Minnesota, on May 27, 2022. He was 61 years old. Brock is 25, still far too young to be losing his father.
Heartbroken for the Boesers but what a courageous life Duke led. He overcame immeasurable adversity, was a model father and a sweet, gentle soul who was SO, SO proud of Brock. I wish comfort for Laurie, Brock, Jessica, Paul, the entire Boeser family & all of Duke’s friends ❤️🙏😢 pic.twitter.com/AT324Wb8Pf
When he was 17, Boeser lost a close friend, Ty Alyea, in a car accident in Minnesota. Brock was away playing for the U.S. Under-18 team in Europe. Another close friend, Cole Borchardt, suffered permanent injuries in the accident.
“Brock has had some life scenarios where he had to be older than I wanted him to be. He had a maturity about him, anyway, but then had to endure some of those things at a pretty young age. When you have experiences like that, you can’t help but grow as you deal with them.” ~ Brock’s mother, Laurie Boeser
This, inevitably, has affected him and ultimately, his play on the ice. You see, we tend to forget that these players are also human beings. Fans, particularly on social media, like to come across as cold, ruthless people with little to no sympathy, even even less empathy, hiding under the pretext that the players are getting paid a lot of money to perform… no matter what. But those who have some living experience under their belts know that it’s not the right attitude, that there is more to hockey in life.
Canadiens’ possibility?
I have been given the opportunity, due to my location, to watch quite a bit of Boeser since he’s joined the Canucks. Of course, my colleagues Bob Trask and JAG could also tell you a lot about him as well, both living here in Beautiful BC.
But for those of you who don’t know him as well as a hockey player, Boeser is a sniper from the wing who has a great shot with a quick release and good puck skills. He knows how to find the dead spots in a defense and he can score from in close and from distance. He will get his nose dirty, especially on the power play where he gets a lot of his points.
Josh Anderson
The 6-foot 1-inch, 208 lbs right-hand shot winger was selected 23rd overall by the Canucks in 2015. He will only be turning 26 in February and has plenty of great hockey in him. I have been hoping for the Canadiens to trade for him for several years now and now, he seems to be available. But what to give?
As we know, the Canadiens are very deep on the wing and with left-handed defensemen. And let’s get one thing out of the way: Kent Hughes will not be trading a first round pick. If the Canucks insist on that, Montreal will be out of the picture in a hurry.
Some people on social media last night were bringing forward the name of Brendan Gallagher. Gally, although born in Edmonton, moved to Vancouver and played his junior hockey for the Giants in the WHL, where he was the team captain. Of course, cap-wise, it works. But if the Canucks aren’t happy with Boeser’s production for his salary, how do you think they will feel about an older Gallagher with more mileage and a similar cap hit? It’s a non-starter, in my humble opinion.
So look more towards Josh Anderson to tip the balance in the Canadiens’ favour. As opposed as I might be to trade Andy, getting Boeser, a more natural scorer, would help with the pain of losing a player that I really like. The prospect of seeing Boeser on the right of Sean Monahan, and the option of moving Dach back to the middle and the prospect of trying the Minnesota native with Caufield and Suzuki is also appealing.
Of course, you might have to add here or there on either sides, but I feel like the Canucks and Canadiens could be suitable trade partners, with Boeser and Anderson as centrepieces.
Of course, I fully expect Boeser’s agent to reach out to the Minnesota Wild, as he would likely welcome a trade to go back home. But that doesn’t mean that the Canucks will be able to accommodate him, particularly if the Wild lowballs them. Boeser has no trade protection on his current contract.
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