Canadiens Analysis
Montreal Canadiens Make Minor Trade With The Oilers
The Montreal Canadiens have announced a trade, sending forward Jacob Perreault to the Edmonon Oilers in exchange for defenceman Noel Hoefenmayer.
If you’re wondering why the trade took place, it’s likely that Perreault was not happy with his situation, which saw him split time between the Laval Rocket (AHL), and their ECHL affiliate, the Trois-Rivières Lions. He failed to register a point in six games for Laval, but he did maintain a strong scoring pace in the ECHL, with one goal and four assists in five games.
Perreault, 22, was originally a first round pick from the Anaheim Ducks, picked 27th overall in 2020. He was only given a one-game audition in the NHL, spending the rest of his time with the San Diego Gulls in the AHL. The Canadiens then traded forward Jan Mysak to the Ducks in exchange for Perreault, and promptly assigned him to the AHL.
Seeing as the Montreal Canadiens are in the midst of a rebuild, the influx of draft picks have led to a wealth of talent among prospects, making players that fail to take the next step in their careers expendable.
As for the return, Hoefenmayer, 25, is expected to report to the Rocket, and will serve as important reinforcements for a team that started the season on the right foot, but faltered in recent weeks. He’s a good skater who has a wealth of experience in the AHL, who can also provide a tertiary source of offence when the opportunity arises. He will be insurance should the Canadiens face another streak of unfortunate injuries that forces them to pillage their farm team.
In 149 AHL games, the left-handed defenceman has scored 21 goals and 51 assists. He signed a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers last summer, and will be an unrestricted free once the AHL season comes to an end.
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Hoefenmayer was voted OHL defenseman of the year in 2020 after scoring 26 goals and 56 assists for 82 points for the Ottawa 67’s.
I’ll always have a soft spot for anyone who graduated from Brian Kilrea’s former team.
Makes me wonder who Hughes and Bowman may have been talking about in other conversations. These minor league trades very rarely happen in a vacuum. Anyone on our roster now with a connection to Bowman in the past? Dach? I sure hope not. Let the rumours begin, I suppose. Hopefully it’s about Savard or Armia or our other pending UFAs. Just not sure what’s left in Edmonton that could interest us other than draft picks.
I can see a dach movement if they got another strong center prospect in return. Injury or not hes just looked lost out there uninterested. His name isn’t popping out of announcers mouths like a 3rd overall pick should. The talent is there I just think the habs management are getting frustrated with his work ethic and lazy penalties this season.
Edmonton doesn’t have any prospects we’d want, and certainly not a better one than Dach. HuGo may listen for due diligence, but I don’t think for a second they’re anywhere near pulling the plug on his time in Montreal. All the noise out there is from knee-jerk reaction “fans” that have no patience. Dach will be just fine. He’s just got to get his mojo back. It’ll happen. I’m not worried.
Hoefenmayer will probably never play a game for the Habs. But he will make the Rocket better. And playing on a competitive, winning team is good for the development of the young prospects.