MONTREAL—The Montreal Canadiens traded to the St. Louis Blues a crucial element that led them to the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup semifinals—goaltender Jaroslav Halak. In return, the Canadiens received two young players, Lars Eller and Ian Schultz.
“I guess that was the best way to do it, to deal one goalie and leave one goalie in Montreal. I was the one who got dealt,” Halak said as reported on NHL.com.
“I’m very excited that I’m in St. Louis, and I’m looking forward to the new start and fresh start for me.
“They never talked to us about the possibility of a new deal or staying in Montreal,” Halak said. “But it never happened. That’s why the news I got today was a little bit surprising for me.”
Halak, who also shined in the Olympics for Slovakia, had been sharing the goaltending duties with Carey Price for the past two years. Price shone in the early days of his professional career two years ago but then was unable to keep the number one spot.
During the 2009–2010 season, Halak secured 26 wins, 13 losses and 5 overtime losses, with a 2.40 goals against average and a save percentage of .924, which was fourth best in the NHL.
However, it is in the playoffs that Halak asserted himself as the sole No. 1 goaltender for the Canadiens with performances that many claimed to be “magnifique!”
His popularity touched the sky on April 26, in the first round of the playoffs against the top team in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals. Halak stopped 53 shots in a 4–1 victory, forcing a seventh game.
This trade appears to signal another beginning of the Price era in Montreal. The Canadiens first round pick in 2005 (fifth overall) was highly successful in his first year on the Canadiens’ roster in 2007–2008, helping the team to finish the regular season in top spot in the Eastern Conference. The last time Montreal had achieved this was in 1991–1992.
“We liked the two goalies, but in our short term and long term evaluations, we chose to keep Carey Price,” explained Montreal general manager Pierre Gauthier, as reported by RDS.
“Jaroslav’s play in this year’s regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs was remarkable,” said Blues president John Davidson in a statement posted on the team’s official website.
Canadiens supporters are scratching their head about this trade. One would think a No. 1 goalie would be worth more than two young prospects.
“I’m speechless to explain this trade,” commented ex-NHL coach and hockey pundit Michel Bergeron. “The Canadiens just traded the most popular player on the team for two strangers. Anyways, Price will have to be good. No more excuses about his youth.”
To obtain Halak, the Blues gave away two young forwards. Lars Eller was the 13th player selected in the first round of the 2007 draft. In seven games with the Blues this year, he scored twice. He spent most of the year with the Peoria Rivermen, the Blues’ affiliate team in the American Hockey League, where he finished second on his team in scoring.
Ian Schultz was the Blues’ third-round pick in 2008. He recently completed his third year with the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League, the top junior hockey league in Western Canada. In 70 games, he totaled 24 goals and 31 assists, and had three points in four games at the Memorial Cup this spring.
“I guess that was the best way to do it, to deal one goalie and leave one goalie in Montreal. I was the one who got dealt,” Halak said as reported on NHL.com.
“I’m very excited that I’m in St. Louis, and I’m looking forward to the new start and fresh start for me.
“They never talked to us about the possibility of a new deal or staying in Montreal,” Halak said. “But it never happened. That’s why the news I got today was a little bit surprising for me.”
Halak, who also shined in the Olympics for Slovakia, had been sharing the goaltending duties with Carey Price for the past two years. Price shone in the early days of his professional career two years ago but then was unable to keep the number one spot.
During the 2009–2010 season, Halak secured 26 wins, 13 losses and 5 overtime losses, with a 2.40 goals against average and a save percentage of .924, which was fourth best in the NHL.
However, it is in the playoffs that Halak asserted himself as the sole No. 1 goaltender for the Canadiens with performances that many claimed to be “magnifique!”
His popularity touched the sky on April 26, in the first round of the playoffs against the top team in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals. Halak stopped 53 shots in a 4–1 victory, forcing a seventh game.
This trade appears to signal another beginning of the Price era in Montreal. The Canadiens first round pick in 2005 (fifth overall) was highly successful in his first year on the Canadiens’ roster in 2007–2008, helping the team to finish the regular season in top spot in the Eastern Conference. The last time Montreal had achieved this was in 1991–1992.
“We liked the two goalies, but in our short term and long term evaluations, we chose to keep Carey Price,” explained Montreal general manager Pierre Gauthier, as reported by RDS.
“Jaroslav’s play in this year’s regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs was remarkable,” said Blues president John Davidson in a statement posted on the team’s official website.
Canadiens supporters are scratching their head about this trade. One would think a No. 1 goalie would be worth more than two young prospects.
“I’m speechless to explain this trade,” commented ex-NHL coach and hockey pundit Michel Bergeron. “The Canadiens just traded the most popular player on the team for two strangers. Anyways, Price will have to be good. No more excuses about his youth.”
To obtain Halak, the Blues gave away two young forwards. Lars Eller was the 13th player selected in the first round of the 2007 draft. In seven games with the Blues this year, he scored twice. He spent most of the year with the Peoria Rivermen, the Blues’ affiliate team in the American Hockey League, where he finished second on his team in scoring.
Ian Schultz was the Blues’ third-round pick in 2008. He recently completed his third year with the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League, the top junior hockey league in Western Canada. In 70 games, he totaled 24 goals and 31 assists, and had three points in four games at the Memorial Cup this spring.
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