Confirmed Trade: [MIN/MTL] Gustav Olofsson for William Bitten

[Captain Mountain]

So they're either very high on Olafsson or very unenthoused about Bitten considering he just turned pro. Minnesota got a good deal here.

Probably the latter. Verbeek basically took his spot. Realistically, you don't need that many undersized forwards that skate well but don't have great hands.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

What a strange trade for the Habs.

 

[Runner77]

Why do they look like Beavis and Butthead?

Good call.

 

[HogTown06]

Why do they look like Beavis and Butthead?

Still October but we have the post of the year!

 

[audioslaved]

Why do they look like Beavis and Butthead?

You, sir, you just won the Best comment ever at any forum Award! Congrats! I actually LOL! I tend to write LOL but I never LOL. Today I did though. Good work!

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Olofsson got buried, similar to Mike Reilly.

Both have bottom-6 potential.

Bottom 6 potential also means top 6 potential lol

 

[Minnesota]

Bottom 6 potential also means top 6 potential lol

Whoops, meant bottom-pairing potential. I'm rusty from offseason.

 

[Belial]

What a strange trade for the Habs.

Why is it a strange trade? Man, every time we trade someone he becomes 10 times better instantly... Bitten might not even become an NHLer! Please...

 

[MXD]

Bitten was very redundant and probably not on his way to make it, but I'd rather have traded someone else to be honest.

 

[Nalens Oga]

Damn I was high on Bitten during his draft year, was surprised he was ranked and taken so low. Goes to show NHL scouts know far more about prospects than we do.

 

[Habs 4 Life]

You never have enough 7D Alzner, Benn, Schlemko, Ouellet, Kulak, Lernout, Olofsson. Maybe MB plan is to fuse them into the 2nd D MTL need.

That's what happens when your GM was a career 7th defenseman. He goes out and buys them all!!!

 

[uncleben]

I don't understand this deal. Why didn't Montreal just claim him?

If they had claimed him, he would need to be put on waivers to send him down to the minors.
Since he just cleared waivers, now they can send him down without risking losing him.

 

[Balthazar]

What a strange trade for the Habs.

There's nothing strange about that. Guys who clear waivers get traded all the time.

 

[belair]

If they had claimed him, he would need to be put on waivers to send him down to the minors.
Since he just cleared waivers, now they can send him down without risking losing him.

My question was leaning towards the price they paid, vs what they would have had they simply just claimed him.

 

[uncleben]

My question was leaning towards the price they paid, vs what they would have had they simply just claimed him.

Right, but simply claiming him (on top of adding another contract, as has been noted) would've meant playing him in the NHL and not in the AHL where they want him

 

[1909]

My question was leaning towards the price they paid, vs what they would have had they simply just claimed him.

If they would had claimed him, they would have had to keep him on the NHL roster for at least 30 days. Now, the guy will play at AHL level.

Bergevin had to re-build the whole left side of his D-Corp. Mete, Reilly are two good ones. Ouellet is still an enigma. Alzner is total crap as well as Benn. Schlemko is injured AGAIN ! That is why he acquired Kulak and Oloffson who will start at AHL level, but who have had plenty of games at NHL level last year.

 

[belair]

Right, but simply claiming him (on top of adding another contract, as has been noted) would've meant playing him in the NHL and not in the AHL where they want him

If they would had claimed him, they would have had to keep him on the NHL roster for at least 30 days. Now, the guy will play at AHL level.

Yep. Aware.

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

Bottom 6 potential also means top 6 potential lol

Mike a bottom 6 ? he is our #3 best D

 

[57special]

Another weird move by the king of Bargain bin moves. The team needs some NHL defensive help not another borderline guy that is being sent to the AHL.

Olofsson has top 4 tools. Just can't stay healthy. Can skate, handle the puck, and has a bit of offense to him. Not very physical, but long enough to cause problems for defenders. Needs NHL time, but always had Scandella, and later, Reilly and Seeler to fight for #3 LHD TOI(Brodin and Suter getting the top 2 spots) in those rare times when he wasn't injured.

I always had high hopes for him as being a 4/5. He might not make the NHL, but he is not a big, dopey, crease clearing guy with no puck skills. He doesn't have Reilly's offensive upside and aggressiveness, but he is a better defender.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

this is Montreal's 6th trade

IN:
T. Tatar - F
M Domi - F
J. Armia - F
N. Suzuki - F
G. Olofsson - D
B. Kulak - D
H. Shinkaruk - F
S. Mason ($1.366m buyout - 2 yrs)
2nd rd pick (2019)
5th rd pick (2019)
7th rd pick (2019)
4th rd pick (2020)

OUT:
M. Pacioretty - F
A. Galchenyuk - F
K. Rychel - F
R. Valiev - D
W. Bitten - F
M. Taormina - D
H. Hawkey - G
S. Bourque - D

 

[417]

What a strange trade for the Habs.

Habs acquire a player who will likely play NHL games for them and still has some potential...

For a prospect who hasn't progressed since he was drafted and likely ends up in the ECHL this based on how his career has been trending

And the Habs are the ones who made a strange trade huh?

Must be like when they made a "strange" move to decide to draft Kotkaniemi too.

 

[57special]

I don't understand this deal. Why didn't Montreal just claim him?

Money, and contract. By sending Bitten, you lose his contract, and the potential cap hit.

 

[CHaracter79]

When anyone is traded off the habs all of a sudden he becoems a good prospect or what have you. yet when trade offers are made for players that eventually gte traded for much less.. they get laughed at.. which is it fellas. BItten is a nice, gallagher, domi type player. I doubt he reaches their ceiling.. if so... good for him.. but he prob wouldnt crack the lineup in mtl. not with peoling, suzuki ylonen etc ahead of him on the prospect tree.

They need LD and someone with experience suits us fine.. hoepfully this means BEnn will be gone soon

 

[Sam of Montreal]

Contract limit

I am surprised that everyone thinks this is the reason... It is not.

It is simple... A player who went through waivers can be traded for and directly sent to the AHL without putting on waivers again. If Montreal had selected him, they would have to keep him on the NHL roster and that's not where they want him. Same as all other NHL teams. Olofsson's value was raised by passing through waivers because he now can play up to one full year in the AHL helping the team win more and maybe figure his game out.

In the same way, McCaron now holds a little value again because he went through waivers and can help the AHL all season and maybe turn things around for himself this year.

This trade is basically the same as the earlier Kulak deal. Getting good veterans for the AHL who actually could become something more someday.

I like it.

 

[MXD]

What fanbase are you talking about?

The Montreal Canadiens fanbase?

You want to go take a stroll on our board to tell me what Stanley Cup parades have been planned lately?

I don't even know what this comment has to do with mine.

That's bound to happen when you're quoting someone who, frankly, doesn't look really smart.