Confirmed Trade: [MTL/DET] Jon Merrill for Hayden Verbeek and 2021 5th round pick

[Tetsuo]

I don't know enough about Merrill's game to make a fair judgment on the acquisition.

But Habs are clearly looking to solidify that 3rd pair. They've had Romanov there and rotating between Mete, Ouellet, and last night, Leskinen played there. Merrill has almost 400 NHL games under his belt. That's more games than Mete, Ouellet, and Leskinen combined.

Habs have more pressing needs, particularly a mobile Top-4 LD, particularly one who can play with Weber. But that shouldn't mean you can't look at steadying other areas of the roster.

This is a good deal for Montreal. He is nothing special as a player (other than having some nice flow) but they give up next to nothing to get a player way better than Mete in his own end. He'll be a good soldier for your team.

 

[del17]

Gave up not much don’t believe mete gets picked up which is too bad rather open up contract spot , why not. At some point we need top end talent . I would settle for Dunn and Hoffman and sell off on Armia, Tatar I keep Danault sorry

 

[BLNY]

His inclusion is about his father being the Assistant GM of Detroit...

Uncle, but teams don't include players to appease agm's of other teams typically. Shedding a contract is shedding a contract.

 

[Wingsfan 4 life]

Illitch must have one hell of a friends and family discount for tickets.

Either that, or Yzerman gets his scouting reports from ancestry.com

 

[Simarino]

We needed a stabilizer for the 3rd pairing so that’s a good move, but if it’s the only move it won’t be good enough, we need a PMD to play with Weber.

 

[ItWasJustified]

I would have just played Mete?

Except Mete stinks and makes brain dead defensive decisions all the time.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Only traded for a 5th.

 

[Angry Little Elf]

Is he really an upgrade over Mete?

 

[vHAB]

I don't know enough about Merrill's game to make a fair judgment on the acquisition.

But Habs are clearly looking to solidify that 3rd pair. They've had Romanov there and rotating between Mete, Ouellet, and last night, Leskinen played there. Merrill has almost 400 NHL games under his belt. That's more games than Mete, Ouellet, and Leskinen combined.

Habs have more pressing needs, particularly a mobile Top-4 LD, particularly one who can play with Weber. But that shouldn't mean you can't look at steadying other areas of the roster.

Agreed, I think we needed some better depth options on D so I have no problem with this move, but would be nice to make a real upgrade on our defense as well and just push some guys down into those depth roles.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Is he really an upgrade over Mete?

Yes.

Merrill has been solid for Detroit. A very good bottom pair guy .

His mullet alone was worth a 2nd rounder. We was robbed.

 

[Cyborg Yzerberg]

Merrill has been really decent for us this year. Y’all talking trash, but give him a chance.

 

[MardyBum]

He's been really, really good defensively.

 

[Captain97]

I like how wings fans are saying the guy has been pretty good for what he is and everyone who at most watched him 7-8 times are like nah he sucks.

The guy is +2 on a team that is -36. At the very least he'll be a solid 6/7 for us. If we pick up a legit top 4 then he'll be our 7/8.

 

[jetsforever]

This is like the lamest trade deadline ever.

 

[alasania94]

not bad

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

Verbeek, as hardworking as he is, will never play more than 20 games in the NHL. He’s just not that skilled at anything other than hustle.

The Even Littler Ball, kinda more like a droplet, of Hate

 

[le_sean]

Merrill has been really decent for us this year. Y’all talking trash, but give him a chance.

Other than Petry and Weber, the Habs have a combined 4 goals from defencemen this season. 3 of those goals were scored by Game 7 of the season. So 1 goal from 4 defenders in over 30 games. Adding another 0 goals on defence does absolutely nothing for us.

This is the type of move a team like the Leafs or Lightning should make, not the Habs.

 

[Kraken Jokes]

I'm not sure which top-4 young, fast PMD Habs fans were expecting Bergevin to acquire at the deadline this year.

 

[NK94]

Yes.

Merrill has been solid for Detroit. A very good bottom pair guy .

His mullet alone was worth a 2nd rounder. We was robbed.

You sure about that? This moves screams redundancy, and I like Merrill.

 

[Habs10025]

Good trade for Montreal.

 

[CupInSIX]

Is he really an upgrade over Mete?

He struggles when the tempo picks up, especially in the playoffs. He needs to be partnered with a RD that can skate him out of trouble.

 

[sansabri]

i see the usual suspects are embarrassing themselves because MB didn't sell the farm

 

[OpenIceHit]

People don’t realize how Mete was just putrid. He skates fast and that’s the one and only thing he does.

 

[De Montreal]

I dont know why the Wings wouldnt give Mete a chance instead of Hayden Verbeek...

 

[PromisedLand]

if we want to teach kids about "doing things just for the sake of doing without any meaning or reason" this trade is a good example and bergevin a good teacher