Confirmed Trade: [PIT/MTL] Jeff Petry and Ryan Poehling for Mike Matheson and 2023 4th round pick

[jfhabs]

Are you sure that's not because Montreal played colossally bad hockey across the board last year? We're talking worst team in the league by a longshot man.

Petry is a good defenseman, but he was a big part of the team collapse last year.
He was expected to be the team number one defender, but he threw the coach and some teamates under the bus while playing like shit himself. I think he's a good player but needs strong leadership group to play his best. A bit similar to Pacioretty in that aspect.

Petry fits the Pens time frame and is a nice add as a RH D who can play at both ends of the ice. Matheson is a talented D man as to his skating and offensive instincts. But he makes mistakes in pushing that sometimes and his net front is not very physical. But in a 6 man rotation, he can be very effective. Good trade for both teams so as a Pens fan it was what the Dr. ordered. Sullivan and Hextall knew they needed to add more size and some physical presence in Petry and Rutta and both will be nice additions.

Yes, I think Pitts did very good with that trade.
The habs didn't want to retain for 3 years which limited their options.

 

[chethejet]

Correct sully said he a really good number 2 D man. He is behind Letang and Pens like his game. He also allows Letang to lower his TOI which is important to keeping the D men fresher. Letang left up to him would play 26 minutes but Petry and Rutta can help give Letang the 20 minutes which he should be at now.

 

[Turin]

If Mike Sullivan thinks Petry is a top 2 defenseman on any team in the league, then maybe we should question his judgement.

Also, do we need an update after 1 game?

Petry is a number two on most teams.

 

[Habsfunk]

I've always felt Petry has the skills to be a #1 D, but he lacks the consistency to do it over a full season. He's at his best in a #2 role, where he faces less pressure and his flaws can be hidden a little more.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

I still don't understand why Hughes made this trade other than to appease Petry who appeared to want out.

As good as Matheson has been in pre-season (and he has been terrific), the Habs need a veteran puck-moving presence on RHD to support the likes of Guhle, Harris and Xhejac who are all LHD. Trading Petry left a gaping hold on the right side.

 

[Frank Drebin]

I still don't understand why Hughes made this trade other than to appease Petry who appeared to want out.

As good as Matheson has been in pre-season (and he has been terrific), the Habs need a veteran puck-moving presence on RHD to support the likes of Guhle, Harris and Xhejac who are all LHD. Trading Petry left a gaping hold on the right side.

Maybe petry was trash in the room. Really liked him as a player and Pittsburgh got a few good years left I'm sure

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I still don't understand why Hughes made this trade other than to appease Petry who appeared to want out.

As good as Matheson has been in pre-season (and he has been terrific), the Habs need a veteran puck-moving presence on RHD to support the likes of Guhle, Harris and Xhejac who are all LHD. Trading Petry left a gaping hold on the right side.

I mean, didn't you just answer your own question? If a player wants out and his play reflects his attitude about wanting to play for that team, why *wouldn't* the GM trade him and bring in someone who wants to be there?

The alternative is to hang onto someone whose heart isn't in it and you get a lousy performance.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

What does that have to do with skating? Or were you just calling him a skater?

Hint: skater = player.

 

[TooManyHumans]

Matheson is a really exciting player to watch, one way or another.

 

[Scintillating10]

I still don't understand why Hughes made this trade other than to appease Petry who appeared to want out.

As good as Matheson has been in pre-season (and he has been terrific), the Habs need a veteran puck-moving presence on RHD to support the likes of Guhle, Harris and Xhejac who are all LHD. Trading Petry left a gaping hold on the right side.

Your first sentence answered your question

 

[Mogo]

Matheson is a really exciting player to watch, one way or another.

Agree. Both teams in the game will enjoy him

 

[CTHabsfan]

I still don't understand why Hughes made this trade other than to appease Petry who appeared to want out.

As good as Matheson has been in pre-season (and he has been terrific), the Habs need a veteran puck-moving presence on RHD to support the likes of Guhle, Harris and Xhejac who are all LHD. Trading Petry left a gaping hold on the right side.

Not only did Petry want out, he is an older player with a pretty big contract. Matheson will be younger when his contract expires than Petry is today.

 

[TS Quint]

Not only did Petry want out, he is an older player with a pretty big contract. Matheson will be younger when his contract expires than Petry is today.

Neither one will contribute to a winning Habs team.

 

[Naslundforever]

I still don't understand why Hughes made this trade other than to appease Petry who appeared to want out.

As good as Matheson has been in pre-season (and he has been terrific), the Habs need a veteran puck-moving presence on RHD to support the likes of Guhle, Harris and Xhejac who are all LHD. Trading Petry left a gaping hold on the right side.

He had the drive of a Sloth last year. Watching his goalie get run is my last memory of anything significant since the playoff run. Good player when he’s happy for sure.

 

[chethejet]

USA players had to deal with Canadian issues as to Covid. The decisions were not conducive to family visiting or travel from US. Petry just wasn't happy with the inability to see or have some semblance of home life like in prior years. It wasn't about his hockey or play as much as the lock down mentality last year.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Petry has looked really impressive for the Pens so far.

 

[Captain97]

Petry has looked really impressive for the Pens so far.

He's a great player but his play with the Habs was affected by his home life hence the requested trade.

Canada went really strict on covid rules and they had them for a while, so Petrys family went back to the states while he was here so the kids could be in school, see their grandparents, etc.

 

[Gaud]

Petry is probably the most inconsistent skater in the league.

Skating is probably the best thing about him - i think he means his play is inconsistant. I havent seen him in Pittsburgh, but he was pretty solid before last year IMO. I think his issue came with the stress of being #1 D when it became apparent that Weber was done. Before that, even when Weber was injured, he played more or less like a #1 - i think it is mental for him. He should do fine in Pitts as Letang has that spot.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

How's Poehling ?

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

How's Poehling ?

He seems pretty solid at 4C. It’s early and the whole team is absolutely flying though.

He’ll also play wing when Blueger is back in the lineup.

Better skating/athletic ability than I thought.

Overall too early to tell what type of player or fit he is long term here.

 

[CupInSIX]

Skating is probably the best thing about him - i think he means his play is inconsistant. I havent seen him in Pittsburgh, but he was pretty solid before last year IMO. I think his issue came with the stress of being #1 D when it became apparent that Weber was done. Before that, even when Weber was injured, he played more or less like a #1 - i think it is mental for him. He should do fine in Pitts as Letang has that spot.

Aye. Skater: as in non-goaltender.

If Petry decides to play to his potential, watch out. He could be a force.

 

[crowi]

Taking on Matheson's contract and giving up Petry was a really bad deal for the Habs. It's probably the worst one I've seen them make after Bergevin got deservedly shit-canned.

 

[Gurglesons]

How's Poehling ?

I like him a lot for what his role is on our team.

Pretty sure he is riding the pine when we are healthy though which stinks.

 

[Number1RedWingsFan52]

I love how Hab fans thought that they were going to get a 1st round pick for Petry, And yet the best they could do was Matheson and a 4th round pick. Petry probably had his mind on Pittsburgh. And Hexy wasn't going to give up too much for him.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I still don't understand why Hughes made this trade other than to appease Petry who appeared to want out.

As good as Matheson has been in pre-season (and he has been terrific), the Habs need a veteran puck-moving presence on RHD to support the likes of Guhle, Harris and Xhejac who are all LHD. Trading Petry left a gaping hold on the right side.

So they were supposed to trade him for another top pairing right handed PMD.......? They are very rare, Matheson was a solid return as he is a fantastic skater and may be on the verge of realizing his potential which is a legitimate top pairing D. That is not necessarily likely but given the age difference with Petry it was an astute move that works for both teams.