Montreal Canadiens will not negotiate an extension with Max Pacioretty
The Montreal Canadiens have reportedly told their captain Max Pacioretty that they will not negotiate an extension, and the intention is to trade him immediately.
The meltdown of the Montreal Canadiens continues as their captain appears to officially be on his way out the door.
As first reported by Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic, Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin has reportedly told captain Max Pacioretty that they will not be negotiating a contact extension before his current contract expires on July 1, 2019, and his intension will be to trade him as soon as possible.
The 29-year-old Pacioretty recorded his worst statistical season since 2010-11 last season. With just 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points in 64 games, the Canadiens captain had a dropoff of 30 points in 17 less games. It was amidst Pacioretty’s absurd scoring drought from November to January that the trade rumors began to circulate while the Canadiens as a whole struggled.
The Canadiens reportedly had a three way deal on the table to move Pacioretty at the NHL Draft a few weeks ago that would’ve sent Pacioretty to the New York Islanders for a package that would’ve included a first round pick. Then that first round pick would’ve sent to the Buffalo Sabres in a package for Ryan O’Reilly. The deal fell through however when the Islanders got the players they were hoping for in Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson.
Canadiens management is clearly ready to move on from Pacioretty, but the feeling seems to be far from mutual.
“I’ll reiterate what Max has said a number of times, that he loves Montreal, he holds Montreal dear to his heart and he hopes to stay,” Walsh told The Athletic when contacted.
In 2012, Pacioretty signed a massive discount six-year contract with the Canadiens worth $4.5 million a season. Pacioretty made it clear that he left money on the table with that contract because he loved the organization, and wanted to help them succeed. Fast forward to today, and it seems the relationship between the captain and Canadiens management is irreparable.
Pacioretty is looking to make up the slack on his last contract with a large extension this time around, but it’s clear with all the attempted trades and refusal to commit publicly, Marc Beregivin has been moving the other direction for a long time.
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The only mercy for Max Pacioretty, Canadiens management/ownership and fans alike in this situation is to end this nightmare as soon as possible before anymore damage can be done. This has gone on long enough, and it’s time for both sides to get back to business.