If the Montreal Canadiens are going to move Max Pacioretty by Monday’s trade deadline, it would appear they have a heavy suitor on the West Coast.
The Los Angeles Kings are taking a run at acquiring the Canadiens captain as they try to beef up their scoring in an effort to squeeze into one of the wild-card spots.
“The L.A. Kings, they’re pushing hard now for Pacioretty,” Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos said during the Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada Saturday. “We know throughout the last few years there’s always at times a goal-scoring issue with the L.A. Kings — whether they have enough.”
Kypreos believes Montreal has asked about some of the Kings’ young forwards as well as a first-round pick.
“We believe the Montreal Canadiens have asked for guys like Tanner Pearson or Tyler Toffoli,” he said. “I’m not sure if that gets it done, but at least a first-round pick would be out there involved, and perhaps L.A.’s first pick last season – 11th overall, Gabe Vilardi — is out there as well. Perhaps he might be the piece that gets the deal done.”
According to Elliotte Friedman, there’s a “belief” that Pacioretty wants to be traded and that there were talks between the Canadiens and Minnesota Wild, but those fell through.
Entering Saturday’s contest, Pacioretty had amassed 16 goals and 35 points. He carries a cap hit of $4.5 million with a contract set to expire at the end of next season.
Additionally, in light of Tomas Plekanec being held out Saturday, Friedman is also reporting that the Canadiens centre is drawing interest from the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning.
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