You know last year when the Canadiens traded for Jordan Weal at the deadline, there was immediate fan hype that he might be the next Dale Weise or Brett Kulak, the fringe roster player on another team that blossoms on the Canadiens, and I was thinking we should pump the brakes on this, not everyone is going to be a Paul Byron, most of the deadline deals and waiver claims are going to be of the Devante Smith-Pelly or Kerby Rychel variety, a flawed/failed prospect you obtained in exchange for your own flawed/failed prospect.
Sure, the end of the season was especially encouraging for Jordan Weal, how he might provide an option as a shifty right-shot on the powerplay and in the faceoff circle, a Bottom 6 player who can play a few shifts in the Top 6, but let's wait for a larger sample size maybe? So far in camp though, I have to admit I'm checking to see where the bandwagon is, and if one ever wanted to cartwheel his way onto it, how might one pick a route?
There have been some putrid pro-scouting decisions made in the Bergevin régime, Scrivens, Streit, Schlemko, Dwight King, etc., but lately that's turned around, and there are many more hits than there used to be. I don't know if it's a change of personnel in those scouting roles, a different approach or plain dumb luck, but it's a refreshing change.
And this is where the Canadiens can flex their financial muscle. The Coyotes couldn't make Jordan Weal work for them, so they flipped him and his 'onerous' $1.75M contract to the Canadiens for a Michael Chaput with a $675 000 two-way contract that they can stash in the minors for $275 000. It was essentially picking up Joel Armia for Simon Bourque again, getting a player for a contract that was encumbering us on the 50-contract limit. Michael Chaput has convincingly demonstrated during his time with the Canucks that he's a great AHL player.
Marc Bergevin re-signed Jordan Weal this summer to a two-year deal at $1.4M, which I thought would cost us a little bit should he be sent to Laval, but then again could/should act as waiver insurance for us, most teams would pass at picking up that contract. Meanwhile, we numerous Canadiens fans give Geoff Molson enough money that he can reinvest it like this, we can afford him in the minors, on the bottom line. Although now I don't think the minors will be an issue, Claude Julien professed his love for him early in camp, and right now the pre-season production and performance bear that out.
Jordan Weal is going to be a sneaky difference maker on the Habs top powerplay unit. Make him the main facilitator of the puck at the right boards and either low-to-bumper, direct to bumper or up to the point. He's going to do well in this role. #Habs #WealDeal https://t.co/6Gi7Cii3F0 pic.twitter.com/Ofjl14Q6wN— Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) September 22, 2019
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