The Canuck Way
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Canucks: How do they compare to the Montreal Canadiens? (Part 2)

By Zaahid Lalani

VANCOUVER, BC - MARCH 08: Phillip Danault #24 of the Montreal Canadiens and Antoine Roussel #26 of the Vancouver Canucks battle for the puck during the second period of NHL hockey action at Rogers Arena on March 8, 2021 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - MARCH 08: Phillip Danault #24 of the Montreal Canadiens and Antoine Roussel #26 of the Vancouver Canucks battle for the puck during the second period of NHL hockey action at Rogers Arena on March 8, 2021 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /
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VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 08: Correy Perry #94 of the Montreal Canadiens picks up the loose puck. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 08: Correy Perry #94 of the Montreal Canadiens picks up the loose puck. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

Unlike the Canucks, the Canadiens aren’t bogged down with heavy, dead-weight contracts for their veteran players.

During the offseason, Bergevin went out and signed Corey Perry to a one-year deal worth $750,000. At the deadline, he acquired centre Eric Staal from Buffalo in exchange for third and fifth-round picks. Buffalo also retained 50% of the respective salary, meaning that Staal only accounted for $1.625 million against Montreal’s cap. Add in Perry’s salary, and now you have a GM who was able to spend just under $2.5 million for two veteran players with solid playoff experience.

In 12 games so far, Staal and Perry have combined for four goals and 10 assists, and have formed a rather efficient fourth line for the Canadiens.

In comparison, Canucks’ GM Jim Benning is shelling out $12 million on Loui Eriksson, Antoine Roussel and Jay Beagle. Combined, Beagle and Roussel have recorded three goals and three assists in 34 playoff games. Eriksson has yet to register a point in 10 playoff games with the Canucks.

Benning did try and find some cheap forward talent this year, claiming forwards Jimmy Vesey and Travis Boyd off of waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs, but it didn’t pan out well at all. Both players barely made a dent on the scoresheet during their tenure in Vancouver and, aside from Boyd’s Stanley Cup-winning experience with Washington back in 2018, neither provided much leadership either.

Of course, it’s important to consider the current landscape when you’re analyzing all transactions from this past year. The flat cap, the compressed schedule, and the still-present COVID-19 pandemic implications are three main aspects that most gravitate to. But, regardless of the league’s actions this year, the fact of the matter is that the Canucks shot themselves in the foot many seasons ago with some of their veteran contracts. They won’t be able to improve their bottom-six group, either in the offseason or at the deadline, until these players are off the books for good, and they definitely won’t be able to roll out four effective lines until at least the 2022-23 season.

Next. 10 year anniversary of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. dark

What are your thoughts on the comparisons between the two forward groups? Make sure to drop a comment below, and don’t forget to check out part 3 when it releases!

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