Report: Former Leafs fan favourite almost traded to Montreal this season, deal nixed at the last minute
The 2021-22 season was an epic level disappointment for the Montreal Canadiens, who just last year made a Stanley Cup Finals appearance. This season, however, the Habs were off right from the start, due at least in part to the significant injury issues to Shea Weber and Carey Price, but also the loss of shutdown center Phillip Danault in free agency last summer.
Of course the Habs went on to finish last in the league and have won the draft lottery, but at one point during the season they were contemplating pulling off a high profile trade to try to turn things around.
According to Sportsnet's Eric Engels, the Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers had a deal on the table that would have sent defenseman Jeff Petry to Philadelphia in exchange for forward and net-front specialist James Van Reimsdyk and a prospect.
Engels stated that the deal fell apart before the two sides could agree on the prospect that would be included in the deal to balance things out, but he did also state that the Habs and Flyers could reopen negotiations on this deal during the summer.
JVR was one of my absolute favourite Leafs, so for me, I'm thrilled that he deal fell apart and I do hope that the deal doesn't go through at any point this summer because very few things would bother me more than JVR in a Habs jersey.. except maybe Nazem Kadri in a Habs jersey..
| POLL | ||
JUIN 2 | 331 ANSWERS Report: Former Leafs fan favourite almost traded to Montreal this season, deal nixed at the last minute How would you feel if the Habs acquired James Van Reimsdyk? | ||
| Don't care | 221 | 66.8 % |
| Sickened at the thought.. | 35 | 10.6 % |
| He actually makes a lot of sense for the Habs | 16 | 4.8 % |
| He hasn't been a Leaf for years - he's fair game | 59 | 17.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
