David Savard breaks the silence on Jeff Petry's return, and it is causing a stir
The return of Jeff Petry to Montreal has sparked much discussion, mainly due to the fact that he had requested a trade from the Canadiens in 2022, after a horrible season, leaving a bitter taste among the fans.
Considering that his departure had been unanimously welcomed by the Canadiens' fans when he was sent to Pittsburgh last summer, many are now wondering how his return is being received by the Habs players.
We finally have a glimpse of the players' reaction as David Savard has broken the silence regarding the 35-year-old defenseman's return.
According to Savard's statement, the Quebec native reveals that Hoffman's days were indeed numbered, and the Canadiens' players were aware of it. However, both Savard and CH fans are equally surprised by Petry's return.
He mentions that no one in the team expected Petry to come back to the organization. Although it's still unclear what the future holds for him, whether he will be part of another trade before the start of the season or not, Savard recalled that Petry had gone through tough times with the team in his last season in Montreal.
Petry's wife, Julie, had returned to the United States with their children that year, which significantly affected the defender's morale and performance. Now, with the family reunited and COVID-19 restrictions lifted in Quebec, it remains to be seen if this can change the situation for the Petrys.
One thing is certain, with the salary retention that Kent Hughes negotiated with the Penguins on his contract, Petry's value has increased considerably. It's clear that from now on, the CH's GM is likely to be very patient in order to get the best possible offer for Petry, even if it means waiting during the season before trading him again.
| POLL | ||
When do you think Petry will leave the Canadiens? | ||
| Before the seasons starts | 243 | 69.2 % |
| During the season | 36 | 10.3 % |
| At the trade deadling | 53 | 15.1 % |
| Next summer | 19 | 5.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
