Leon Draisaitl in Montreal: Marc Bergevin's Mistake that still Haunts the Organization to this Day
The signing of Denis Gurianov with the Nashville Predators has finally put an end to the trade involving P.K. Subban and Shea Weber made by Marc Bergevin a few years ago.
Indeed, after rendering valuable services to the organization, the contract of the former CH captain was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Evgeny Dadonov, who was then sent to the Dallas Stars to acquire Russian forward Denis Gurianov.
However, a few days before the Subban-Weber trade, several journalists mentioned that a monster trade was about to occur between the Montreal Canadiens and the Edmonton Oilers.
Indeed, according to several very well-informed sources, Marc Bergevin could have gotten Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse or Oscar Klefbom and the 4th overall pick in 2016 for P.K. Subban and the 9th draft pick.
Unfortunately for Tricolore fans, Marc Bergevin reportedly declined this trade, deciding instead to acquire Shea Weber, who was possibly one of the best defenders in the entire NHL at the time.
Although the Canadiens got an excellent player who greatly helped the team reach the Stanley Cup finals in 2021, the Canadiens missed out on a massive trade that would have completely changed the face of the organization for many years.
However, it should be understood that at that time, Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse had just completed their first full season in the NHL. The German forward had shown very promising signs by scoring 51 points in 72 games, while the defender had only amassed 10 points in 69 games, but was still destined for a very promising future.
It hurts to see this today though!
Shea Weber has never played a game with the Canadiens since the team's famous playoff run, while Leon Draisaitl is currently considered one of the top three forwards in the NHL, having recorded 52 goals and 76 assists last season.
As for Darnell Nurse, he has established himself as one of the most complete defenders in the NHL over the years. The 6'4" and 221 lbs defender excels in his own territory and is able to accumulate about forty points per season.
We also must not forget the 4th overall pick that was involved in this trade. The Canadiens could have gotten a star forward in Matthew Tkachuk or even Clayton Keller with this selection. Imagine if the Habs had Leon Draisaitl, Matthew Tkachuk, and Darnell Nurse in their lineup this year, how the scenario would be completely different.
Would the Tricolore have been able to win the Stanley Cup in 2021? The question deserves to be asked! One thing is certain, it is undoubtedly the biggest mistake made by Marc Bergevin.
| POLL | ||
Do you think the Canadiens would have won the Stanley Cup in 2021 if Marc Bergevin had made this trade? | ||
| Yes | 69 | 56.1 % |
| No | 54 | 43.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
