The NHL is a league where shrewd trades can make or break a franchise. A well-executed swap can propel a team to Stanley Cup glory, while a poorly conceived one can haunt a franchise for years. Unfortunately for the Montreal Canadiens, the June 15, 2017 trade that sent Mikhail Sergachev to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Jonathan Drouin firmly falls into the latter category. It’s a deal that will be forever etched in the annals of Canadiens history as one of the worst the franchise has ever made.
At the time, the trade seemed like a reasonable gamble. Drouin, a skilled forward with Québécois roots, was coming off a 53-point season with the Lightning and was seen as a potential offensive catalyst for the Canadiens. Sergachev, while a promising young defenseman, was still largely unproven.
However, the trade quickly soured for Montreal. Drouin struggled to live up to expectations, battling inconsistency and injuries throughout his tenure with the Canadiens. He never eclipsed the 53-point mark he achieved in his final season with Tampa Bay and was ultimately bought out of his contract in 2022.
Meanwhile, Sergachev blossomed into a star defenseman for the Lightning. He played a key role in Tampa Bay’s back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021 and their return to the Stanley Cup Final in 2022. His offensive prowess from the blue line, combined with his solid defensive play, made him an invaluable asset for the Lightning.
The Drouin/Sergachev Trade: A Historical Blunder
This trade goes beyond a simple case of “what could have been” for the Canadiens. It’s a stark reminder of the importance of proper player evaluation and the need for patience in developing young talent. Sergachev, at the time of the trade, was only 19 years old. The Canadiens, eager for immediate offensive help, opted for the known commodity in Drouin rather than nurturing the potential of Sergachev. This impatience cost them dearly.
The Drouin for Sergachev trade joins a long list of infamous NHL deals that have left fans shaking their heads in disbelief. Trades like Cam Neely and a first-round pick to Boston for Barry Pederson, Joe Thornton to San Jose for Brad Stuart, Marco Sturm, and Wayne Primeau, and Zdeno Chara and a first-round pick (Jason Spezza) to Ottawa for Alexei Yashin all serve as cautionary tales of how quickly a trade can backfire.
The sting of this trade will likely be felt in Montreal for years to come. As Sergachev continues to excel now with the Utah Hockey Club, Canadiens fans will be left to wonder what could have been if the team had shown more faith in their young defenseman. It’s a harsh lesson learned, but one that hopefully will inform future decisions for the Canadiens organization.
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