NHL trade rumors circulated earlier this offseason that Jeff Petry wanted a trade out of Montreal but ultimately the Montreal Canadiens could not reach a deal with a team.
Petry does not want to be part of a rebuild and the Habs will look to trade Petry this summer for some assets to help with the rebuild.
Marco D’Amico of Montreal Hockey Now reports the Habs had a deal in place at the NHL Trade Deadline with one team but it fell through at the last minute.
D’Amico went on to say, Petry does have three years left at an $6.25 million AVV and with teams having expiring contracts and buyouts, it will provide a team with the necessary NHL salary cap flexibility to incorporate Petry’s contract within their salary structure.
It is believed the Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings are the two teams with the most interest in a Petry trade.
I don’t believe there is a market for Petry. I kept hearing Montreal fans say that he can still play defense, but my eyes told me otherwise, seeing him get beat in his own zone repeatedly, even after the coaching change. If the Habs want to rid themselves of his entire salary hit, expect to add a significant sweetener to the deal. There is no appetite for his presence in Detroit. Saying he can be a mentor tells me that he can’t play anymore.