Report: Canadiens pushed hard to reunite Getzlaf and Perry in Montreal at trade deadline

Inside details of a failed trade between the Ducks and Habs to reunite the two Ducks franchise icons.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 2 years ago
Report: Canadiens pushed hard to reunite Getzlaf and Perry in Montreal at trade deadline
Zuma Press

The NHL trade deadline came and went Monday afternoon and I don't think there were many surprised hockey fans to see veteran Ryan Getzlaf stick with the Anaheim Ducks. The 35 year captain is set to pass Teemu Selanne as thee franchise's all-time points leader and will undoubtedly go down in history as one of, if not THE, greatest Duck(s) in history.

Still, there was some chatter that he might waive his no-trade to head four hours East on the I-15 to play for the Vegas Golden Knights. That trade never transpired obviously, but Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reports that the Montreal Canadiens made a push to acquire Getzlaf in the hopes of reuniting him with former Ducks linemate Corey Perry.

From Friedman's most recent 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet:

Montreal did ask about Ryan Getzlaf. They scouted him pretty intently this season, but I don’t believe it was ever a serious possibility. What it indicates is that they were trying to add. Guessing Mike Hoffman was one attempt, since they wanted him before he signed in St. Louis. But they were not willing to meet the price.

For what it's worth Getzlaf is in the final season of a deal that pays him $8.25 million per season. He'll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but does anyone expect him to actually sign anywhere other than Anaheim? Stranger things have happened of course, but I just don't see it. Getzlaf doesn't have to chase a Stanley Cup championship, having won one in his sophomore season of 2006-07, and he's exactly the type of veteran player that you want to keep around for a rebuild. He's not the player he once was, but he's still got a LOT to offer a rebuilding Ducks squad.