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CH goaltender in Edmonton: Xavier Bourgault brought into the conversation by Darren Dreger

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CH goaltender in Edmonton: Xavier Bourgault brought into the conversation by Darren Dreger

Let’s talk about the Oilers. And the Canadiens. And the goalies.

I have a feeling, as I write this, that the Canadiens and the Edmonton Oilers won’t be dancing together to trade a goalie who could “save” the Oilers’ season.

I say save… knowing full well, as I said earlier this morning, that it’s going to take a lot more to make the Oilers win, whose problems aren’t just on the ice.

I know the club needs a goalie, and all indications are that the Alberta outfit is on the case, according to what Elliotte Friedman is reporting on the subject. In his eyes, the club was working on something big.

But I reiterate: adding a goalie won’t magically solve all the Oilers’ problems. We’ve seen clubs with a regular goalie win in the playoffs recently.

So, at this point, I don’t know how many options Edmonton has on the table. Realistic options, I mean.

Anyway, the point is this. All that to say that if you take the file and link it to the Habs, a club that’s tooooooooo much of a talking point when it comes to goaltending this fall, you can make some connections.

But how credible are they?

After all, the CH may be willing to part with a goaltender to put an end to the ménage à trois, but that’s easier said than done. Why is that? Because it depends on the team’s needs.

Darren Dreger was asked about the subject this morning (TSN 690) and the tipster says that Cayden Primeau isn’t a realistic target for the Oilers, who may want an established goaltender.

Would the Oilers be willing to pay for an established NHL goalie knowing that the playoffs are surely already out of reach? After all, if the club wants to pay, I think a lot of people would like to send Jake Allen to Edmonton, for example.

But then again, Dreger didn’t seem sure. Don’t forget that the goalie has a partial no-trade clause.

The informant’s doubts probably stem from the fact that Jake Allen earns $3.85 million a year and the club has $21,308 under the cap. Adding such a contract wouldn’t be easy. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but…

Add to that Renaud Lavoie ‘s comments this morning (BPM Sports ) and we have another layer of uncertainty.

I have my doubts about the Oilers’ interest in Jake Allen. – Renaud Lavoie

Is it because of his injury history? The fact that he’s a #2 goalie when he gets to the Stanley Cup finals? The salary? Kent Hughes’ asking price?

It’s a good question.

And the other option is Samuel Montembeault. Dreger believes he’s not untouchable, but that it would take quite an offer for the Habs to consider trading the player who, by the nature of his contract, would become a rental player.

Of course, if the Oilers wanted a good goalie, Montembeault earns a million dollars a season and he’s very good. But Dreger repeats: the CH wants to keep him to continue its development.

That’s when Dreger says that if the Oilers want him, they’d better wake up early and offer the Habs something like Xavier Bourgault and a pick.

Note that he didn’t say, as reported elsewhere, that the Habs have their eye on Bourgault. We can assume that this is the case because the Quebec prospect’s name has already been circulating in Montreal, but Dreger didn’t mention the CH’s interest as such.

That said, if he did bring up such a name, it’s probably not by chance.

That’s why I don’t think there’s much chance of a CH goalie going to Edmonton right now. That said, if the Oilers change their minds and propose a “Jake Allen and Xavier Bourgault” deal out of desperation…


In brief

– Can’t wait to hear this.

– Calgary’s goaltending is on fire.

– Boxers have been waiting to receive their money for a while.

– There are bad losers… and bad losers.

– Really?

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