Predators Acquire Hal Gill

Trade Details:

The Nashville Predators have acquired Hal Gill and a conditional fifth-round draft pick in 2013 from the Montreal Canadiens for Blake Geoffrion, Robert Slaney, and a second-round draft pick in 2012.

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Nashville Predators Acquire:

D. Hal Gill Age: 36 Height: 6-7 Weight: 241 CONTRACT:  Cap-Hit: $2,250,000 Expires: 2012 (UFA) Important Facts: -Was 2nd on the Canadiens in blocked shots with 122 -Led the Canadiens in PK TOI/G with 4:00  -Third in the NHL in PK TOI/G  -Career Plus/Minus of Plus-43 -Has played 105 NHL Playoff games -One Stanley Cup win with the 2008-09 Penguins.

5th Round Draft Pick (2013) ****CONDITIONAL**** Important Facts: -Would be the Canadiens own pick -Will be sent to the Predators if Blake Geoffrion appears in forty games with the Canadiens next season (2012-2013).

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Montreal Canadiens Acquire:

C. Blake Geoffrion Age: 24 Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 CONTRACT:  Cap-Hit: $1,062,000 Expires: 2012 (RFA) Clauses: Two-Way (AHL: $62,500) Important Facts: -Won the 2009-2010 Hobey Baker Memorial Award (NCAA Top Player) -Has played 12 NHL Playoff games, and 42 NHL regular season games -NHL's first fourth generation player    -Great grandfather NHL HOFer Howie Morenz    -Grandfather NHL HOFer/Montreal Canadien Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion    -Father played with Canadiens/Jets Dan Geoffrion

LW. Robert Slaney Age: 23 Height: 6-2 Weight: 203 CONTRACT:  Cap-Hit: $575,000 Expires: 2012 (RFA) Clauses: Two-Way (AHL: $65,000) Important Facts: -Was named Canadian Major Junior's Scholastic Player of the Year (07-08) -Has spent a majority of this season in the ECHL

2nd Round Draft Pick (2012)  Important Facts: -Nashville's own draft pick

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Analysis:

Well this trade makes it official, the trade deadline buzz has officially begun. After two semi-large trades last night, I think its fair to say this is a biggest one thus far. Supposedly quite a few clubs were hoping to acquire Gill, but the Predators came after him very hard. The package they offered was enough to convince the Habs to move their biggest trade chip more than a week before the deadline. They received an impressive array of future assets in Blake Geoffrion, Robert Slaney, and a 2nd-round draft pick.

The Nashville Predators are looking to make a legitimate run for the Stanley Cup and what better way to push that in the right direction than adding an experienced winner like Hal Gill. With over 100 NHL playoff games under his belt Gill will provide the Predators with a leader that will teach his teammates how to win and what it takes to win. For younger team like the Predators that experience will be essential. Along with his big emotional impact on a team, he provides a skill-set that is invaluable to successful clubs. At 6'7, he uses his body to the absolute fullest extent possible, blocking shots and utilizing his reach every chance he can. That defensive dominance makes him one of the best penalty killers in the NHL. With the Canadiens, he led all players in Short Handed Time On Ice and is a big reason why they have the best penalty killing percentage in the league. Although Gill will be very useful to the Predators for the rest of the season, he's set to be an Unrestricted Free Agent following this season. For a 36 year old pending UFA, the Predators gave up a lot more than Gill was worth in my opinion. 

The Canadiens have made there share of dumb moves in the past, but this trade doesn't come close to falling into that category. Although losing Gill will hurt for the rest of this season, I am confident that in a year or two this will be a fantastic trade for the Habs. I am a big fan of Blake Geoffrion and I think he has a lot of potential that will be realized in Montreal. His willingness to play any role that is needed will make him useful to the Canadiens as soon as next season and the expectation is that he'll play bottom-six minutes and work his way up. If he does in fact play every day for the Canadiens next season, the conditional 5th-round draft pick will be sent to Nashville as the condition is based on if he plays 40 NHL games. Regardless of the fifth-round pick, I'm sure the Habs are crossing their fingers that Geoffrion becomes the player he can be. For a guy that is a former Hobey Baker winner and whose grandfather was Habs legend Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, he's got the type of background that you look for in a player. He might not put up great numbers, but he is versatile and effective in many roles. Along with Geoffrion the Canadiens acquired another great asset in the Predators 2nd-round draft pick in 2012. We have seen a handful of 2nd-rounders traded lately which means they will probably be the common currency we see thrown around in the next week. They are always useful due to the interest every team has in them so the choice always remains whether a team wants to move them for instant gratification or hold on to them and add a solid prospect. Although he was included as more of a contract dump, the Habs also received twenty-three year old Robert Slaney. Slaney has spent most of this season in the ECHL where he's looked about average which indicates at least at this point in his hockey career he doesn't look like a 'real' prospect. 

Although I personally believe the Canadiens came out of this trade like bandits, its not fair to say that until we see what the acquisition of Gill does for the Predators. If he was the 'missing piece' and they go onto win the Stanley Cup then I'll change my opinion on this trade, but for right now based on the high quality assets that the Canadiens got for an aging defenseman its no question a big win for them. I think most people expected a trade involving Gill to include a similar package to what the Predators offered minus Geoffrion. Thats what shifts it dramatically towards the Montreal side as Geoffrion will be a solid NHL'er for the Habs and I'm sure he's already a fan favorite give-in the fact that his grandfather was such an important member of Canadiens history.