Habs’ rumor of the day: Brett Clark for Jaroslav Halak

From the Denver Post (Adrian Dater):

I think there’s some tire-kicking going around the league right now concerning Avs defenseman Brett Clark. In fact, I’m sure of it.

Brett Clark to Montreal for goalie Jaroslav Halak is one deal I’ve heard being kicked around right now. Like Peter Budaj, Halak is a Slovak. He has also been under the tutelage of Canadiens goalie instructor Roland Melanson, who has been turning out many fine goalies the last few years.
 
We’ll see. I’d say 1 out of every 10 trade rumors actually comes true, so the numbers aren’t there that this could actually happen. But like I said, it seems to make sense for both teams.

Although, Peter Budaj was definitely very good tonight – there, are you happy, Boods fanboys? I just gave him a compliment. But one win over the worst road team in the league isn’t going to make me start throwing true hosannas Boods’ way just yet.

Clark, meanwhile, is in the last year of a contract that pays $3.5 million. As long as Halak is a Canadien, he’s going to be buried behind Carey Price, who might be the best really young goalie in the game.

Habster:

According to the Denver Post, writer Adrian Dater has heard a ton of rumors concerning the Avalanche goaltending situation and how Avs GM Francois Giguere will upgrade the position.

The lastest rumor circulating these days, according to Adrian Dater, is a straight up trade: Halak for Clark. This trade doesn’t make a lot of sense in a few ways:

1. Brett Clark will be an UFA next season making substantial change ($3.5 million to be exact).
2. While Clark has been a solid defenseman over the last three NHL seasons, he is a left handed defenseman, something the Canadiens have a plenitude of. They need a righthanded defenseman with more bite.
3. Bob Gainey needs to build up Jaroslav Halak’s trade value by showcasing him more (hopefully he’ll play better) and waiting until the second half of the season when other teams will be willing to sacrifice more for a quality netminder.

With all that being said, Clark is leading the Avalanche in TOI with 20:48 and blocked shots with 38. He is also the only Avs defenseman in the plus with a respectable, yet low +1.

In the end, it just makes more sense to play the waiting game at this early stage of the 2008-09 season. I also believe Bob Gainey has his eyes on bigger fish in the NHL pond!!!

Updated 08/11/10 at 00h45:

I must apologize for not doing my homework and misleading my readers. I stated above that Brett Clark was eligible to become an UFA at the end of the season but he actually has another year remaining on the two year contract extension he signed in 2007. It’s for $3.5 million per season which is too rich for Gainey to commit to with so many other UFAs to deal with in the off-season…..this rumor is a non-starter from a Bob Gainey/Canadiens’ perspective.