“…with respect to Gauthier and the Montreal Canadiens, I’m not suggesting that they are not involved in trade conversations. Gauthier does an excellent job of keeping things way under the radar. He, as you guys know, isn’t the type of general manager that responds to emails, texts or returns calls from hockey insiders…” — Darren Dreger, TSN

By Stevo, AllHabs.net

MONTREAL, QC. — With the NHL trade deadline less than one day away, you would think that a category-5 hurricane has struck the heart of Montreal as trade rumors are swirling around the city at an alarming rate.

In the social media age we live in today, it doesn’t take long for these rumors, as non-nonsensical as they may sound, to have an infectious effect on people and get them going in all sorts of directions.

J.P. Dumont is a prime example.  It was reported in the media this morning that J.P. Dumont might be on the verge of being traded, considering he’s been a healthy scratch for the past two games.  Some went on to say he might be even ready to lift his no trade clause (NTC) to come to Montreal.

With the Nashville Predators this season, Dumont has been relegated to a fourth line role, he has 9 goals and 8 assists, and has a full year left on his contract, at four million dollars.  It doesn’t take much more than this to realize that Dumont is exactly what the Montreal Canadiens do NOT need.

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The story was quickly picked up by rumormongers and the story on twitter all day was J.P. Dumont, as fans argued the improbability of him being a Montreal Canadien by 3pm tomorrow.  Fans are dying for something to talk about, and I do not say this with one ounce of criticism what-so-ever.

It was recently reported by Pierre LeBrun that the rumor was not true to begin with.

“There’s no truth to any of it,” David Poile, Predators general manager told ESPN.com. “J.P. has a no-movement clause and I haven’t spoken to him about it.”

What is funny about all of these rumors is that although some do come out of the media, many are mostly coming out, or being picked up and fueled by non-credible sources, mainly twitter accounts owned by people who remain anonymous but claim to have “inside” information.

Here are the descriptions of two of these accounts which I do not even want to name, as I do not want to encourage their behavior:

• Example #1:  I share NHL rumors and info my sources let me release..often rumors will not happen, alot goes on behind the scenes, if you don’t like it..simply…UNFOLLOW
• Example #2:  Worked for 4 NHL teams. Retired and live in native Montreal. Many contacts within the league. Remain anonymous. Trade breaker.

If you feel these descriptions reflect credible sources of information, then it is your choice to follow and trust them, but I prefer to stand on the other side of the fence.

As TSN’s hockey insider Darren Dreger put it, Pierre Gauthier “keeps things way under the radar”.

Let’s just say he’s no Brian Burke.  In contrast to Burke, Gauthier remains behind the scenes, sometimes a little too much, but there’s something to be admired there.  While some general managers seek the spotlight, crave the attention, and like to have their face in the news, Gauthier on the other hand is the complete opposite.

He’s quiet, reserved, rarely makes appearances in front of the camera, and leaves everyone hanging in suspense.

So if the hockey insiders at TSN can’t get anything out of Pierre Gauthier, and since it appears to be the same for the people at RDS (Renaud Lavoie, who is closest to the team has not broken any news on the Canadiens leading up the trade deadline), then why exactly are people believing and/or contributing to these rumors from often nameless sources?

In the case of Montreal, the answer to me is simple and there are two factors that contribute to it.

1. The most immense fan base of the NHL is constantly in need to be fed information.
2. Pierre Gauthier and Jacques Martin are some of the best there is at not providing any information.

Without clear direction from the Montreal Canadiens organization, fans are left with nothing more than rumors to go by, and therefore the rumors unfortunately have their desired effect, they get people talking.

Yet while everybody is talking, the one in the best position to provide any clarity, Pierre Gauthier says nothing at all, and the silence of The Goat continues.

(Photo: André Pichette, La Presse)