On SB Nation's Canadiens blog, Habs Eyes on the Prize, they're trying to make sense of the Jaroslav Halak deal. It's not often, after all, that a playoff hero is traded so quickly after the playoffs during which he makes his name. Our French Canadian correspondents, after some time to think the trade over, have voted thusly: 48% now agree with the trade, although 18% are still "mad as hell" and presumably will not take it anymore.
↵Author Robert L's takeaway is this:
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↵↵↵In one tally of things, Halak fared no better against the Flyers this post season than Price two playoffs back. That is not a judgement on either goaltender. It might not even be a comparision.
↵What it does assess, is that in front of either goaltender, against a particularly tough opponent, the Canadiens as a team, have not progressed. One could say, the Canadiens, as two very different teams in 2008 and 2010, did not get by the Flyers either time.
↵In sum, with what was seen in these recent playoffs, improving the team can improve the goaltending.
↵The Canadiens, faced with the prospect of losing a key free agent in Tomas Plekanec, decided to deal from their position of strength to strengthen the team. That is what good managers do for teams wanting to improve.
↵In improving the team depth wise with this deal, it allows the Canadiens the chance to build and not step back.
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