NHL Trade Rumors: Why Derek Roy Is Not the Answer in Montreal

With the Montreal Canadiens sitting in 13th in the Eastern Conference and 10 points out of eighth, most of the hopes for resurgence this season are starting to become bleak.

That’s why trading for a mediocre forward like Derek Roy is the wrong move.

With 26 points in 50 games, the former 80-point scoring forward has become a shell of the player he once was. That sounds like almost every player the Canadiens already have.

While it’s a bad idea of the Canadiens, there is a better option for the Sabres.

Sabres insider for The Hockey Writers, Fred Poulin is reporting of a rumor coming down the pike again:

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Several reliable sources, including HNIC reporter Elliotte Friedman, report that GM Darcy Regier is dangling Derek Roy as a trade bait to jumpstart his team before the play-off race. The Anaheim Ducks are believed to have looked at both Roy and Drew Stafford when General Manager Bob Murray was in town in late November.

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If somebody else wants to make this mistake, Montreal needs to let them.

I understand that the Canadiens want to be in the playoff hunt this season, but hasty decisions like this always lead to regret later. Derek Roy isn’t the long-term answer for Montreal.

If I was in charge of the Montreal front office, I would begin the implosion of the current team. I would be a major seller at the trade deadline and I'd be moving every piece that I didn’t feel would help my cause for the next three to seven years.

Instead of pushing a weak team to constant eighth place finishes, take three seasons to rebuild and have a perennial winner and maybe even a Stanley Cup contender. The fans would appreciate that more than the team they have now.

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