Mixed messages from Montreal, Pacioretty
Canadiens’ captain denies report of a trade request
MONTREAL — Max Pacioretty’s agent has denied a report saying his client has asked to be traded.
Agent Allan Walsh tweeted Tuesday that the Canadiens’ captain has repeatedly expressed his wish to stay in Montreal.
A Radio-Canada report said that three reliable sources confirmed that Pacioretty asked out of Montreal several times. It said he first requested a trade in 2013-14, two years before he was named captain. “Max Pacioretty has stated repeatedly that he loves Montreal and wants to remain in Montreal,” said Walsh. “To this date, he’s never received any offer from Montreal. You can have 3 sources or 10 sources, how many times does Max have to state that he wants to remain in Montreal long term?”
In another Tweet, Walsh said: “Obvious these ‘sources’ are coming from the club. Max will always take the high road and repeats again, he is ready to sign an extension with Montreal TODAY. It was Montreal that traded Max to LA at the draft and it was a DONE DEAL subject to Max signing an extension with LA.”
There were reports in June that a deal to send Pacioretty to the Los Angeles Kings fell through when the two sides did not agree on a contract.
Pacioretty is entering the final year of a team-friendly six-year deal worth US$4.5 million per season and can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2019.
There have been no negotiations on a contract extension, which suggests the Canadiens will try to trade him.
Pacioretty has scored 30 or more goals in five of the last six full NHL seasons, although he slumped to 17 last season.
Flames, defencman Hanifin agree to 6-year contract
CALGARY — The Calgary Flames have locked up defenceman Noah Hanifin.
The club announced Thursday evening that they have signed the restricted free agent to a six-year contract with an annual average salary of US$4.95 million.
The 21-year-old was acquired by the Flames, along with forward Elias Lindholm, from the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this summer in exchange for fellow defenceman Dougie Hamilton, forward Micheal Ferland and NCAA defence prospect Adam Fox.
Hanifin, a Boston native, was drafted fifth overall by the Hurricanes in the 2015 NHL Draft. He scored 18 goals and 83 points in 239 games in his three seasons with Carolina — including career highs with 10 goals and 32 points last season.
Hanifin played for new Flames head coach Bill Peters when he was in Carolina.