Confirmed Trade: [MTL/NSH] Alexandre Carrier for Justin Barron

[jfhabs]

It's not your traditional salary dump because Carrier can play, he's just making more than he should be and Brunette has been playing him in a much larger role than he should be.

Carrier is a good solid #5 and can be a decent #4 if he has the right partner, but they were basically playing him as a #3 trying to lead another pairing and he's jut not that guy. Carrier is a solid supporting defender that will chip in some offense here and there and won't kill you defensively as long as you don't try and give him a ton of minutes.

His size and strength cause him issues, and it also leads to being injured just about every season. Barron is apparently soft? well Carrier isn't far from that on his own. He seems to find himself on his knees in the corners way too much.

Barron isn't soft physically, he has a good frame and is not weak, he's just scared...

We'll see about Carrier, I don't love the deal for Montreal, maybe we could've made better use of that cap space... I'll wait and see what they do come TDL and how Carrier does to judge.

 

[wedge]

I really thought Barron would improve this year. The spot was his to lose and, with Reinbacher's injury, there wasn't really any threat. Some defensemen need more time than others and I really thought that would be the case with him. Sadly, it didn't happen. He didn't do anything offensively and was just... bad. I'm glad he's now gone, tbh. He could still blossom without the pressure but, meh... I think Carrier will stabilize our defense and will help a lot.

 

[Armourboy]

Good trade for both teams. Carrier is exactly what the habs need. A reliable RHD that is defensively minded. We don't need a Justin Barron right now.

Carrier is not defensively minded. He tries his best to make plays like Josi, but obviously he ain't Josi.

 

[bossram]

Yeah guys, I don't think Trotz knows what he's doing.

 

[BKarchitect]

The real mistake was Armia over Lehkonen. Bergevin chose Joel. There wasn't room for both.

There’s no world Armia would have returned a recent first round pick RHD and a second round pick. If Barron were actually good, the trade would’ve been fine for a rebuilding team. The problem wasn’t the value of the trade, it’s pro-scouting failure on Barron.

 

[pth2]

What a mistake that Lehkonen trade was...

On the one hand, yes.

However, you can't judge deals in hindsight - it's all part of a rebuild the Habs chose to go for, and they won other deals outrageously, and it tends to even out. (I'm thinking of Kulak for the 2nd rounder that got us Hutson).

There’s no world Armia would have returned a recent first round pick RHD and a second round pick. If Barron were actually good, the trade would’ve been fine for a rebuilding team. The problem wasn’t the value of the trade, it’s pro-scouting failure on Barron.

Well, that was actually later on, it's when Lehkonen got a short-term deal and Armia got a much longer one that the decision was made to a certain extent. From then on, Lehk was readily tradable, Armia was not.

 

[BLNY]

Shows bad judge of hockey talent though. What I getting at. Hughes obviously had no idea on Barron. Newhook is similar and Dach. We gave up a good first pick in Dach trade. Altogether those 3 players costs us 4 first round picks. Lekhonen was worth a first all day long. He was solid player

Hindsight is 20/20 and ignoring that we got three first back in all that movement is revisionist to say the least.

At the time of the Lehkonen trade, a second and a former first was considered strong value. Barron had promise at the time of the trade. I would have kept lehks over Armia, but the clubs hands were pretty well tied.

We gave up a first and a third for Dach. The first was acquired in the Romanov trade, so Romanov and a pick for Kirby. Dach looked strong the first year with Monahan, and came to camp in 2023 with a boat load of confidence. It takes time to come back from the kind of injury he had. If at all. There was risk regarding injury history, but I think it was a low-risk move.

Is Newhook the player that took steps last year and put up good second line pace, or is he the player that's hit the skids this year? It's probably the worst value of all the moves.

In - a 25th overall, a 3rd overall, and a 16th overall. Three firsts.

Out - a second (Romanov), a second (Lehkonen), a 4th round pick, a first round pick (Nazar), a 3rd (Fairbrother), a 1st, and a 2nd.

On the face, 3 firsts for two first, two 2nds, a 3rd and a 4th.

There’s no world Armia would have returned a recent first round pick RHD and a second round pick. If Barron were actually good, the trade would’ve been fine for a rebuilding team. The problem wasn’t the value of the trade, it’s pro-scouting failure on Barron.

It's a hedge. Barron had strong offensive upside and only a year under his belt. They thought he could develop his game. At 23, he still could, but it was time to move. So is holding any grudges.

 

[Viqsi]

Nashville at the bottom of the league can afford to goof around and feed him minutes and see what happens.

The exasperating thing is that we've had several guys we can and should do that with but Bruno keeps refusing to do so. Some of those guys have since been waived and/or traded for pennies. If the stories that Trotz was really interested in him specifically are accurate maybe we'll see things go differently with Barron, but I wouldn't be holding my breath.

 

[JoeSakic13]

Barron is absolutely gutless and one of the biggest disgraces I’ve ever seen wear a Habs jersey

Hopefully Carrier is at least able to take an NHL shift

 

[Top 6 Spaling]

Carrier is not defensively minded. He tries his best to make plays like Josi, but obviously he ain't Josi.

Yep - not having good offensive stats doesn't mean he's defensively minded

 

[Jeune Poulet]

Trading Savard is out the window then?

Not necessarily but Savard is a great fit for our team. With Matheson, Guhle, Hutson and Xhekaj on the left, we need stabilizing presences on the right side.

I think they'll keep their options open, particularly at the deadline. But I think it's just as likely that he'll re-sign for cheap with the Habs than be traded.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Barron was mistake for Habs. Lekhonen was good hockey player

Don't forget about the magic trade tree !

The 2nd rouder obtained from Colorado was involved in the trade that brought Michael Hage to the Canadiens.

 

[samsagat]

Not exactly a blockbuster trade so yeah, obviously both players got some flaws...

Barron is 6'2" 200 pds but playing like a fearful sissy.

Carrier is 5'11" 175 pds with some strength issues. Plus his salary.

 

[EveryDay]

Nashville have the best penalty kill in the NHL and Carrier was on the first pairing, he must be good defensively. He was on the 1st wave as well the past years.

Outside of this year, he look like a solid #4.

 

[pth2]

Not necessarily but Savard is a great fit for our team. With Matheson, Guhle, Hutson and Xhekaj on the left, we need stabilizing presences on the right side.

I think they'll keep their options open, particularly at the deadline. But I think it's just as likely that he'll re-sign for cheap with the Habs than be traded.

IMO this trade makes it more likely he gets moved, plus, he's clearly slowed down. I wouldn't mind re-signing him for a year, but no more.

 

[pth2]

For anyone who cares, I was asking for a F for Barron a year ago:

Value of: - Justin Barron for a F

Montreal has a *lot* of young D, including RD Mailloux who is doing well in the AHL and RD Reinbacher who they invested a top 5 draft position in. Currently, with Savard and Kovacevic doing ok, and Guhle showing the ability to play RD, I wonder if Justin Barron might be available. He's still...

forums.hfboards.com

 

[Petes2424]

Change of scenery type of move for Carrier, and Barron as well. Who’s just entered a not so enviable position, as a young dman.

A now “former” Top Prospect, who’s already had two teams give up on him, and he’s barely turned 23. Usually that means he has a fundamental issue, and with him it’s not physical talent. There’s great dmen in this league with far less physical talent.

Barron just doesn’t process, or “think the game” at the level to be a very good NHL dman. He also needs that dreaded extra second to make decisions. An extra second that just doesn’t exist in the NHL. So he forces everything.

Those who overcome this, usually have to go back to the basics, and with a few years of maturity and experience, can become a solid, bottom pairing Dman. Usually nothing more though. Problem is, they generally have to bounce around the league, spend time in the AHL, etc. NHL teams just aren’t into developing bottom pairing guys, at the NHL level.

The Avs seen this early and Montreal is at a point now, they can’t afford to keep letting him gain that experience on their NHL roster.

There will be some trying to sell this deal as, “you have to pay for a good, young dman, so Carrier must be a great add.” No. Paying for a good young Dman prospect, was sending a budding U20 prospect like Kiiskinen and a 2nd round pick for Gibson. Not a struggling 5/6 at over $3 million.

Both players in this deal, are being traded because they need a new opportunity.

Neither team wanted to be in this position, and dealt with the issue. Nashville just handed a 5/6, over $3 million AAV, thinking he’d turned into a 4, and he’s having a pretty bad year in Nashville. While Barron just keeps treading water.

Carrier will be looked at, to come home to Quebec, and be one of those veterans in the room on that D-Core. Problem is, he’s always needed protection himself. He played a lot last year (his best year) with Lauzon but it’s the time he played with McDonagh last year, when he was at his best. Protected. Playing a supporting role.

If he can find that role in Montreal, it’ll likely flip this trade for them, as Nashville honestly shouldn’t expect much from Barron finding any light switch. Right now, Nashville wins the trade, because they were able to trade a 5/6 making over $3 million with term, for a 6/7 Dman with upside still, at 1/3rd of the cost.

As for Barron, this is it. The big red flag that he hasn’t been able to shake in Montreal, was Colorado trading him so soon. Teams just don’t trade 6’2” Dmen with offensive upside during their ELC, unless he has a fundamental flaw they missed when drafting him. So it’s always a red flag, and he’s shown nothing to suggest Colorado made a mistake, moving him so early.

The Preds will try sheltering him, and hope something finally clicks.. Maybe playing on a team with Luke Schenn will be good for him. Maybe he can mentor him being through what he experienced. Knowing he doesn’t need to be what he was drafted to be.

Likely not Barron’s last stop though. Could find himself on waivers soon, as like I said, NHL teams aren’t in the business of developing bottom pairing Dmen at the NHL level.

We’ll see, but it’s a good change of scenery trade for both teams. Montreal needs more stability on their back-end and can absorb that AAV if he’s bad, and Nashville needs to change things up.

Doubt we ever look back at this as core altering trade.

 

[Andy]

About Barron's game: habs fans are incredibly dramatic and when they get a whipping boy, they exaggerate how bad that person is. And a whole contingent are mad that Barron was the return for Lekhonen (even though most didn't Lekhonen would end up the player he is now) which adds to the exaggerated takes.

Again, Barron has a great tool box. Smooth skater, good first passer, can roam in the offensive zone (though does this way less than he used to), has good offensive instincts. Has the ability to skate end-to-end (again does this way less than he used to).

The issue is the processor and poise. Just panics with the puck on his stick when about to be challenged. He will fumble the puck in his feet and then get check off the puck. Or he will make an inaccurate pass and it turn over all because he's being pressured. He doesn't know how to stay calm when being challenged.

The other issue is if the cycle is a little fast, he will lose his man fairly quickly.

Barron just hasnt learned the pace of the nhl yet. Maybe it's an experience thing? It's possible. He's still so young. I liked him as a defenseman, but at some point you need to show progress. He seems to not be able to get over the pace and poise hump. The only thing holding him back.

 

[MasterMatt25]

I'm gonna miss Barron. Wishing him all the best

 

[Andy]

Change of scenery type of move for Carrier, and Barron as well. Who’s just entered a not so enviable position, as a young dman.

A now “former” Top Prospect, who’s already had two teams give up on him, and he’s barely turned 23. Usually that means he has a fundamental issue, and with him it’s not physical talent. There’s great dmen in this league with far less physical talent.

Barron just doesn’t process, or “think the game” at the level to be a very good NHL dman. He also needs that dreaded extra second to make decisions. An extra second that just doesn’t exist in the NHL. So he forces everything.

Those who overcome this, usually have to go back to the basics, and with a few years of maturity and experience, can become a solid, bottom pairing Dman. Usually nothing more though. Problem is, they generally have to bounce around the league, spend time in the AHL, etc. NHL teams just aren’t into developing bottom pairing guys, at the NHL level.

The Avs seen this early and Montreal is at a point now, they can’t afford to keep letting him gain that experience on their NHL roster.

There will be some trying to sell this deal as, “you have to pay for a good, young dman, so Carrier must be a great add.” No. Paying for a good young Dman prospect, was sending a budding U20 prospect like Kiiskinen and a 2nd round pick for Gibson. Not a struggling 5/6 at over $3 million.

Both players in this deal, are being traded because they need a new opportunity.

Neither team wanted to be in this position, and dealt with the issue. Nashville just handed a 5/6, over $3 million AAV, thinking he’d turned into a 4, and he’s having a pretty bad year in Nashville. While Barron just keeps treading water.

Carrier will be looked at, to come home to Quebec, and be one of those veterans in the room on that D-Core. Problem is, he’s always needed protection himself. He played a lot last year (his best year) with Lauzon but it’s the time he played with McDonagh last year, when he was at his best. Protected. Playing a supporting role.

If he can find that role in Montreal, it’ll likely flip this trade for them, as Nashville honestly shouldn’t expect much from Barron finding any light switch. Right now, Nashville wins the trade, because they were able to trade a 5/6 making over $3 million with term, for a 6/7 Dman with upside still, at 1/3rd of the cost.

As for Barron, this is it. The big red flag that he hasn’t been able to shake in Montreal, was Colorado trading him so soon. Teams just don’t trade 6’2” Dmen with offensive upside during their ELC, unless he has a fundamental flaw they missed when drafting him. So it’s always a red flag, and he’s shown nothing to suggest Colorado made a mistake, moving him so early.

The Preds will try sheltering him, and hope something finally clicks.. Maybe playing on a team with Luke Schenn will be good for him. Maybe he can mentor him being through what he experienced. Knowing he doesn’t need to be what he was drafted to be.

Likely not Barron’s last stop though. Could find himself on waivers soon, as like I said, NHL teams aren’t in the business of developing bottom pairing Dmen at the NHL level.

We’ll see, but it’s a good change of scenery trade for both teams. Montreal needs more stability on their back-end and can absorb that AAV if he’s bad, and Nashville needs to change things up.

Doubt we ever look back at this as core altering trade.

perfect post. Close thread.

 

[Hacketts]

Change of scenery type of move for Carrier, and Barron as well. Who’s just entered a not so enviable position, as a young dman.

A now “former” Top Prospect, who’s already had two teams give up on him, and he’s barely turned 23. Usually that means he has a fundamental issue, and with him it’s not physical talent. There’s great dmen in this league with far less physical talent.

Barron just doesn’t process, or “think the game” at the level to be a very good NHL dman. He also needs that dreaded extra second to make decisions. An extra second that just doesn’t exist in the NHL. So he forces everything.

Those who overcome this, usually have to go back to the basics, and with a few years of maturity and experience, can become a solid, bottom pairing Dman. Usually nothing more though. Problem is, they generally have to bounce around the league, spend time in the AHL, etc. NHL teams just aren’t into developing bottom pairing guys, at the NHL level.

The Avs seen this early and Montreal is at a point now, they can’t afford to keep letting him gain that experience on their NHL roster.

There will be some trying to sell this deal as, “you have to pay for a good, young dman, so Carrier must be a great add.” No. Paying for a good young Dman prospect, was sending a budding U20 prospect like Kiiskinen and a 2nd round pick for Gibson. Not a struggling 5/6 at over $3 million.

Both players in this deal, are being traded because they need a new opportunity.

Neither team wanted to be in this position, and dealt with the issue. Nashville just handed a 5/6, over $3 million AAV, thinking he’d turned into a 4, and he’s having a pretty bad year in Nashville. While Barron just keeps treading water.

Carrier will be looked at, to come home to Quebec, and be one of those veterans in the room on that D-Core. Problem is, he’s always needed protection himself. He played a lot last year (his best year) with Lauzon but it’s the time he played with McDonagh last year, when he was at his best. Protected. Playing a supporting role.

If he can find that role in Montreal, it’ll likely flip this trade for them, as Nashville honestly shouldn’t expect much from Barron finding any light switch. Right now, Nashville wins the trade, because they were able to trade a 5/6 making over $3 million with term, for a 6/7 Dman with upside still, at 1/3rd of the cost.

As for Barron, this is it. The big red flag that he hasn’t been able to shake in Montreal, was Colorado trading him so soon. Teams just don’t trade 6’2” Dmen with offensive upside during their ELC, unless he has a fundamental flaw they missed when drafting him. So it’s always a red flag, and he’s shown nothing to suggest Colorado made a mistake, moving him so early.

The Preds will try sheltering him, and hope something finally clicks.. Maybe playing on a team with Luke Schenn will be good for him. Maybe he can mentor him being through what he experienced. Knowing he doesn’t need to be what he was drafted to be.

Likely not Barron’s last stop though. Could find himself on waivers soon, as like I said, NHL teams aren’t in the business of developing bottom pairing Dmen at the NHL level.

We’ll see, but it’s a good change of scenery trade for both teams. Montreal needs more stability on their back-end and can absorb that AAV if he’s bad, and Nashville needs to change things up.

Doubt we ever look back at this as core altering trade.

8 years later, they both have won the Norris.

 

[herzausstein]

Change of scenery type of move for Carrier, and Barron as well. Who’s just entered a not so enviable position, as a young dman.

A now “former” Top Prospect, who’s already had two teams give up on him, and he’s barely turned 23. Usually that means he has a fundamental issue, and with him it’s not physical talent. There’s great dmen in this league with far less physical talent.

Barron just doesn’t process, or “think the game” at the level to be a very good NHL dman. He also needs that dreaded extra second to make decisions. An extra second that just doesn’t exist in the NHL. So he forces everything.

Those who overcome this, usually have to go back to the basics, and with a few years of maturity and experience, can become a solid, bottom pairing Dman. Usually nothing more though. Problem is, they generally have to bounce around the league, spend time in the AHL, etc. NHL teams just aren’t into developing bottom pairing guys, at the NHL level.

The Avs seen this early and Montreal is at a point now, they can’t afford to keep letting him gain that experience on their NHL roster.

There will be some trying to sell this deal as, “you have to pay for a good, young dman, so Carrier must be a great add.” No. Paying for a good young Dman prospect, was sending a budding U20 prospect like Kiiskinen and a 2nd round pick for Gibson. Not a struggling 5/6 at over $3 million.

Both players in this deal, are being traded because they need a new opportunity.

Neither team wanted to be in this position, and dealt with the issue. Nashville just handed a 5/6, over $3 million AAV, thinking he’d turned into a 4, and he’s having a pretty bad year in Nashville. While Barron just keeps treading water.

Carrier will be looked at, to come home to Quebec, and be one of those veterans in the room on that D-Core. Problem is, he’s always needed protection himself. He played a lot last year (his best year) with Lauzon but it’s the time he played with McDonagh last year, when he was at his best. Protected. Playing a supporting role.

If he can find that role in Montreal, it’ll likely flip this trade for them, as Nashville honestly shouldn’t expect much from Barron finding any light switch. Right now, Nashville wins the trade, because they were able to trade a 5/6 making over $3 million with term, for a 6/7 Dman with upside still, at 1/3rd of the cost.

As for Barron, this is it. The big red flag that he hasn’t been able to shake in Montreal, was Colorado trading him so soon. Teams just don’t trade 6’2” Dmen with offensive upside during their ELC, unless he has a fundamental flaw they missed when drafting him. So it’s always a red flag, and he’s shown nothing to suggest Colorado made a mistake, moving him so early.

The Preds will try sheltering him, and hope something finally clicks.. Maybe playing on a team with Luke Schenn will be good for him. Maybe he can mentor him being through what he experienced. Knowing he doesn’t need to be what he was drafted to be.

Likely not Barron’s last stop though. Could find himself on waivers soon, as like I said, NHL teams aren’t in the business of developing bottom pairing Dmen at the NHL level.

We’ll see, but it’s a good change of scenery trade for both teams. Montreal needs more stability on their back-end and can absorb that AAV if he’s bad, and Nashville needs to change things up.

Doubt we ever look back at this as core altering trade.

Pretty well reasoned by both sides. Nashville is pretty thin on RHD so maybe he can turn things around there but he needs consistent playing time and Bruno has not afforded that to young players that make mistakes so i dont really see this happening with Barron. I see waivers or the pressbox in Barron's future but atleast we arent paying 3.75 million on Carrier so Im content no matter what happens at this point

 

[pth2]

Doubt we ever look back at this as core altering trade.

True. The only "core" part of it is it shows how far Barron fell out of Montreal's potential future core to become a reclamation project for another team.

 

[pth2]

About Barron's game: habs fans are incredibly dramatic and when they get a whipping boy, they exaggerate how bad that person is. And a whole contingent are mad that Barron was the return for Lekhonen (even though most didn't Lekhonen would end up the player he is now) which adds to the exaggerated takes.

Again, Barron has a great tool box. Smooth skater, good first passer, can roam in the offensive zone (though does this way less than he used to), has good offensive instincts. Has the ability to skate end-to-end (again does this way less than he used to).

The issue is the processor and poise. Just panics with the puck on his stick when about to be challenged. He will fumble the puck in his feet and then get check off the puck. Or he will make an inaccurate pass and it turn over all because he's being pressured. He doesn't know how to stay calm when being challenged.

The other issue is if the cycle is a little fast, he will lose his man fairly quickly.

Barron just hasnt learned the pace of the nhl yet. Maybe it's an experience thing? It's possible. He's still so young. I liked him as a defenseman, but at some point you need to show progress. He seems to not be able to get over the pace and poise hump. The only thing holding him back.

Interesting point, in that I too remember better things from him early on. I wonder if he got burned a few times too many, lost confidence in his offensive game, and dialed it down too much, or at the wrong times, since it's been a while since I saw the Petry-level potential in him.

 

[Andy]

Interesting point, in that I too remember better things from him early on. I wonder if he got burned a few times too many, lost confidence in his offensive game, and dialed it down too much, or at the wrong times, since it's been a while since I saw the Petry-level potential in him.

He just doesnt roam anymore. He would often skate end to end, or take the puck at the blue line and do a couple of laps until he found an opening. Haven't seen that all year long.