Marc Bergevin may have a right-handed offensive defenseman on his radar
If Chris Wideman is ever unable to secure a starting spot with the Montreal Canadiens, expect Marc Bergevin to make some calls. According to some rumors, it wouldn't be surprising if the Habs were interested in a player like Sami Vatanen.
Vatanen, a purely offensive right-handed defenseman, could wonderfully complement a defensive defenseman like Ben Chiarot. The 30-year-old Finn was once a fourth-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2009 draft. He has 200 total points, including 47 goals, in 473 career NHL games to date.
Vatanen would be a perfect candidate to round out the Canadiens' defense, as they are sorely lacking in offensive rebounding. The "Vatman", a nickname that was once given to him when he was with the Ducks, is obviously a shadow of his former self since his departure from Anaheim, but he would definitely benefit from another chance in the NHL, especially in Montreal. The Montreal organization already has a few Finns on the team, including Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Armia, which could be a good motivation for him to sign in Quebec.
A one-season contract of lesser value could clearly be an option for both sides. Vatanen underperformed last year with the Devils and Stars, so he couldn't ask for a lot of money even if he wanted to. A tryout contract could also be an option in his case.
Vatanen for one season at $700,000, what do you say? I say yes!
Here are some of his highlights:
