Alex Picard and Ryan O’Byrne face uncertain future with the Montreal Canadiens
The return of defenceman Andrei Markov to the Montreal Canadiens’ line-up brings both good and bad news. The good news is that Markov’s return will help to revive the Habs’ struggling
power play. Before going down with a torn anterior cruciate ligament during the 2009-10 playoffs, Markov served as the quarterback on Montreal’s once-potent power play alignment.
With Markov back in the fold, the Habs’ power play woes may finally come to an end. However, the bad news that comes with Markov’s return is the uncertain future that fellow defenders
Alex Picard and Ryan O’Byrne face.
O’Byrne has not seen very much action thus far, playing in only three of the Habs’ first nine games. Offseason acquisition Picard has filled his spot on the blue line. He has been paired
with rookie P.K. Subban, and the two have proven to be a productive pair. Picard has scored a goal during his time with the Habs, while O’Byrne has yet to put up any points.
Markov’s arrival creates several different scenarios for the team. They can choose to keep an extra defenceman on their roster, bringing the total to 22 players. However, the Canadiens
can choose to send either O’Byrne or Picard down to the Hamilton Bulldogs, their American Hockey League affiliate, if possible.
The difference between what happens to these two players is the kind of contract each one is signed to. O’Byrne is signed to a one-way contract, and will make $1.4 million this season.
If the Habs send him down to the AHL, they would gain $350,000 in additional salary cap space. If Picard, who is signed to a two-way contract, gets sent down, his salary would decrease from $600,000 U.S. to only $105,000 Canadian.
Another option that Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier may need to consider is the possibility of trading O’Byrne. While O’Byrne has not done anything to alter his reputation during
his time in the press box, he appears to have lost the faith of the team’s coaching staff.
The Canadiens are coming off a 5-3 home win over the New York Islanders, whom they’ll face again on Friday, 29 October at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
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