Report reveals the Montreal Canadiens offered Filip Mesar for Rutger McGroarty
Today a new report from a Slovakian news source has linked the Montreal Canadiens to a trade scenario involving forward prospect Filip Mesar.
In the 2022 NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens made several moves to jumpstart their rebuild. Selecting Juraj Slafkovsky first overall, trading for Kirby Dach, and eventually selecting Filip Mesar in the late first round.
Just a couple of seasons later the Montreal Canadiens have been linked to moving on from Filip Mesar after multiple frustrating seasons. A report from a Slovakian source believes the team offered to trade him in return for Winnipeg Jets' disgruntled prospect Ruger McGroarty.
According to information circulating overseas, Filip Mešár was offered as part of a trade aimed at acquiring Rutger McGroarty from the Winnipeg Jets. However, in addition to the Slovak youth, Montreal would also have to add a draft pick from the Panthers or Flames in 2025 and a young defenseman, perhaps Justin Barron or Jordan Harris. However, Winnipeg seems to be rejecting Kent Hughes' various offers for now.
The trade talks are no surprise to anyone who has followed this situation over the past couple of seasons. Since being drafted Filip Mesar has played in the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers and struggled to stand out like a first-round pick should. When confronted about his lack of success Filip Mesar placed the blame on his teammates. Frustration also began to grow after the Canadiens promised Filip Mesar a place in the AHL for the 2023-24 season but went back on that after just a few games.
"When I was trying to create something, my teammates were there a little late, and that frustrated me a little, but I had to get over it," he said in an interview with Slovak media. This frustration no doubt contributed to the tense atmosphere in his junior team. Mešar's situation was further complicated when the Montreal Canadiens decided to return him to his junior club after a difficult stint with the Laval Rocket, even though they promised him a spot in the farm competition.
The final nail in the coffin for Filip Mesar seems to be the Montreal Canadiens recent prospects camp. According to this source Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes asked Filip Mesar to come to their prospects camp and he declined.
In addition to publicly criticizing his teammates, he turned down Kent Hughes' invitation to attend the Canadiens' development camp. This refusal was seen as a lack of professionalism and dedication. Filip Mešár is now at the bottom of the list of team prospects.
With the Montreal Canadiens adding significant talent to their forward group through the draft with Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage a player like Filip Mesar is more expendable. If the Canadiens can convince another franchise that Filip Mesar still holds the potential that many people saw just 2 short years ago a trade could potentially be made. If not the Montreal Canadiens might just need to make the best of a bad situation with Filip Mesar.
| POLL | ||
12 JUILLET | 72 ANSWERS Report reveals the Montreal Canadiens offered Filip Mesar for Rutger McGroarty Will the Montreal Canadiens end up trading Filip Mesar before the beginning of the 2024-25 NHL season? | ||
| Yes | 40 | 55.6 % |
| No | 32 | 44.4 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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