Six degrees of Craig Rivet (updated)

It is rare to follow a trade long-term. However, the Craig Rivet trade has been fascinating to follow and has multiplied fruitfully for the habs franchise.

Craig Rivet was drafted in the third round by the Habs in 1992 by GM Serge Savard. He had been a high scoring defenceman in junior with the Kingston Frontenacs. He had an above average career with the habs becoming a 3rd or 4th defenceman on the team. He also became an alternate captain and part of the Saku Koivu clique with the habs. He had a memorable long fight with Brian Marchment of the leafs which ended in a draw.

When Savard’s ex-teammate Bob Gainey became GM he decided to trade Rivet to San Jose in 2007. Rivet had had a lengthy career with the habs and the return was interesting even for a 33 year old. The habs received for Rivet an unknown defenceman at the time, Josh Gorges, and a first round pick number 22 overall in 2007. The habs chose Max Pacioretty with this pick.

Josh Gorges became a steady defensive defenceman who also had a lengthy career with the habs. He was named alternate captain as well. Max Pacioretty was a prolific goal scorer during his time with the habs. He was chosen captain of the legendary habs by Bergevin and then coach Michel Therrien. If we stopped here, the habs certainly did well with the Rivet trade.

GM Marc Bergevin decided to trade 30 year old Josh Gorges in 2014 to the Buffalo Sabres in return for a 2016 second round pick. Gorges was becoming less effective after 7 years with the habs. The second round pick was not the Sabres own pick, but a pick they had received from the Minnesota Wild in a deal that included Torrey Mitchell going to the Sabres for Matt Moulson. In 2016, Bergevin traded this second round pick, along with the Habs own second round pick, to the Blackhawks for Andrew Shaw. With the habs second rounder the Hawks chose Alex Debrincat who has been a prolific goal scorer in his first two years with Chicago. However, the Gorges second round pick resulted in the Hawks choosing defenceman Chad Krys who has yet to play an NHL game.

In 2018, Bergevin traded the habs captain Pacioretty to the Las Vegas franchise. The 30 year old Pacioretty had signed a long-term contract early in his career which left him underpaid. He had signed after Chara had broken his neck and probably his future status in hockey made him sign for less than fair market value. Bergevin was unhappy with Pacioretty’s playing style and leadership and sent him packing when his contract was about to end. The Golden Knights gave up under-achieving Tomas Tatar, first round pick Nick Suzuki, and a second round pick. Twenty seven year old Tatar was himself a second round  pick.

In 2019, Bergevin traded the second round pick he acquired in the Pacioretty transaction to the Kings for their third and fifth round pick. The Kings took a Swedish forward with the habs pick, Samuel Fagemo. The habs, in turn chose Swedish defenceman Matthias Norlinder with the third pick, and another Canadian defenceman Jacob Leguerrier  with the fifth pick.

Andrew Shaw, after an injury plagued but productive when healthy stint with the habs, was traded back to the Hawks in 2019 for the hawks second round and seventh round pick in 2020, and their third round pick in 2021. The habs also gave up their seventh round pick in 2021.

Therefore the return for Craig Rivet continues to multiply. Right now, the habs have been able to use in their line-up Josh Gorges, Max Pacioretty, Andrew Shaw, Tomas Tatar, and Nick Suzuki. They also have prospects Norlinder and LeGuerrier and two other draft picks that could become possible future nhlers. Therefore the history of the Rivet trade will continue for an indefinite period

One could credit the original trade made by Bob Gainey and perhaps give him some kudos. Hard to imagine Gainey would have understood the long term ramifications at the time. Especially considering the year before the Rivet trade,  Gainey traded to the same San Jose team his first round pick in exchange for the Sharks first and second round pick. The three players selected Ty Wishart, David Fischer, and Mathieu Carle played a grand total of 30 NHL games in their careers. As the old saying goes can't win em all...