Roman Josi is already frustrated against Justin Barron and the trade is not looking good for Nashville
The trade between the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators, which involved Justin Barron and Alexandre Carrier, continues to spark debate.
As reported by Habs Fanatics, while Canadiens' Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton appear to have secured a significant win, the Predators are seemingly left questioning the move.
Since joining Nashville, Justin Barron has struggled to adapt and reports indicate that Andrew Brunette lacks confidence in him, resulting in limited ice time.
When Barron does play, his performance is underwhelming and according to a journalist covering the team, Roman Josi has expressed visible frustration with Barron's decision-making.
One notable example involved Barron leading an offensive rush, a role typically reserved for Roman Josi, who is granted more offensive freedom than other defensemen under Brunette's system.
Despite these early struggles, some within the organization remain optimistic that Justin Barron can adjust and develop into a dependable defenseman.
However, Barry Trotz may already have regrets about the trade, especially considering Alex Carrier's immediate impact in Montreal.
Carrier has fit really well into Martin St-Louis' system and is quickly establishing himself as a reliable top-four defenseman in Montreal.
His contributions include 4 points in 8 games and a +1 rating and he is complementing the Canadiens' improved overall play since his arrival.
Some observers even see him as a potential long-term replacement for veteran David Savard who might be on the trade market right now.
The one-for-one nature of the trade has amplified the comparison as Hughes avoided adding a draft pick to acquire Carrier.
While the Predators still believe in Barron's long-term potential, the short-term optics favor Montreal, with Carrier proving to be an immediate asset for the Canadiens' blue line.
However, the trade's ultimate evaluation will depend on Barron's development trajectory in Nashville.
| POLL | ||
Do you think the Montreal Canadiens had the best in the trade of Justin Barron for Alex Carrier? | ||
| Yes | 300 | 95.8 % |
| No | 13 | 4.2 % |
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