DUBNYK TO MONTREAL
The Montreal Canadiens acquired goalie Devan Dubnyk from the Nashville Predators for future considerations.
What does it give the Montreal Canadiens
With superstar No. 1 netminder {P Carey Price} recently placed on Injured Reserve due to a lower body injury, the contending Habs need more depth down the stretch at a key position. Enter Dubnyk, who looked poised to break out heading into this season but then flopped with both the Oilers and the Predators. There were whispers about Dubnyk's conditioning level following his move to Nashville, so Montreal fans can't be too excited about this. That said, he is sure to be an inexpensive insurance policy behind top backup {P Peter Budaj}, and Dubnyk certainly has plenty to prove (as he's headed to unrestricted free agency this summer).
What does it give the Nashville Predators
The recent return to action of star goalie {P Pekka Rinne} made Dubnyk expendable, especially since {P Carter Hutton} stepped up and outplayed Dubnyk while Rinne was injured. Clearly the Preds aren't getting much in return for Dubnyk, but as a small-market, cost-conscious club they save a bit of money down the stretch while clarifying their pecking order in goal. With the promising {P Marek Mazanek} in the picture, there was just no room for underachieving Dubnyk.
Fantasy impact
We find it hard to fathom Dubnyk playing much of a role for Montreal down the stretch or in the playoffs, but stranger things have happened. He's not a fantasy-viable pickup (even though he moves to a better team here), and even if Budaj somehow gets hurt or seriously struggles, we can see Montreal taking a chance on the talented {P Dustin Tokarski} as quickly as they would on Dubnyk. Then again, stranger things have happened than a skilled goaltender getting hot with a change of scenery, and it's notable Dubnyk is still pretty young (27) was once a 1st-round draft pick (in 2004).
