Tomas Tatar’s season timeline and grade poll

When the Montreal Canadiens traded Max Pacioretty just before the 2018-19 season began, it wasn’t a total surprise. However, coming out on the winning end of that exchange, in its NHL component alone, was. In Pacioretty’s first season in Sin City, he played just 66 games due to injury and came away with a 40-point season, just three more points in two more games than his previous year with the Canadiens.

Tomas Tatar on the other hand took full advantage of the move. Suiting up for all but two matchups, he ended with a career year in points coming in with 58 points — second only to Max Domi’s 72.

September 10, 2018: Max Pacioretty traded to the Vegas Golden Knights

After months of speculation, the Canadiens traded their captain in the wee hours of the morning to the NHL’s newest organization, the Vegas Golden Knights. In return, they got 2017 first-round pick Nick Suzuki, who was coming off a 100-point season in the OHL, a second-round pick, and veteran Tatar who joined the Knights in the latter part of their inaugural season after spending the majority of his career with the Detroit Red Wings.

September 10, 2018: Instant Analysis: Pacioretty trade brings great potential for the future

Initial thoughts on the trade were an obvious “hell yeah” to the outstanding right-handed centre Suzuki. Tatar wasn’t a disappointment but more along the lines of “not bad, we’ll take him, but Pacioretty is going to leave a big gap.” Little did we know....

October 14, 2018: Tomas Tatar introduces himself to Montreal with a big night

Usually good for a 20-goal season, Tatar fully embraced his clean slate in Montreal. During the fourth game of the season, Tatar tallied a three-point night (2G, 1A) in a 4-3 victory over the Penguins.

April 1, 2019: Montreal Canadiens Organizational Players of March

As the season wound down and the stakes ramped up, Tatar was named EOTP’s March Player of the Month. Forced to miss one game due to the flu, he continued to produce, ending the season just one off the team’s monthly points lead with three goals and seven assists.

August 26, 2019: Tomas Tatar made a name for himself in his first season with Montreal

Going from “we’ll take him” to “TATAAAAHH!,” it’s obvious that he rejuvenated his career in his first season as a Hab. At first nobody was sure where he would fit in. Then he found where he fits — right next to Brendan Gallagher and Phillip Danault.

August 30, 2019: Tomas Tatar provided more value than first expected to the Canadiens

Most people assumed Tatar wasn’t going to be a permanent fixture in the Habs lineup, and were quickly proven wrong. He became an integral part of the team’s success. Even though Tatar enjoyed a bounce-back season last year, there’s no telling what the upcoming season will hold. If it doesn’t go as planned, will he be on the chopping block or be saved for the Seattle expansion? Will an up-and-coming prospect steal his spot or will he continue to build on his amazing season with the Canadiens and keep us cheering him in his resurgence?