2C or not 2C?

[GrandBison]

There is no easy option. Looks like everyone wants a young 1b center. Beniers would be my first target if Seattle wants to make more room to Wright. But at the cost, maybe it would be more reasonable to take a chance on a 34+ veteran and abosrb the cap and term.

 

[Miller Time]

Give up the same, Who would you rather have Crosby or Horvat?

Crosby... Mostly because of their contract situations and our org depth at C prospects.

Paying Horvat 8.5M for the next 6 years only to have 1 or 2 of Hage, Beck, Kapanen (or longer shots like Koivu, Sawyer, Davidson) bump him out of top 6 or top 9 C minutes is a gamble.

Sid for 2 seasons at same cap hit and then likely 1-2yr extension for less is a much better risk reward scenario

Sid also brings bigger intangible
leadership /winning pedigree variables

 

[Miller Time]

There is no easy option. Looks like everyone wants a young 1b center. Beniers would be my first target if Seattle wants to make more room to Wright. But at the cost, maybe it would be more reasonable to take a chance on a 34+ veteran and abosrb the cap and term.

I doubt he'd be made available, but if he was, he'd be worth making a healthy offer for (& they badly need a LD upgrade, so Matheson might appeal to them as a piece -not the key piece, obviously - in the deal)

 

[GrandBison]

I doubt he'd be made available, but if he was, he'd be worth making a healthy offer for (& they badly need a LD upgrade, so Matheson might appeal to them as a piece -not the key piece, obviously - in the deal)

I think it starts with Guhle more than Matheson

 

[Miller Time]

I think it starts with Guhle more than Matheson

Then I'd say no.

But to be clear, I wasn't implying a deal centered around Matheson as the key/starting piece, only that given their LD needs, they are one of the teams that would likely most value him as far as possible trade partners go.

They've also got thin G pipeline and very few RH forwards.... Other areas we could add decent quality pieces to a deal that ultimately would have to be more "quantity for quality" for it to make sense in our end, imo

 

[Big Lurk]

Beck can be 3C.
Kapanen is 4C
Evans is BUHBYE-C

We need a 2C til Hage is ready.

I havent seen any shred of evidence that Beck and Kapanen can produce any of offense at the NHL level yet. So. No.

I dont want young scrubs. A scrub is a man that can get no love from me. Hanging in the passenger side of his best friend's ride, trying to holler at me.

Ice is earned my friends. Ice is earned.

 

[McGees]

Not sure if it means anything but my friend that works at the airport sent me this photo...

 

[GrandBison]

Then I'd say no.

But to be clear, I wasn't implying a deal centered around Matheson as the key/starting piece, only that given their LD needs, they are one of the teams that would likely most value him as far as possible trade partners go.

They've also got thin G pipeline and very few RH forwards.... Other areas we could add decent quality pieces to a deal that ultimately would have to be more "quantity for quality" for it to make sense in our end, imo

I mean if we have to pay, and I'm a Guhle fan, but most replicable position in our young core is Physical all-around LD as it's easier to find than a RD or a 1-2 C. You already know that we won't get a competent 2nd C by trading Matheson, Mailloux, Engstrom or Struble.

Edit: And I'm talking about a Beniers or an other young center.

 

[Sorinth]

I mean if we have to pay, and I'm a Guhle fan, but most replicable position in our young core is Physical all-around LD as it's easier to find than a RD or a 1-2 C. You already know that we won't get a competent 2nd C by trading Matheson, Mailloux, Engstrom or Struble.

Edit: And I'm talking about a Beniers or an other young center.

Disagree strongly that replacing Guhle would be easier for us to replace then getting a 2C, even a young one with potential.

That said I agree that's what it would cost unless there's some behind the scenes problems forcing things. But we shouldn't pay that cost, especially given that we should be looking more towards proven production over potential.

 

[Paddy17]

Duchene
Kadri
Horvat
Karlsson
Stephenson
Malkin

We all want Crosby, but it's a long shot.

 

[1909]

Duchene
Kadri
Horvat
Karlsson
Stephenson
Malkin

We all want Crosby, but it's a long shot.

These three are good options + O’Reilly and Zegras. Kadri is too valuable for Calgary.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

The 3 realistic/good options for the habs:

Horvat
Beniers
Pettersson

I think Horvat is the most realistic and his last year is age 35 which isn't terrible. If Kraken view Catton as their future 1C, they might prefer to keep Wright as their 2C so they can get other pieces for their lineup. Not saying it's likely just a possibility as they have an abundance of young top 6 C's. As for Pettersson, we all know the situation there. It'll probably cost a lot to get. Having a Petey in the top 6 would pretty much finish it. You could eternally put a filler in there withe how much talent is there.

 

[Erika]

This is f***ing insanity.

Not really imo. I think it's a fair trade for a player of Lundell caliber. The guy is barely 23 years old I think and Florida probably still says no even with that insane package.

 

[Erika]

There is no easy option. Looks like everyone wants a young 1b center. Beniers would be my first target if Seattle wants to make more room to Wright. But at the cost, maybe it would be more reasonable to take a chance on a 34+ veteran and abosrb the cap and term.

Yeah, and for those people who thinks the Habs can get a young 2c under 25 years old for cheap, you guys are delusional.

Beck, a 1st round 2025 and a 2nd round 2025 kind of offers won't be enough.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

Yeah, and for those people who thinks the Habs can get a young 2c under 25 years old for cheap, you guys are delusional.

Beck, a 1st round 2025 and a 2nd round 2025 kind of offers won't be enough.

For that quality of player, you're looking at LEAST Hage and a 1st

 

[Whitesnake]

Horvat is the most realistic 'cause this will be the best Isles want to get rid of him / Habs need him ratio out there. So that them wanted to get rid of him will reduce the price. I'd take Barzal for sure way more...but price should be astronomical.

 

[Miller Time]

Not really imo. I think it's a fair trade for a player of Lundell caliber. The guy is barely 23 years old I think and Florida probably still says no even with that insane package.

I'd agree that it would take that kind of offer to pry him out, but that's the kind of offer that falls in the "too expensive to be worth it" category.

If some team really wanted Suzuki, or Hutson, there's an offer that would hit the "too good to refuse" level, but it would be so high that any team making it would be idiotic.

KH doesn't seem like the type of GM to get so enamored with any one trade target as to make an offer that would end up hurting his team more than the acquired player could help.

Lundell isn't Suzuki or Hutson... But given Florida's roster & cap situation, his level of play and his contract, they'd value him as high or maybe even greater.

 

[ahmedou]

We got a 1C. With Suzuki. That helped us to go to playoffs We don't have a 2C. To help us to far in the playoffs.

 

[Doctor Bold]

I’ve made a 180 since I read and listened to Arpon Basu about next season’s team age. He quotes Nick about it too. We poo-poo (I didn’t expect use that word but there you go) DVo, Armia, Savard but that’s a lot of NHL experience going out the door.

We are all rightfully stoked about all the exciting young players we have and will incorporate. But we were already the youngest PO team ever. We might be even younger next year. I think many of us here, including myself, have undervalued experience. Yes we will still have Gally and Anderson but swapping out Savard for Rhino, Beck or Kapanen for Dvo, etc, could tip the balance too far.

As such, having a veteran 2C to bridge to Hage or a future, younger, stud 2C might mitigate this problem. I didn’t love the idea of a few of the octogenarian FA centers out there but it might not be the worst idea, particularly since trading for a great 25 yo C seems very unlikely, regardless.

Maybe Horvat splits the difference. Not a Tage Thompson but also not an ROR.

 

[tazsub3]

As Hamlet famously said, “We’re F***ed.” We cannot be serious cup contenders without a legitimate #2 center.

Others have argued that the same holds true for the right side of our D. But at least we have Rein-O and Mailloux in the pipeline who might hit and, though not ideal, a left D can play on right side.

I love Beck but can’t see him as a true 2C and while Hage might get there, he is too young to fit Suzy’s window, ie by the time he’s a 2C, Nick will likely be too old to be a 1C.

Sure we can wait for the Demigod, Hage, Fowler, Slaf window, but a playoff series win this decade would be nice.

I just don’t see how we get it done. Overpay? Sure. But Bennet? Does he even get to free agency and can you bet 7 years on him? RFAs? Sebastian Aho says Hi. Does anyone trade a quality center in his 20s? Even for 3 first round picks (ours, Calgary’s and the one coming for Evans and Armia)?

The Prince of Denmark and I would love some optimism. Neither Rosencrantz nor Guildenstern can play down the middle.

A crosby or not a crosby that is the question

 

[habamillions]

Best option is a guy like matt duchene. 2-3 year deal. Nice stopgap before hage is ready.

 

[Doctor Bold]

Best option is a guy like matt duchene. 2-3 year deal. Nice stopgap before hage is ready.

Right. This is the kind of name I’ve been poo-pooing (there it is again!). But there might be some merit there. Is he good in the room? It defeats the purpose if he isn’t a leader/doesn’t mentor the young guys/doesn’t fit the new, winning culture

 

[habamillions]

Right. This is the kind of name I’ve been poo-pooing (there it is again!). But there might be some merit there. Is he good in the room? It defeats the purpose if he isn’t a leader/doesn’t mentor the young guys/doesn’t fit the new, winning culture

GOod point. Im sure the team will do research. I know duchene almost came here as a ufa but chose nsh. Player habs should be interested in is bennett but he will get a deal that wont age well. So mtl should pass. There are a couple decent options in free agency but mostly older guys and they likely go to a contender. Bennett i see chasing the money. He might be a 2 time cup champ come july

 

[Paddyjack]

To the risk of being laughed at, I would go Crosby. He may agree to come here given his junior days and yes he is a great player still but he is old and if you give promising youngsters to pitts, they may agree. Beck-Mailloux, one of our first round pick, a package like that for a rebuilding team may be interesting

 

[Naslundforever]

There is no easy option. Looks like everyone wants a young 1b center. Beniers would be my first target if Seattle wants to make more room to Wright. But at the cost, maybe it would be more reasonable to take a chance on a 34+ veteran and abosrb the cap and term.

I want an old 2a. A guy looks like he played hockey before so Demidov sees how it’s done. No more struggling oddballs full of potential in their 4th year rehab for sure.