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2C or not 2C?

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SisuHabsSisu

SisuHabsSisu

Registered User
Jul 4, 2023
20
61
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.
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the said:
Pierre - Luc
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PLD and Dylan Strome are two centers we could have had for basically nothing, but passed on. Strome for sure seems like he would have been a good pickup. PLD is more complicated because of the big contract.

At this point I don't have anyone in mind. It seems like almost everyone is in the mix, so there are very few teams trading vets without term and tanking. And the ones that are don't have any good ones.
 
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In the end, Bergevin wasn't able to get a #1 centre until near the end of his tenure, in Suzuki. Now, Hugues is unable to get that #2 centre.
And Us, the fans, want him to trade Evans, our 3rd centre ???
koko.jpg
 
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SisuHabsSisu said:
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.
Click to expand...
Let’s be honest the real window is the Demidov, Slaf, Hutson, Hage, Reinbacher and the 2025 pick window.
 
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We 100% do something to address our 2C situation this summer.

I think ideally Hughes would like to trade for an established young center that's a similar age to Suzuki. If he can't get a deal like that done by free agency then I could see him overpaying for a veteran center.
 
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ZUKI said:
In the end, Bergevin wasn't able to get a #1 centre until near the end of his tenure, in Suzuki. Now, Hugues is unable to get that #2 centre.
And Us, the fans, want him to trade Evans, our 3rd centre ???
View attachment 984542
Click to expand...

To be fair, Hughes got us the 2nd line Center in Monahan without even trying. That's the thing, it's not like we have tried to add to the roster to make us competitive. We are still rebuilding.

Kirby was a nice try for a young cost controlled long term solution but injuries has derailed his career.

The next season or two we will see Hughes make a real attempt to make us competitive. I'm not too worried, worst case we will have to wait for Hage.
 
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ZUKI said:
In the end, Bergevin wasn't able to get a #1 centre until near the end of his tenure, in Suzuki. Now, Hugues is unable to get that #2 centre.
And Us, the fans, want him to trade Evans, our 3rd centre ???
View attachment 984542
Click to expand...

Hughes did acquire a 2c. The 2c just got injured in back to back seasons. So now Hugjes will get a 2c, without waiting until the end of his tenure.
 
We should go for either Barzal or EP40

We throw 1sts and 2nds, as well as to every single prospects we have (but Reinbacher and Demidov) to get one of them
 
SisuHabsSisu said:
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.
Click to expand...
Having a true #1 center this franchise hasn't seen since the days of Kirk Muller.
 
Crosby is what 38?

Pittsburgh is going nowhere. Maybe put a massive package together… We have two firsts. Mailloux, Roy, Matheson, Kappenen, Mesar, Engstrom, Struble… He’d probably want to come here too. And Pittsburgh tanks hard for MckEnna
 
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Habs13 said:
Stamkos is washed
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As a washed up, 35-yr-old C, he is stilll trending for 24 goals and 46 points on a line with Sissons and Marchessault, on a pretty bad team this season.

Pretty sure Stamkos would get more points on a line with Slafkovsky and Demidov.

3 years left on a contract with Stamkos as a 35 yr-old, a 36 yr-old and a 37 yr-old.

He won't be part of any Cup run with the Habs in those remaining three years, but could be a good place holder while we wait for Hage, or a 2025 draft pick to mature into the role of 2C.

Stamkos is still a shoot first player, but that should work well with Demidov and Slafkovsky who can both pass the puck.

Caufield - Suzuki - Laine
Slafkovsky - Stamkos - Demidov
Heineman - Beck - Roy (real chance to stick with NHL roster)
Anderson - Newhook - Gallagher

Roy, on a line with both Heineman who can retrieve pucks and skate fast, may find a role with the Habs as a complementary, more cerebral winger that can be a playmaker and a sniper as a dual threat. he has shown that he can be a two-way player in the WJCs and could make a solid two-way line with Heineman and Beck on a kid line. Also, with those two line mates, he will need to lead the charge offensively and won't be overly tempted to defer to his line mates as he would to veterans.

I really don't mind the idea of acquiring Stamkos, personally, and I think that the 8M contract might be enough to entice NASH to part ways with Stamkos.

I would see Stamkos having a rebound season in Montreal with younger line mates.
 
ROR as a stop-gap for two years (34 and 35 years of age) is also not a bad idea.

20-goal, 50-point C that excels in the dot and in a shutdown role as a veteran to support Slafkjovsky and Demidov, let's say?

Cheap, at 4.5M, compared to 8M for Stamkos. Not sure NASH would part with ROR?
 
Bouboumaster said:
We should go for either Barzal or EP40

We throw 1sts and 2nds, as well as to every single prospects we have (but Reinbacher and Demidov) to get one of them
Click to expand...
why would Barzal be available?

What would it cost?

Huge Cap hit for the offensive production level and would need to know more about the injury this season?

Why pay 11.6M for EP40 who is a batshit mess right now?

What would it cost to acquire such a problem?
 
Either get a vet stop gap like Stamkos, or trade for younger and proven talent. But to do that, HFboarders, it will mean that young talent and high draft picks go the other way. No Ryder, Halak +2nd here. Time to suffer on this board! Are you ready for this?
 
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