Value of: A 2nd line center to Montreal.

[HabsAddict]

IF Demidov is the talent we hope he is, then he needs someone like Suzuki and not a corner digger like Kadri or Bennett. Those two would be additions to that line, not centering it.

I have no idea who is available of that caliber and the enormous cost getting him.. I'm thinking Grigorenko is as much a solution as any.

 

[HuGo Sham]

Horvat is 29 years old making 8.5 m for another 3 years after this year. Too old for the rebuild and making too much money. There’s no way you get Hage straight up let alone adding another first

sneaky you; upon further review, his contract has 6 more years.
No deal lol no way no chance

 

[General Fanager]

Habs trade a ton for Crosby or Malkin this summer. Perfect for Demidov.

 

[loadie]

sneaky you; upon further review, his contract has 6 more years.
No deal lol no way no chance

Well shoot, I better make sure to look at the entire contract next time. It’s way worse than I thought. Thanks for correcting me on this

 

[Freaky Styley]

probably going to cost more than you want. There's really not many C's available. There aren't 32 2C caliber centers around the league right now, so almost every team has a hole there, or are playing a 2C on a contender as their 1C.

This is why a rental Brock Nelson just went for Cal Ritchie + a 1st. Cozens probably would have been a good fit/target, but clearly the Sabres wanted help now which MTL couldn't provide. It's a tough market out there.

Zegras might be the best target as a 'buy low' candidate that's young and has potential. Not necessarily someone I would target but might fit the Canadiens group centering Demidov.

probably better off just signing a stop gap like Duchene in the off-season until Hage is ready if Habs fans are sold on him

 

[Junohockeyfan]

He will be in high demand if he hits free agency, and will probably be looking for a 7x7 deal too

Habs have the caproom. He would be a good fit longterm.

 

[malcb33]

Habs have the caproom. He would be a good fit longterm.

You are confident he'll be a "good fit" in his 34-35yo seasons? I am not.

The guy plays a hard-on-the-body brand of hockey, and it's likely he'll become the new Gallagher in those later years.

 

[crazyd74]

Demidov is not just another pick with high ceiling. He has super star potential. Habs wouldn't trade Demidov for Monahan + 10 OA pick. Not in a million years. Then we also got Hage.

Definitely not, I agree. Nonetheless, my point was that those picks could of been any other prospects, with quite different projections. Nothing is to say that either of Demidov nor Hage will pan out. It's still just promise. Picks are a gamble. So my argument was in trading an asset that responded to a clear need that destabilized our roster versus acquiring "promise" while reinserting a key need that was fulfilled. And honestly, if Dach was what "promise" we had envisioned, my argument would be moot because the 2nd seat at Center would still be fulfilled.

 

[samsagat]

I hear you all, and from an Isles perspective we just traded an unsigned 33 year old Brock Nelson for a first and top C prospect. Horvat is the same level player, younger, and signed.

Was posting based off of OP’s assertion that Hage is available. If he’s not, it’s unlikely Horvat is either.

Yep, but it was the TD, plus a trade deadline where there were very few sellers, so the prices were high.

In the summer we're not talking about the same business.

 

[viceroy]

One option i havent heard mentioned is trading Beck.

I swear it's only MTL that thinks like this. Hey we need a Centre so let's trade out a C. Same kind of thinking that got us trading a RD, Kovacevic for pennies on the dollar while our RD situation wasn't sorted out.

...try to sign Bennett in the offseason.

You cool with the price tag?

RNH?

He doesn't want to leave EDM, his contract has another 4(?) years left on it and I've never liked his game.

Gallagher got 6.5M a long time ago, Bennett gonna be 8+

Sure but Gally's at least hit over 50pts a couple of times. I'm thinking the team that signs Bennett to that upcoming monster contract is gonna regret it.

I'm thinking Grigorenko is as much a solution as any.

Are you eventually going to get off of that dude's lap amigo? I swear all those Rempart fans from all those years ago still go nuts over that guy who was wrecking junior aged kids while he was fudging his birth date. The guy never hit 30pts in a season in the NHL. Couldn't even secure a spot on the Sabres. The Sabres!

 

[Favster]

My guess would be HuGo pulls out all the stops to try and sign Bennett. Failing that, we probably move something that hurts to go get someone people aren't thinking of as available right now. I think they see solidifying the 2C as the biggest hurdle remaining to the team taking a big step forward.

This is how I see it to. They need to push hard for Bennett

 

[Erika]

I swear it's only MTL that thinks like this. Hey we need a Centre so let's trade out a C. Same kind of thinking that got us trading a RD, Kovacevic for pennies on the dollar while our RD situation wasn't sorted out.



You cool with the price tag?



He doesn't want to leave EDM, his contract has another 4(?) years left on it and I've never liked his game.



Sure but Gally's at least hit over 50pts a couple of times. I'm thinking the team that signs Bennett to that upcoming monster contract is gonna regret it.



Are you eventually going to get off of that dude's lap amigo? I swear all those Rempart fans from all those years ago still go nuts over that guy who was wrecking junior aged kids while he was fudging his birth date. The guy never hit 30pts in a season in the NHL. Couldn't even secure a spot on the Sabres. The Sabres!

The Habs should've grabbed P-L Dubois last year when they had the chance. He was at he's lowest value and went for pretty cheap, but K.H. wasn't proactive enough.

 

[shello]

Personally, I don’t see the big deal with trading Hage + if the return is a low to mid 20’s second line centre that fits with the current core.

Suzuki, Caufield, etc are all approaching their mid 20’s and waiting for Hage to develop into that centre the Habs need may not even pay off. Gotta pay futures to win.

 

[jonlin]

I be looking at this yrs UFAs. Target Granlund for 3x 5M. Hes resurrected his play and is good 2-way. Then try prying Ehlers. He is a good friend of Laine, fast and they played their best together. Granlund is also a very good puck distributor. Something like 3x 7,5M-8M for Ehlers. Try resign armia for 2x 2,5M. Then go with this:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Ehlers - Granlund - Laine
Anderson - - Newhook - Gallagher
Armia - Evans - Heineman
Roy

 

[Just Linda]

I feel they have a top 6 centre ready in the system already.

Demidov.

Commit to developing him at centre, plug Newhook or Dvorak on his wing to help him learn positioning, and let the kid learn it.

He's got everything you need to be a centre, him as a top 6 centre is what the Habs really need.

 

[biturbo19]

The reality of the thing is...every team wants another quality 2C. Even if they're not spectacular...they still move the needle in a way few other positions do. It's the reason guys like Chandler Stephenson get long-term $6.25M deals when a decent 2C actually hits the UFA market.

Montreal is better off just waiting, biding their time, and find out if they can source a candidate internally, via the draft.

 

[jonlin]

I feel they have a top 6 centre ready in the system already.

Demidov.

Commit to developing him at centre, plug Newhook or Dvorak on his wing to help him learn positioning, and let the kid learn it.

He's got everything you need to be a centre, him as a top 6 centre is what the Habs really need.

I agree, but I wouldnt rush Demidov. Have him get used to NHL play in AHL for a few years. Develope him and dont rush him. Have Granlund as a stopgap until he is ready. If Demidov shows signs of beeing ready, then you bring him up and give minutes.

 

[chizzler]

Montreal seems to distance itself from bottom dwellers and if they don’t make the playoff this season, you have to think with the arrival of Demidov most likely next season they will want to make a push to get a 2nd line C for him, and to improve the offense to get to the next level (playoff bounds).

Now that Dach has had a season ending injury again and even before, was a big question mark at 2C, the need seem even more pressing.

By 2C, I’m looking at center that can produce around 50 points in a secondary role, not necessarily bonafide 2C that can play 1C too. Just your regular top 6 center.

Pieces available would be prospects (not named Demidov, Reinbacher, Fowler), picks, and all NHLers not named Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Guhle or Hutson.

I know lots of Montreal fans won’t agree, but for the right fit I think Michael Hage could be available (for a 2C that fits our window in his mid 20s).

For older C (30+), combination of NHLers, B type of prospects and our picks (including 1st rounder) are still on the table, but not Hage.

Open to all kinds of NHL 2C really, just highlight what yours are available and your ask.

Thank you.

Haven’t you drafted one yet. How long have they been rebuilding?

 

[Scintillating10]

One of the better bloggers mentioned an older center that could be gotten for cheap and I think it's a possibility. It wont solve the problem, but push it for a later solution.

What we can't have is Demidov with Evans. I like Evans but he does not have the vision or skills to work with what may be a superstar.

Other then that, we are going to dig a hole to fill a hole if we are going to trade a major asset for a top notch 2C. Someone like Guhle will fetch any number of higher end 2C or older 1C, but do we dig a hole in LHD to do that? On the other hand, a top 2C AND Demidov will contribute far more to the team then Guhle ever will.

Decisions...decisions...

Going to be a number of RFA candidates available? Cuylle, Bourque, Rossi. A 4.5m offer be hard for Dallas or Rangers to match.

After Holloway a few more options opened up.

 

[Gaud]

I swear it's only MTL that thinks like this. Hey we need a Centre so let's trade out a C. Same kind of thinking that got us trading a RD, Kovacevic for pennies on the dollar while our RD situation wasn't sorted out.

k i said nothing about Kovacevic, but i'd bet they thought Mailloux was ready when they made that trade.

My whole point is that we may be able to trade Beck to get a 2C, then finding a 4th C should be much easier. Beck is not protected from a trade just because he is a C.

 

[Buffdog]

I be looking at this yrs UFAs. Target Granlund for 3x 5M. Hes resurrected his play and is good 2-way. Then try prying Ehlers. He is a good friend of Laine, fast and they played their best together. Granlund is also a very good puck distributor. Something like 3x 7,5M-8M for Ehlers. Try resign armia for 2x 2,5M. Then go with this:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Ehlers - Granlund - Laine
Anderson - - Newhook - Gallagher
Armia - Evans - Heineman
Roy

Ehlers ain't signing for 3 years lol

 

[Colezuki]

I hear you all, and from an Isles perspective we just traded an unsigned 33 year old Brock Nelson for a first and top C prospect. Horvat is the same level player, younger, and signed.

Was posting based off of OP’s assertion that Hage is available. If he’s not, it’s unlikely Horvat is either.

If be willing to trade our earliest 1st, kapanen or beck (look him up) and a 2nd for Horvat. Hell I’d even say Mailloux instead of kapanen and beck is an option too.

The reality is I think the only three pieces untouchable that aren’t on the team right now are Reinbacher, hage and demidov. Everyone else and every pick is available, that includes
Roy, Mailloux, struble, 2 mid teens 1st rounders, kapanen, beck, engstrom,

 

[Colezuki]

I be looking at this yrs UFAs. Target Granlund for 3x 5M. Hes resurrected his play and is good 2-way. Then try prying Ehlers. He is a good friend of Laine, fast and they played their best together. Granlund is also a very good puck distributor. Something like 3x 7,5M-8M for Ehlers. Try resign armia for 2x 2,5M. Then go with this:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Ehlers - Granlund - Laine
Anderson - - Newhook - Gallagher
Armia - Evans - Heineman
Roy

Here’s where your missing the point of the 2nd center, it was about bringing in demidov which this leaves out

 

[Grinner]

k i said nothing about Kovacevic, but i'd bet they thought Mailloux was ready when they made that trade.

My whole point is that we may be able to trade Beck to get a 2C, then finding a 4th C should be much easier. Beck is not protected from a trade just because he is a C.

Just make Beck your 2c
If he isn't worthy enough for the job, nobody else is going to trade you one for him

 

[Rec T]

Zegras might be the best target as a 'buy low' candidate that's young and has potential. Not necessarily someone I would target but might fit the Canadiens group centering Demidov.

If Zegras was actually available at a 'buy low' price he would have been LONG gone from the Ducks. Is he available? Probably, most everyone on every team is available ... for a price that you more than likely do not want to pay.

Same here, you could probably talk Verbeek into trading him, but it's going to hurt ... a lot.