Value of: A 2nd line center to Montreal.

[Baksfamous112]

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.

Yeah but that was at the deadline and he was UFA to be (so flexibility in terms of contract and cap).

Horvat’s age makes it that when (not if) he slow down, Hage will be there to take over the 2C role and keep the window open without having to sacrifice prime assets.

As I said, Horvat could be a very target for the Habs, just not at the expense of Hage. I could see Beck or Mailloux or another similar prospect being offered with a first round pick (which will be mid teens compared to the very late first you’ll get from Winnipeg). I just don’t see Hage moving for Horvat.

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.

I don’t either but when that C is turning 30 next month you have to look further down the road.

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.

Demidov is never going to touch an AHL ice. That’s just not going to happen.

 

[Essenege]

Come on, Pens, Sid, Habs are in a position to overpay and speed up your rebuild! What does it take? Surely he is the most expensive 1 year player out there but his value can’t be prohibitively high right? Or maybe it is.

In any case…Habs can overpay because Sid the kid at 2C (or really 1A/1B with Nick) launches that team into contention IMO (you don’t have to agree).

I feel like Pittsburgh would be after high picks or good prospects at this point, nobody is positioned like the Habs where they have a lot of those, in quality and quantity, but at the same time, looking like they are exiting the rebuild phase…

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Come on, Pens, Sid, Habs are in a position to overpay and speed up your rebuild! What does it take? Surely he is the most expensive 1 year player out there but his value can’t be prohibitively high right? Or maybe it is.

In any case…Habs can overpay because Sid the kid at 2C (or really 1A/1B with Nick) launches that team into contention IMO (you don’t have to agree).

I feel like Pittsburgh would be after high picks or good prospects at this point, nobody is positioned like the Habs where they have a lot of those, in quality and quantity, but at the same time, looking like they are exiting the rebuild phase…

Habs won't give up significant assets for Crosby , Hughes values asset management and getting Crosby at his age for high value would go against everything they are doing , not saying we would offer garbage , I'm sure we would offer something decent but nothing very impressive

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

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

Missing Demidov

 

[Captain97]

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.

Wtf are you talking about? AHL for a few years, he is already torching the KHL which is a better league.

 

[malcb33]

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.

At the time PLD was being shopped last year, very few Habs fans (or other fans on these boards) were interested in trading for him. He was seen as a massive risk at the time. I think it's funny to look back in hindsight now that he's had one good season, and say Hughes wasn't proactive enough. I guarantee Hughes would have gotten major backlash for making that trade, and I don't think PLD would be the same player today under the spotlights of MTL.

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.

I think Granlund would be a decent stopgap and maybe the Finnish connection would help Laine get going. I like Ehlers, and I like the idea of bringing in Laine's buddy, but I don't see him signing a 3-year contract at all. Ehlers would also block Demidov, which is one of the major reasons for upgrading the 2C spot.

 

[shello]

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

I don’t think the Ducks Gm knows what a buy low price is

 

[Galaxydoggystyle]

I would trade for Horvat even if he does have a long ass contract. Throw a 1st and whatever to lower that cap hit a little just so the Habs can focus on a RD.

 

[Hockeyfan200]

Yeah but that was at the deadline and he was UFA to be (so flexibility in terms of contract and cap).

Horvat’s age makes it that when (not if) he slow down, Hage will be there to take over the 2C role and keep the window open without having to sacrifice prime assets.

As I said, Horvat could be a very target for the Habs, just not at the expense of Hage. I could see Beck or Mailloux or another similar prospect being offered with a first round pick (which will be mid teens compared to the very late first you’ll get from Winnipeg). I just don’t see Hage moving for Horvat.

I don’t either but when that C is turning 30 next month you have to look further down the road.

Demidov is never going to touch an AHL ice. That’s just not going to happen.

Islanders aren't moving Horvat, and especially with Lou as their GM . But an Islanders team full of D aren't going to trade a Top C on long term contract and be willing to take a D prospect back . lol

 

[Beauner]

Come on, Pens, Sid, Habs are in a position to overpay and speed up your rebuild! What does it take? Surely he is the most expensive 1 year player out there but his value can’t be prohibitively high right? Or maybe it is.

In any case…Habs can overpay because Sid the kid at 2C (or really 1A/1B with Nick) launches that team into contention IMO (you don’t have to agree).

I feel like Pittsburgh would be after high picks or good prospects at this point, nobody is positioned like the Habs where they have a lot of those, in quality and quantity, but at the same time, looking like they are exiting the rebuild phase…

I'd bark up another tree

 

[HuGo Sham]

I would trade for Horvat even if he does have a long ass contract. Throw a 1st and whatever to lower that cap hit a little just so the Habs can focus on a RD.

maybe but lou aint getting Hage

 

[Scintillating10]

Horvat has 6 years left after this year.

Need playmaking center to play between Demidov and Laine

 

[WPGDEVILS]

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

Why would Ehlers sign a 3 year deal, he’s gonna get 8M for over 6 years easy if he hits the market. Why would any of those players sign such short contracts for such a cheap yearly

 

[GrandmaCookie]

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.

Demidov won’t play a couple of years in the AHL. I would be surprised he evens plays 1 game there.