Value of: A 2nd line center to Montreal.
- Thread starter GrandmaCookie
- Start date
Jack Eichel
Sam Reinhart
Dylan Cozens
Martin Necas
Matt Duchene
Jake Guentzel
Josh Norris
Gabe Vilardi
JT Miller
Tomas Hertl
Mika Zibanejad
Vincent Trocheck
Bo Horvat
Brock Nelson
Sam Bennett
Brayden Schenn
Ryan O'Reilly
Sean Monahan
Pavel Zacha
Tyler Toffoli
Scintillating10
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Bouboumaster
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- Jul 4, 2014
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Anaheim wouldn't do it, because Dach is made of the finest, most fragile silk and can be outted for an entire season at the first injury
If we were to add to Dach, maybe, but Dach, as the main piece, would be a non starter IMO
Scintillating10
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Bouboumaster
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- Jul 4, 2014
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Matthew Barzal is the guy we should gun for.
Islanders are in their way down and they're about to enter the rebuild phase where they have to suck ass to get 1rst rounds picks
On the other hand, Montréal just finished their rebuild, and are targeting playoffs now. We have everything we need already in our team, but a 2nd line center. And we have a f***ing pirate chest full of draft picks.
It's a match made in heaven, really.
Islanders would cut their rebuild by one year or two with what we could sent their way, and we could get a 2nd line center that could jump into 1st line if anything ever happen to Suzuki.
Next year the Habs roll with
Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Caufield
Demidov - Barzal - Laine
It's a top 6 that can go against any team in the league.
Islanders are in their way down and they're about to enter the rebuild phase where they have to suck ass to get 1rst rounds picks
On the other hand, Montréal just finished their rebuild, and are targeting playoffs now. We have everything we need already in our team, but a 2nd line center. And we have a f***ing pirate chest full of draft picks.
It's a match made in heaven, really.
Islanders would cut their rebuild by one year or two with what we could sent their way, and we could get a 2nd line center that could jump into 1st line if anything ever happen to Suzuki.
Next year the Habs roll with
Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Caufield
Demidov - Barzal - Laine
It's a top 6 that can go against any team in the league.
Bouboumaster
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Scintillating10
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Gregor Samsa
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Fatass
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Imo the Habs already have a fantastic 2C. Suzuki is the 2C on a Cup level team that has a point scoring 1C.
miscs75
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Scott Mayfield was once 26 years old and did play first pair minutes growing up. He’s an RHD though. He could be had for a mid round pick.
JustAHabFan
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Paradoxe
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You should stop trying to talk about Habs players ...
Paradoxe
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LOL I prefer the real center : Horvat. Barzal is soft, injury-prone, and not a f-king center.
JimmyG89
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Jeff Gorton traded for Mika Zibanejad in 2017, he can do it again in 2025.
He's not a 1C anymore, he was for a period of time. If he doesn't have to be relied on to be that, he will be good.
Asking price could be reduced because of his NMC and the ending of this iteration of the Rangers. If the Habs want to make a jump, he'd help in that role for 2-3 seasons.
A young LHD would be a start, but ideally we'd be searching for a young C with upside. Would take a contract back too. This team isn't contending for a bit.
He's not a 1C anymore, he was for a period of time. If he doesn't have to be relied on to be that, he will be good.
Asking price could be reduced because of his NMC and the ending of this iteration of the Rangers. If the Habs want to make a jump, he'd help in that role for 2-3 seasons.
A young LHD would be a start, but ideally we'd be searching for a young C with upside. Would take a contract back too. This team isn't contending for a bit.
It would probably have to be something starting around Anderson/Gallagher + Engstrom(LD)/Beck(C)/Kapanen(C).
Not sure there is a fit though with Zibanejad`s full NMC.
Galchenyuk15
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- Jan 2, 2013
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I still can’t understand how some people want Trevor Zegras.
I wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole — even if the price was good.
We’re trying to build a winning team, not just throw flashy names on jerseys for fun.
We’re looking for a complete center. Production is a bonus — not the priority.
The goal is to find someone who can mentor Demidov, and the last guy I’d pick for that role is Zegras, who plays like he’s auditioning for the Harlem Globetrotters. He floats all over the ice, avoids contact, and barely defends.
How exactly are you supposed to maximize Zegras without putting him on the top power play?
Suzuki, Caufield, Laine, Demidov, Slafkovsky — those spots are already taken.
And let’s be honest — Slaf brings something to that unit that Zegras simply can’t replicate.
Now picture this: Laine–Zegras–Demidov.
Suddenly, Demidov becomes the most responsible defensive player on the line.
And the second he touches the puck, he’ll have to dump it in just to stop the bleeding — because they’ve spent a full minute pinned in their own zone.
In NHL 24, sure, give me Zegras. But in real life? If you’re not going to give him a top offensive role, let him stay where he is — or let someone else deal with it. Please.
“You know a guy's game is flawed when he makes Mike Ribeiro look like a complete two-way center…”
I wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole — even if the price was good.
We’re trying to build a winning team, not just throw flashy names on jerseys for fun.
We’re looking for a complete center. Production is a bonus — not the priority.
The goal is to find someone who can mentor Demidov, and the last guy I’d pick for that role is Zegras, who plays like he’s auditioning for the Harlem Globetrotters. He floats all over the ice, avoids contact, and barely defends.
How exactly are you supposed to maximize Zegras without putting him on the top power play?
Suzuki, Caufield, Laine, Demidov, Slafkovsky — those spots are already taken.
And let’s be honest — Slaf brings something to that unit that Zegras simply can’t replicate.
Now picture this: Laine–Zegras–Demidov.
Suddenly, Demidov becomes the most responsible defensive player on the line.
And the second he touches the puck, he’ll have to dump it in just to stop the bleeding — because they’ve spent a full minute pinned in their own zone.
In NHL 24, sure, give me Zegras. But in real life? If you’re not going to give him a top offensive role, let him stay where he is — or let someone else deal with it. Please.
“You know a guy's game is flawed when he makes Mike Ribeiro look like a complete two-way center…”
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Scintillating10
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Could Couturier be available?
He would definitely be more of a stop gap while Habs hope that Hage (or Kapanen) blossoms into top-6 role.
He would definitely be more of a stop gap while Habs hope that Hage (or Kapanen) blossoms into top-6 role.
Barzal having injury trouble is a bit overstated. If you look at his stats you have to remember 2020 and 2021 were covid reduced seasons which means he only has 2 seasons where he was injured for a decent chunk of time out of 8.
I also think thinking Islanders are in a middle of a rebuild is wrong. With Barzal, Dobson and Sorokin, they have a decent basis to build around, add Horvat who still has a few good years left I don't think then need a complete tear down
miscs75
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I’d even go as far as including Romanov and Holmstrom as pieces to build around. It’s more so that the veterans all aged drastically at the same time. Lee and JGP are one season away from UFAs and if anything can be brought back cheaper on a short term deal as veteran depth pieces for the bottom six. Even Palmieri in the bottom 6 isn’t a bad option for a couple more seasons since he’s shown he can still produce.
FiveTacos
Registered User
None really. But there's at least several teams' fans around here looking for a 2C as well. That kind of tells you what the supply/demand levels are.
Winning? Ducks' record with and without Zegras this year, .525 vs .420. last year it was .419 vs .324. And those aren't small sample sizes either.
His production at C has still been around 60 points, but lately he's even started pacing for 60 at LW ... 17 in his last 23, and has been a plus player.
And this is on a team that still has no PP. They're at the bottom in PP% this season ... But without him they'd be 7th worst ALL TIME.
Now, maybe he's not the style of player you need. But the idea that he's all flash and has no impact on winning is simply not supported.
BTW, no one's giving up a two way, productive offensive and reliable defensive young C unless a major piece is coming back. Go get a rental, develop one, or settle for flawed.
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Yeah I definitely should have added Romanov to that list, Holmstrom I would consider more a complimentary player. While I like Holmstrom and at this point in time wouldn't trade him unless we got an unbelievable offer, once he gets a bigger contract you sort of ask yourself do we really need him.
