Value of: A 2nd line center to Montreal.

[CTHabsfan]

Not a proven 2C right now, but still a viable option moving forward compared to all the other options on the market that will cost you a Cole Caufield or mutiple first round picks and good prospects.

Maybe he can be acquired for cheap this summer. He can still develop his offensive skills like I stated as he is just 24 years old.

Many are suggesting Anton Lundell as a legit option, but Kotkaniemi is not that far behind if you consider the price that you will need to pay. I would take my chance on Kotkaniemi if there's no good options available.

And doing nothing is not an option as we all know Demidov need a real centerman to play with.

18-year-old Jesperi Kotkaniemi: 79 games, 11-23-34
24-year-old Jesperi Kotkaniemi: 78 games, 12-21-33

You'll have to excuse me for not holding my breath waiting for KK's offensive skills to develop.

 

[jfhabs]

The window is now. You guys just made the playoffs with Suzuki and Caufield in the primes. Waiting 2 years just so their games can take a dip is risky

Suzuki is 25 , he's not close to regressing.. he's just entering his prime.

But Caufield 23, Slafkovsky 21, Hutson 20, Demidov 19, Guhle 23, Reinbacher 20 are all going to be much better in 2-3 years.

 

[jfhabs]

Not a proven 2C right now, but still a viable option moving forward compared to all the other options on the market that will cost you a Cole Caufield or mutiple first round picks and good prospects.

Maybe he can be acquired for cheap this summer. He can still develop his offensive skills like I stated as he is just 24 years old.

Many are suggesting Anton Lundell as a legit option, but Kotkaniemi is not that far behind if you consider the price that you will need to pay. I would take my chance on Kotkaniemi if there's no good options available.

And doing nothing is not an option as we all know Demidov need a real centerman to play with.

If KK can still develop at 24 , might as well wait for Dach and Newhook to develop ...

 

[Anardil]

Yeah Horvat as a Canadian player must be so horrified by the idea of playing in MON. I guess NYI is so much better at the moment.

When did Moncton get an NHL team?

 

[pth2]

Agree. Or at least draft with the 16th overall for sure and IF they have a good trade with the 17th overall then okay otherwise they should draft with it.

I've found this management group's drafting is far better than their pro scouting.

Carrier and Heinemann are the only pro scouting wins.
Dach, Newhook, Smilanic, Barron and Laine are the fails.

Their only drafting mishap appears to be Meśar

 

[General Fanager]

I think nobody wants KK back. This ship has sailed.

But otherwise, what are the options?

- Zegras? He seems to stagnate in Anaheim. Has worked on his defensive play but his offensive numbers have plummeted. Another flyer at center for the Habs?

- Matt Duchene? Some say he wouldn't come to MTL since he wants to stay in Dallas. Personally I think that if things don't work out there for him as a UFA, I'd make him a 3 years offer at the UFA opening.

Brock Nelson? Same as Duchene, would he sign a 3 years deal?

- O'Reilly? Old guy with a good 2 years contract (4,5 mil). Would cost some future for an older guy, not sure it's a move that fit with where the Habs stand at the moment. More of a contender thing.

- Pavel Zacha? Morgan Geekie? Will the Boston Bruins blow it all up? Don't think so...

Brayden Schenn/Steven Stamkos? Older guy with a big contract that are showing signs of slowing down. Mmmm, nope... They'd be quick fixes, but at the expense of the middle term, the middle terms where we expect the Habs to be contenders... Not a good timing.

- Matty Beniers? Would cost a ton to extract from Seattle but maybe if they draft one of the good center available at the 2025 draft with their +/- 6th overall pick, they'd be open to trade him... maybe...

- Cole Sillinger? Columbus has a plethora of centers, young and less young. Would they trade him? Not sure... and not sure he has 2nd line center potential, he'd be another gamble for Kent Hughes.

Another proposal?

Stephenson, Kadri....there are many options

 

[Sparksrus3]

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.

Mat Barzal ?

I’ll make it easy .. this years first , next years first , and you have to take Engvall or Mayfield your choice.

The isles won’t be a winner for quite some time so why not try to win it all one day instead of just be an 8 seed

 

[Baksfamous112]

Mat Barzal ?

I’ll make it easy .. this years first , next years first , and you have to take Engvall or Mayfield your choice.

The isles won’t be a winner for quite some time so why not try to win it all one day instead of just be an 8 seed

Montreal isn’t taking any long term cap dump even if Barzal came free with it

 

[frederixx]

The window is now. You guys just made the playoffs with Suzuki and Caufield in the primes. Waiting 2 years just so their games can take a dip is risky also

Montreal age average is 25y. The second youngest playoffs team is above 28y. They are, by far, the youngest team in these playoffs. Not sure about the window you're referring too.

I still think they should go for Horvat if available. But he's probably too old for their core.

 

[Baksfamous112]

Montreal age average is 25y. The second youngest playoffs team is above 28y. They are, by far, the youngest team in these playoffs. Not sure about the window you're referring too.

I still think they should go for Horvat if available. But he's probably too old for their core.

Horvat is fine if the cost isn’t too crazy

 

[pth2]

Horvat is fine if the cost isn’t too crazy

I'd rather overpay for a guy from the 2020 draft than get a long term cap anchor who'll give us a couple of good years first.

 

[jfhabs]

Montreal age average is 25y. The second youngest playoffs team is above 28y. They are, by far, the youngest team in these playoffs. Not sure about the window you're referring too.

I still think they should go for Horvat if available. But he's probably too old for their core.

Yes and most of our older player are not the ones pulling up the team, they are mostly depth players like Gallagher, Armia, Dvorak, Anderson, Savard, Matheson. They are contributing. Outside of Matheson, none of these guys have key roles.

 

[Lockin17]

MTL : #16 + #41 + Struble/Kapanen
for
BOSTON : Zacha

 

[HuGo Sham]

MTL : #16 + #41 + Struble/Kapanen
for
BOSTON : Zacha

awful for habs.

 

[samsagat]

Stephenson, Kadri....there are many options

Options I suspect Hughes won't be interested in.

Older guys with never ending contract is textbook the kind of trap he mentioned he wouldn't fall for...

 

[pth2]

MTL : #16 + #41 + Struble/Kapanen
for
BOSTON : Zacha

Please stop.

 

[pth2]

Options I suspect Hughes won't be interested in.

Older guys with never ending contract is textbook the kind of trap he mentioned he wouldn't fall for...

I suspect Nontreal might overpay for a guy on a 2 year deal specifically to avoid being stuck with a guy who can't fill the role.
The overpay might be in $ for a UFA or in assets in a trade.

 

[Captain97]

Options I suspect Hughes won't be interested in.

Older guys with never ending contract is textbook the kind of trap he mentioned he wouldn't fall for...

Since Kadri is only 4 more years, if you can get Calgary to retain down to 5.5 then he could be a 2C for a couple years then with the cap going up he can age into being the 3C when Hage is ready. 5.5 for a 3C in 3 years will prbly be market rate

 

[General Fanager]

Options I suspect Hughes won't be interested in.

Older guys with never ending contract is textbook the kind of trap he mentioned he wouldn't fall for...

If you mean Stephenson, I don't know enough about him but if you meant Kadri. IMO he is the perfect 2c. Yes he makes 7 for the next 4 years but that is ok with the cap going up. He is also the grinder type of guy that is missing in the top 6. I get he is older but you can't have the entire team be 24 y/o

Oh yea and he would have been 2nd on the team in goals and been 3rd in pts. He is also good to move down the lineup if/when a guy like Hage might be ready for the 2c spot in 2-3 years. He would also likely cost much less to acquire than the other guys you mentioned. Which then leaves more assets to fix the RHD spot.

 

[Chose]

If you mean Stephenson, I don't know enough about him but if you meant Kadri. IMO he is the perfect 2c. Yes he makes 7 for the next 4 years but that is ok with the cap going up. He is also the grinder type of guy that is missing in the top 6. I get he is older but you can't have the entire team be 24 y/o

Oh yea and he would have been 2nd on the team in goals and been 3rd in pts. He is also good to move down the lineup if/when a guy like Hage might be ready for the 2c spot in 2-3 years. He would also likely cost much less to acquire than the other guys you mentioned. Which then leaves more assets to fix the RHD spot.

Will the flames trade him though, they are trying to stay relevant as well.

 

[General Fanager]

Will the flames trade him though, they are trying to stay relevant as well.

No clue. just throwing out the idea.

 

[ole ole]

I'd rather overpay for a guy from the 2020 draft than get a long term cap anchor who'll give us a couple of good years first.

Exactly.

 

[Sparksrus3]

Montreal isn’t taking any long term cap dump even if Barzal came free with it

That reason is a not a real reason . I think you just wanted to say dump. Mat Barzal for a couple picks and your team is improved where the OP asked for improvement. A guy like Mayfield can play 5-6 on D and be fine . I thought you guys wanted to build a winner … LGI

 

[Baksfamous112]

That reason is a not a real reason . I think you just wanted to say dump. Mat Barzal for a couple picks and your team is improved where the OP asked for improvement. A guy like Mayfield can play 5-6 on D and be fine . I thought you guys wanted to build a winner … LGI

Yes exactly we do! We don’t do that by taking on 32 years old #5-6 D with 5 years left on their contract.

No one is doing you that favour. Sorry.

 

[pth2]

Yes exactly we do! We don’t do that by taking on 32 years old #5-6 D with 5 years left on their contract.

No one is doing you that favour. Sorry.

Also, rebuilding teams don't try and get teams at the start of their contention windows to take bad long team deals for support players.