HF Habs: Blueline Prospects/Young Players - Who to Keep Who to Trade

[Miller Time]

Always uncertain because progress is & injuries are unpredictable... But I'd go with these tiers:

Tier 1
Keepers unless they hit career dead end:

Guhle, Reinbacher, Hutson

Tier 2
Keep unless part of package for elite player or they stagnate (aren't top 4 lock) past waiver exempt status:

Mailloux, Barron, Xhekaj, Engstrom, Konyushkov

Tier 3
Nice to have but move before losing to waivers if they aren't NHL regulars:
Strubble, Trudeau, Norlinder et al.

Matheson I'd keep until his last year unless a "offer we can't refuse" comes up. Trade him if we can in his expiring year or keep him for that playoff run.

Savard, trade when decent offer arises.

Kovacevic & Harris I'd be shopping aggressively & move for best return available this year or next.

 

[DAChampion]

I wonder if Hughes will have the courage to sell high on Matheson.

Selling high always takes courage, and Matheson is a Montreal native and former client of Hughes.

 

[HuGo Sham]

I think expecting the team to ice seven homegrown d is a little absurd. At least one of your chosen seven will bust and at least one more will be traded.

hopeful yes, absurd not.

the question was who to keep and who to trade. I provided my answer. I don't control who stays and who goes

 

[JianYang]

I wonder if Hughes will have the courage to sell high on Matheson.

Selling high always takes courage, and Matheson is a Montreal native and former client of Hughes.

I don't think there is a sell high or sell low on matheson in general. Rather, I think of it as a game of leverage. He is ideally a mid pair guy who can put up points, and you have to live with a certain number of brain cramps, so under normal circumstances, you can can get something interesting. I'm sure the teams around the league know what he is just like everyone else in the league.

But, if you have him stick around for a bit, and give some time for the transition to occur where the current pipeline starts infiltrating the nhl lineup, and assuming some of these guys live up to their billing, matheson then becomes increasingly expendable, and if some team has a big hole, and not alot of supply is available on the market, then it becomes a high leverage situation for Hughes.

Thats just one scenario, but if it is me, the idea is to wait for your high leverage moment.

 

[Riggins]

I think you just let things play out and see who rises to the top and who busts. This team has a recent history of trading D prospects before they know what they have: McDonagh and Sergachev.

When the likes of Harris and Kovacevic are pushed out by better options you try to trade them and get some sort of value.

 

[26Mats]

Engstrom in the SHL
Konyushkov in the KHL
Reinbacher in the NLA
Hutson in the NCAA

All in addition to Mailloux, Trudeau, Struble in the AHL and Guhle Barron Harris Xhekaj in the NHL.

I just have 0 concerns. Defenseman have more value than forwards and we will draft a good forward this year.

Matheson and Kovacevic aren't young, but they are young enough to be a part of the future.

Matheson I am espcially interested to see if we keep, with Guhle, Hutson, Xhekaj and Engstrom all LD's.

But Matheson brings something that it will be hard for any of the other LD's and RD's to replicate, albeit with lapses.

 

[calder candidate]

Guhle he our top D don’t see him being traded
Barron his combination of size, skills and skate could make him a good top 4. But could be available depending on how Reinbacher and Mailloux or a LD work out…
Xhekaj he has unique set of skills could I don’t see him being traded he could even be used on the bottom 6 if there no room on LD
Reinbacher hope that he a top 4 RD our else
Hutson hope he able to be regular with PP, size and speed is a concern but we haven’t had many prospect dominating the NCAA I don’t see him being traded.
Konyushkov we have is right idenfinately wait and see
Engstrom wait and see
Mailloux wait and see
Trudeau wait and see
Struble wait and see
Harris wait and see
Norlinder
Lindstrom
Kovacevic
Savard Traded ASAP
Matheson traded in the next couple of years…

Ultimately on the LD there already no room (Matheson, Guhle, Hutson, Xhekaj) that means Engstrom, Harris, Trudeau, Struble, Norlinder are likely the odd man out unless they can beat someone or a RD, we will have to make a move to maximize and manage asset but there isn’t any rush right we have some time.

RD is a lot less set Baron, Reinbacher, Mailloux all have potential to be atleast a 2nd pairing D, Savard is obviously not part of the futur, I feel like Kovacevic is a fine 3rd pair unless is next deal is too rich or we get a crazy trade offer, he the kind of guy that perfect 6 or 7th. So it leave Lindstrom and one of the top 3 prospect as the odd man out but it likely wait and see for a other year or two…

 

[Beendair Donedat]

It depends on the timeline you’re talking when you say future. Let’s say it’s 3 years from now, Reinbacher, Engstrom and Konyushov have all come to North America.

During that 3 year span:

Traded - David Savard. A solid veteran depth defenseman for a team looking to make a cup run.

Mike Matheson. Wonderful skater who shows flashes of offensive domination, followed by defensive miscues galore. Would be better suited to second pairing minutes, should return some decent picks/prospects.

Jordan Harris. He’s a fine 5/6 defenseman who will be physically dominated but otherwise plays sound defensive hockey while moving the puck well.

Graduated to big club:

Jayden Struble. Hard hitting, poised defenseman, who will be a rock defensively.

David Reinbacher. Our future top pairing right hand shot defenseman, I see him becoming similar to a Mattias Ekholm type.

Logan Maillioux. Another big body, Mailloux will be an offensive weapon who will require a partner who can help cover some of his defensive deficiencies.

The Wildcard?

Lane Hutson. How will he adapt to the professional game, and NHL physicality? He has massive boom or bust potential. Time will tell. I can’t make a prediction here.

But playing the percentages? My future Habs defense during their contending years looks like:

Guhle - Reinbacher
Struble - Mailloux
Xhekaj - Barron

A big, talented group of defenders with lots of speed.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Engstrom in the SHL
Konyushkov in the KHL
Reinbacher in the NLA
Hutson in the NCAA

All in addition to Mailloux, Trudeau, Struble in the AHL and Guhle Barron Harris Xhekaj in the NHL.

I just have 0 concerns. Defenseman have more value than forwards and we will draft a good forward this year.

Probably true until you get to actual elite talent. I love Makar but I think MacKinnon has more value as pretty similar players.

 

[HuGort]

Matheson we should be able to get good return on because he can provide good secondary offense from Blueline

 

[Rob Sense]

To get any type of reasonable return for our D, they need to demonstrate that they are able to play solid D in the NHL. Trading an undeveloped prospect with not get us a major player in a trade...more likely we will get another draft pick. Other teams will wait us out and pick up someone on waivers. To avoid this we need to clear out veterans at TDL while their value is high and play the youngsters.

 

[Egresch]

Right now, I would see it like this:
LD:
Guhle- clear top 4
Hutson- see next year how he translates to pro, but his PP is elite, I see him as 2/3rd pairing D and PP1 quarterback
Xhekaj- unique skills we will definitely need in PO, his injuries start to concern me little bit
Harris- solid NHL D with limited potential, I like him, but should be traded to acquire other assets
Engstrom- I really like him, he could be a wildcard for our D, lets see his transition to NA next year
Struble- great prospect similar to Xhekaj, we will see how he develops, but I see a trade next year before he becomes RFA
Trudeau- he will be NHL D one day. Let him develop in AHL, one more year and see, but I expect trade next year
Norlinder- trade if you can get any value ASAP

RD:
Barron- I see him as part of our future, his defensive play is improving just cannot pair him with Matheson, keep him with someone like Xhekaj or Struble and he will thrive
Mailloux- lets see how he can progress defensively, his lack of game experience is visible. If he can improve similar to Barron, he can actually replace him as he is more physical and possess great shot from the point for PP2
Reinbacher- he will be top 4, what concerns me, he is the only one who can be paired with Hutson (unlike Barron, Mailloux)
Konyushkov- no need to rush, he can use couple more years in KHL for sure

All others like Savard, Matheson, Lindstrom, Kovacevic should be traded within 2-3 years.

My take in 3 years would be:
Guhle-Barron
Hutson- Reinbacher
Xhekaj- Mailloux
Engstrom

 

[BLONG7]

Until any non NHL prospect proves they can play at the NHL level I won't claim they are ahead of Barron who can currently play 20 minutes a game in the NHL and not look out of place.

Barron always gets sold short, and not sure why? The kid has been chipping in with some offense too. Good PMD, who does need to work on his D in his own end, but so does E Karlsson so..........

 

[Sorinth]

To get any type of reasonable return for our D, they need to demonstrate that they are able to play solid D in the NHL. Trading an undeveloped prospect with not get us a major player in a trade...more likely we will get another draft pick. Other teams will wait us out and pick up someone on waivers. To avoid this we need to clear out veterans at TDL while their value is high and play the youngsters.

That seems like a dubious statement. Rumors were plenty of teams were willing to pay a big price to get our draft pick so they could draft Reinbacher. You think suddenly they won't be interested anymore just because he hasn't made the NHL yet?

Also we have a history of trading highly touted D prospects for guys who we thought were going to be major players. Bad trades for us for sure, but it's not because our D prospects didn't have good value.

 

[Mrb1p]

The reality is "just waiting" doesnt work.

We need to make a choice pretty soon, if we wait too much the assets just wont hold the value, thats the problem with going full BPA (Not even sure thats what they did, just poor planning.)

By the time the Habs have figured out who the 6 players they want to keep, the value of the other defenders will have naturally gone down severely.

 

[DAChampion]

The reality is "just waiting" doesnt work.

We need to make a choice pretty soon, if we wait too much the assets just wont hold the value, thats the problem with going full BPA (Not even sure thats what they did, just poor planning.)

By the time the Habs have figured out who the 6 players they want to keep, the value of the other defenders will have naturally gone down severely.

There's no rush or need to trade anybody right now though.

None of Reinbacher, Hutson, Engstrom, Mailloux are pushing for NHL spots.

So yes the Habs should just wait, until probably some time in the 2024-2025 season.

Barron, Harris are likely to be more valuable a year from now.

 

[Egresch]

There's no rush or need to trade anybody right now though.

None of Reinbacher, Hutson, Engstrom, Mailloux are pushing for NHL spots.

So yes the Habs should just wait, until probably some time in the 2024-2025 season.

Barron, Harris are likely to be more valuable a year from now.

Yes, but outside of those 4, players like Struble, Trudeau, Harris, Savard, Matheson, Lindstrom, Kovacevic, they all should be included in any trade talks right now. It is just too many names and you cannot wait.

 

[DAChampion]

Yes, but outside of those 4, players like Struble, Trudeau, Harris, Savard, Matheson, Lindstrom, Kovacevic, they all should be included in any trade talks right now. It is just too many names and you cannot wait.

What's the point of trading Harris for a 2nd rounder or Trudeau for a 5th rounder?

 

[Seb]

I think expecting the team to ice seven homegrown d is a little absurd. At least one of your chosen seven will bust and at least one more will be traded.

I normally would agree with you but the absurdity here is our dmen prospect pool. I could definitely see a future where the whole team's defensive squad is made up entirely of homegrown defensemen.

To me, the only wild card is injuries.

 

[Egresch]

What's the point of trading Harris for a 2nd rounder or Trudeau for a 5th rounder?

No, I said include in trade talks, e.g. someone calls for Pearson as a good vet rental. If you include Harris/Kovacevic who are solid NHLers with good contract or some D prospects like Struble/Trudeau you can increase the value of trade.

 

[morhilane]

There's no rush or need to trade anybody right now though.

None of Reinbacher, Hutson, Engstrom, Mailloux are pushing for NHL spots.

So yes the Habs should just wait, until probably some time in the 2024-2025 season.

Barron, Harris are likely to be more valuable a year from now.

Harris, Xhekaj, Struble, Guhle, Matheson

Who are the two LDs you are sending down to the AHL once Harris/Xhekaj are healthy so they can play and not sit on the bench?

 

[Mrb1p]

There's no rush or need to trade anybody right now though.

None of Reinbacher, Hutson, Engstrom, Mailloux are pushing for NHL spots.

So yes the Habs should just wait, until probably some time in the 2024-2025 season.

Barron, Harris are likely to be more valuable a year from now.

Not right now, no. But before the inevitability of value loss happens, yeah.

 

[B1g B1rd]

going in 2025-2026

- We need a vet in there and my vet is Matheson for many reasons (skating, offensive skills, Montrealer, positive attitude)
- Which of Xhekaj and Struble will be the best. Do we need both? I dont think so...
- Hutson... He can be anywhere (4th, 5th, 6th, 7th) I don't care. We need a PP specialist and if he adapts well, he's the guy. If not, we're in trouble unless Mailloux proves he's got what it takes
- I think Barron has a top 4 ceiling + he's a RD
- Ghule, Reinbacher are givens for me unless injuries

So:
Ghule - Barron
Matheson - Reinbacher
Xhekay/Struble - Mailloux
Hutson

 

[DAChampion]

Harris, Xhekaj, Struble, Guhle, Matheson

Who are the two LDs you are sending down to the AHL once Harris/Xhekaj are healthy so they can play and not sit on the bench?

Once Harris and Xhekaj are healthy there will be different players on the IR.

People ask "what should management do when everyone is healthy?" every year. It's an irrelevant question. Injuries only rarely decline as the year goes on, they usually increase.

 

[26Mats]

Once Harris and Xhekaj are healthy there will be different players on the IR.

People ask "what should management do when everyone is healthy?" every year. It's an irrelevant question. Injuries only rarely decline as the year goes on, they usually increase.

We'll see!

What's the point of trading Harris for a 2nd rounder or Trudeau for a 5th rounder?

And the thing is, can we even get a 2nd for Harris?