General 2025 Off-Season Discussion Thread

[Scriptor]

I want a third line based around Dach and Newhook with one of the young guys playing with them.

Get players for Demidov and don't touch the 1st line.

GET MIKE MATHESON OFF THIS TEAM.

Reinbacher and sign another RD.

Hopefully, we can trade Dach and/or Newhook this offseason.

A third line based around those two will amount to crap.

Agree we need to ADD players to play with Demidov on a 2nd line, starting with a genuine 2C and another top-6 winger, something we don't currently have for even strength minutes anywhere in our system.

A top-6 C is always more difficult to acquire, but Hughes definitely has tangible assets in the form of prospects, redundant NHL players for its lineup and futures over the next two drafts (three 1st round picks, four 2nd round picks).

The good news is that 2nd line wingers are more easily acquired. I'd prefer a trade than overpaying for an UFA, but, that might be the preferred option in order to prevent us from sacrificing from our current young core.

Laine could be part of a Euro 3rd line made up of Laine - Kapanen - Heineman. Kapanen and Heineman can be the defensive conscience on a line that, facing off against the opponents' lesser defensive, can perhaps provide secondary scoring.

 

[CHfan1]

When you look at who may be available to slot into the top 6 center role, I think EP would be the best option to play with Demidov and possibly Laine. He's a beast defensively and has just under a PPG career. I think he's a no brainer option if he's available and there will be a lot less focus on him being on a team with so many other players the media obsesses on. I think EP alone makes this team a contender and he's only 26.

I agree with, yeah it’s risky with his salary and the season he just had but I think he can bounce back, after a down season, in a new environment.

Is he the player that put up 15 goals and 45 points in 64 games or the player who put up 3 straight 30 goal seasons prior to that season, which included an 89 point season (2 seasons ago) and a 102 point season (3 seasons ago). I also don’t think it would take that much in a trade, considering his salary, the season he just had, and he has a full NMC starting July 1st.

 

[Favster]

Hopefully, we can trade Dach and/or Newhook this offseason.

A third line based around those two will amount to crap.

Agree we need to ADD players to play with Demidov on a 2nd line, starting with a genuine 2C and another top-6 winger, something we don't currently have for even strength minutes anywhere in our system.

A top-6 C is always more difficult to acquire, but Hughes definitely has tangible assets in the form of prospects, redundant NHL players for its lineup and futures over the next two drafts (three 1st round picks, four 2nd round picks).

The good news is that 2nd line wingers are more easily acquired. I'd prefer a trade than overpaying for an UFA, but, that might be the preferred option in order to prevent us from sacrificing from our current young core.

Laine could be part of a Euro 3rd line made up of Laine - Kapanen - Heineman. Kapanen and Heineman can be the defensive conscience on a line that, facing off against the opponents' lesser defensive, can perhaps provide secondary scoring.

I honestly think those 2 on the wing with Evans as their C would be a very good third line.

 

[HankyZetts]

I honestly think those 2 on the wing with Evans as their C would be a very good third line.

Yuck lol. Evans is a 4th liner. Newhook and him on the same line means Dach is playing with two play killers.

 

[DAChampion]

A genie offers you the following choice, which do you take?

Trade Laine (UFA 2026) for a 7th round draft pick
Trade Newhook (UFA 2027) for a 7th round draft pick

 

[Milhouse40]

Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Caufield
Laine - Dach- Demidov
Anderson - Newhook - Gallagher
Heineman - Evans - Kapanen

Guhle - Hutson
Matheson - Carrier
Xhekaj - Struble

Montembeault
Dobes

This is the actual line-up for next year if Kent sits on his hand all summer long. Do nothing other than signing the RFA and it's really not a terrible line-up at all going into this summer and next season.

KH start this summer with that line-up / rosters
That should leave him with around 17 millions of open cap space and 12 picks in the next draft.
Still many prospect getting closer like Reinbacher, Beck, Mailloux, Engstrom, Roy, Fowler.....

Don't need 15 moves.....and there's a lot of assets to play with here.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Hutson: 5 points
Caufield: 4 points
Everyone else: 2 points or less

Habs need more 5'8" or less players!

Facts

 

[DAChampion]

Anderson - Newhook - Gallagher
Heineman - Evans - Kappanen

Anderson - Kappanen - Gallagher
Heinemen - Evans - Newhook

Kappanen has the best potential of the three centers there, so give him a better opportunity.

 

[Scriptor]

Realistically this is what is happening.

Out: Dvorak, Armia, Savard, Pezzetta
In: 2C and RD

Slaf - Suzuki - Caufield
Laine - 2C - Demidov
Heinemen - Dach - Newhook
Anderson - Evans - Gally
Kapanen

Hutson - RD
Guhle - Reinbacher
Matheson - Carrier
Struble or Xhekaj

Trade bait for the 2C and RD:

- Arber Xhekaj or Jayden Struble
- Any prospect not listed above and not named Hage or Fowler
- All picks are on the table to varying degrees

Depending on our playoffs hunt our UFA's in 2026 could be on the table at TDL - Matheson and Laine but I don't see them being moved in off-season

Currently I am dreaming of Crosby as our 2C with a trade involving Xhekaj or Struble + Owen Beck + both 2025 1sts

And I am fantasizing about signing Ekblad as a UFA.

A trade involving all the assets you suggest for Crosby, even if it were to be possible, only happens if Crosby is the final missing piece to land a Cup over a two or three year window.

This is not the case and trading such assets for Crosby makes no sense. Depending on the age and quality of the 2C we would acquire, IMO, even Hage could be on the table.

I don't see Laine, Matheson, or Dach being moved in the offseason.

I don't think that Montreal's need for a top-4 RHD is as pressing as acquiring a 2C this offseason, but, circumstance might make it ripe for it to happen and, if Hughes sees a sure-shot opportunity to land an established shutdown, top-4 RHD to play with Hutson, I don't think he will pass it up, even if he can't/won't move Matheson in the offseason...

Guhle - Carrier
Hutson - Shutdown RHD
Matheson (until trade deadline) - Reinbacher

To start things off next season would work, IMO.

Guhle and carrier have already displayed some chemistry while playing together earlier in the season, before Guhle got injured.

The Shutdown D acquired to play with Hutson could prevent the youngster from experiencing a sophomore slump.

Reinbacher could keep his game simple as he gets used to the tempo at the NHL level while Matheson drives the play on that pairing.

By the trade deadline, when Matheson gets moved, reinbacher should be ready to trade places with Carrier as a shutdown D on a shutdown pairing with Guhle that plays against the opponents' best players:

Guhle (6'2") - Reinbacher (6'3")
Hutson (5'9.5") - Shutdown D (At least 6'2")
Xhekaj (6'4") - Carrier (5'11")
Struble (6'0")

I'm not certain that Laine is actually suited for a dynamic 2nd line winger role, but I assume he gets the first audition at LW on the 2nd line because it would be difficult to acquire all three of an established 2nd line C, a top-4 RHD on top of Reinbacher and a top-6 winger, the three players that would absolutely transform the Habs' lineup and enable it to concretely take the next step forward.

A 2C acquisition is a must, IMO, but the Habs can delay acquiring a top-four RHD unit either next year's trade deadline, or next year's offseason.

A top-6 winger could perhaps be acquired via the UFA market.

A skilled winger that can play both wings while setting up line mates or finishing plays could be just what the doctor ordered for Demidov's progression.

Ehlers fits that bill and is a certified 60+ point producer, a nice element for a 2nd line.

If fully recovered from his foot injury this season, Ehlers would be an interesting complement to Demidov on a 2nd line and signing Ehlers as an UFA could definitely free up the assets required to acquire a 2nd line C with grit and skill, like a Horvat, for example.

I'd use Laine on a Euro 3rd line and reunite him with Ehlers on the 2nd PP wave.

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Ehlers - Horvat - Demidov
Laine - Kapanen - Heineman
Anderson - Evans - Gallagher

This roster would be contingent on succeeding to trade both Newhook and Dach.

If Montreal somehow moves on from Laine. Florian Xhekaj can get the nod to join the roster at the NHL level:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Ehlers - Horvat - Demidov
Heineman/F. Xhekaj - Kapanen - Anderson
Xhekaj/Heineman - Evans - Gallagher

 

[Sorinth]

Anderson - Kappanen - Gallagher
Heinemen - Evans - Newhook

Kappanen has the best potential of the three centers there, so give him a better opportunity.

I'm sure many combinations would get tried so it's whichever ones show the best chemistry.

And worth noting that Newhook did fairly well his first season with us when paired with Gallagher. Newhook was something like 1 or 2 points below ppg in the last dozen games to finish the year alongside Armia & Gallagher.

 

[Draft]

Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Caufield
Laine - Dach- Demidov
Anderson - Newhook - Gallagher
Heineman - Evans - Kapanen

Guhle - Hutson
Matheson - Carrier
Xhekaj - Struble

Montembeault
Dobes

This is the actual line-up for next year if Kent sits on his hand all summer long. Do nothing other than signing the RFA and it's really not a terrible line-up at all going into this summer and next season.

KH start this summer with that line-up / rosters
That should leave him with around 17 millions of open cap space and 12 picks in the next draft.
Still many prospect getting closer like Reinbacher, Beck, Mailloux, Engstrom, Roy, Fowler.....

Don't need 15 moves.....and there's a lot of assets to play with here.

Yep, can’t forget that we made the playoffs this year with a team that didn’t have a 2C or top-pairing RD. We’ll be a better team than we started with last year without doing anything. I still think next year is a building year and not a win-at-all costs year and our acquisitions should reflect that.

 

[Miller Time]

A genie offers you the following choice, which do you take?

Trade Laine (UFA 2026) for a 7th round draft pick
Trade Newhook (UFA 2027) for a 7th round draft pick

Neither & I punch the genie in the mouth for being a fraud

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

A genie offers you the following choice, which do you take?

Trade Laine (UFA 2026) for a 7th round draft pick
Trade Newhook (UFA 2027) for a 7th round draft pick

Neither. get lost genie.

 

[DAChampion]

Neither & I punch the genie in the mouth for being a fraud

 

[Bottomshelf]

Mike Matheson isn’t a bad player, he’s just being deployed to a level that he isn’t. He is consistently being used as a #1 or # 2 but is likely a second pairing D man. Might have had proper deployment this year if Reinbacher was healthy but likely will next season

 

[Bacchus1]

When are the exit interviews happening. Looking forward to hearing about all the injuries.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

When are the exit interviews happening. Looking forward to hearing about all the injuries.

When do they ever disclose all the injuries?

 

[26Mats]

When are the exit interviews happening. Looking forward to hearing about all the injuries.

Hughes speaks Minday at 10am. Will be interesting if he reveals anything about offseason plans. We know he'll be looking for a 2c. But will he also be looking for a top 6 winger to replace Laine? Another RD to go with Reinbacher and Carrier? Will he make room in the bottom six for Dach and Newhook?

 

[Deus ex machina]

Hughes speaks tomorrow at 9am. Will. E interesting if he reveals anything about offses sd on plans. We know he'll be looking for a 2c. But will he also be looking for a top 6 winger? Another RD to go with Reinbacher and Carrier? Will he make room in the bottom six for Dach and Newhook?

When are the exit interviews happening. Looking forward to hearing about all the injuries.

Players tomorrow morning.
Hugo Monday only.

 

[calder candidate]

Offense
CC Suzuki Slaf
Laine Dach Demidov
Heinemen Newhook Anderson
Kapanen Evans Gallagher
Roy

CC Suzuki Slaf, Slaf still need to hit an other gear but that is a good 1st line

Demidov, Plug and play top 6 the guy can only get better, he is already one of our 3 most skilled player...

Laine, The knee injury really crush all momentum... Was on one leg and had like 17pts in is first 20 gmes but has the season progress he just got worst, glad he came back probably the one of the main reason we got in the playoff, but clearly he was at like 40%, if he at 85% he still a above avg top6 offensive player and even if he is only a 3rd liner PP specialist still better than anything else we have for the next season. One year left there no risk, if he is good he is good and we can trade him or extend him if it can fit $ and term, if he isn't well we have to remeber that we got a 2nd pick and our young team got to go to the playoff because of him that is worth putting up with him...

Dach, Had flashes of being dominant before the knee injury this year expectation were still high and he just didn't have it, early in the season he had zero swag looked uncomfortable with the puck making bad decision he kinda turn it around and got injured... Still hopefull he can be a top 6 with is skills and size that would be ideal since then our need would be a top Winger and ther is more options, but at worst he should be a good middle 6.

Newhook, Never like the trade to start with but he been playing better as the season progress and still only 24yo so he could improve just not sure he make other player better, with is speed he is a good middle 6 option, also with is contract and skills he might keep some value if we decide to move on.

Evans, Versatile great on the PK and faceoff, ok contract good bottom 6, when Mtl made started to turn their season around him and Armia were probably our most dominant line

Anderson and Gallagher, Is ok to good bottom 6 only 2 years left. Anderson still as a role in the bottom 6, not really sure Gallagher still one we could probably use someone bigger, faster and younger in our bottom 6 but he got the intensity

Heinemen, Prove he was a NHL player is ok bottm six with some upside.

I have no issue giving Dach and Newhook audition for second line center, I might even give try Demidov...

Biggest need is a good 2nd line player in case Laine or Dach aren't able to perform or push them down to the 3rd line ideally a C since it is easier to move thing around, maybe a bottom 6 / 13fw. But honestly we made the playoff we don't need to be overly aggressive, force a trade that isn't great or sign a bad contract player will become available during the season and we have the team and asset to pull the trigger

Potentiel UFA target top 6 or 12/13th FW
S. Bennett, B. Nelson, M. Duchene, Beauvillier, P. Suter, E. Robnison, J. Armia, T. Raddysh, A. Mantha, Y. Gourde
Potentiel trade Target
S. Crosby, A. Kempe, M.Barzal, B. Jenner

Defense
Matheson Carrier
Gulhe Hutson
Xhekaj Reinbacher
Struble Mailloux

Hutson, Size and speed wasn't a issue was probably our best D
Matheson, probably still get to many minutes and critique are a bit too harsh
Guhle, still improving and should be a solid top 4
Carrier, was very solid, better than I expected perfect stop gap /replacement for Savard
Reinbacher, looked good in the AHL but there is step to being a top 4 in the NHL
Xhekaj, those preseason shenanigans an kinda derailled is season fine bottom pairing D
Struble fine bottom pairing /7th D
Mailloux kinda fell back to earth after a big season...

Need is a top 4 RD but there isn't a lot available...
Potentiel UFA target
D. Fabbro, B. Burns
Potentiel trade target
J. Trouba, R. Ristolainen, S. Rinzel,

Goalies
Monty
Dobes
Primeau
Fowlers

Not really any need in net...

 

[26Mats]

Players tomorrow morning.
Hugo Monday only.

ah ok.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Yall crazy if we make barely any moves having Dach as our second center next season with Carrier and Matheson as top 4 is a good ''approach''

That team is horrendous without Suzuki carrying the team with Hutson.

 

[Quatre Vingt Treize]

Gally-Dach-Anderson might make a lot of sense as a third line, good job.

If Dach doesn't show up to this camp in shape I am done with him. Be the last straw

 

[salbutera]

Hughes speaks tomorrow at 9am. Will. E interesting if he reveals anything about offses sd on plans. We know he'll be looking for a 2c. But will he also be looking for a top 6 winger? Another RD to go with Reinbacher and Carrier? Will he make room in the bottom six for Dach and Newhook?

Change of plans. Players clean out lockers this morning w exit interviews. HuGo speak w media Monday AM, so they will be able to shed some light on exit interviews

 

[Habs Icing]

It doesn;t matter how many minutes he plays. Matheson gives away the puck as of the first period and is a huge liability. Aside from his skating, he has nothing to offer.

Caufield is another libability for us in our D zone and has lost us many games this season from missed coverage. People complain that Laine is a 1 trick pony so what exactly is Caufield?

Hutson is another one that has cost us games with missed coverages but I'll give him a pass for now since he's in year 1.

Newhook ocnsistenly can;t finish no matter who sets him up.

Dach is made of glass.

This post sums up all the trade-Matheson posts. The only difference is that this poster has an eye for the panoramic, whereas the other posters are single-minded.

I hate to tell you this because he's my favourite player on the team but Suzuki misses many assignments, shots, and passes.