Proposal: Habs and Devils

[pth2]

Just reading the proposal, I knew it would be badly received - outside of Montreal, Xhekaj seems to be seen as a 6th D goon, whereas many Habs fans see his as a potential physically dominant top-4, and Anderson, for all his faults and exagerated salary, is still a useful physical winger, but is seen as a horrible cap anchor.

That being said, I'm not sure the value is there for NJ here - Xhekaj probably has lower value than Romanov did, still roughly similar to Winnipeg's first (ie, 26th), but not enough to be the main asset to get #10.

 

[MisterT]

So you believe Lebrun said it but he lied or was fooled? The Habs told him to say it and he went with it. That kind of logic make me want to end the conversation with you. You're reaching bud

Come out of your glass house before throwing stones.

 

[Djp]

Probably another one that gets shot down but chat away...

Xhekaj, Anderson, Avs 2nd
for
10th OA, Palat

Anderson and Palat both have 3 years left. Anderson brings in some size/skating/grit and there were rumors of the Devils offering a 1st for Anderson prior to last year. I'm not that excited about taking on Palat but he's only there to even out the cap.

Xhekaj may be an easy target to devalue but this guy is one I have a hard time putting on the table in a trade. Only 95 NHL games and his nasty physical side is exactly what you want in the playoffs. All he is missing is maturity/experience and one more complete season might do that. He could make the Habs look like fools for trading before we know how good he is. Some are saying he is a bottom pairing guy only but others see his top 4 physical presence.

Chatter I am hearing is the Devils are after size/skating/grit in their top 6 or top 9 and a LD.

I thought montreal had yo include their 5OA to take Anderson

 

[HBK27]

* Anderson/Palat are nullifiers
* Xhekaj = Romanov = 13th = Xhekaj/Avs 2nd = 10th.

Xhekaj is not just some bottom pairing depth guy. He's got way more value than that bud. This is a real debate that does not deserve a thread derail of BS comments.

If the situation was reversed and you were trading a piece like Xhekaj, you would speak in reverse when others devalue him. Use words like Ridiculous.

First off Anderson f***ing stinks. No Devils fan wants anything to do with him at all. Palat's contract is not good either, but I'd much rather take my chances with a 2x Cup winner and proven playoff performer in Palat than have anything to do with Anderson. Even if I consider those two are close in trade value (I still take Palat easily)...

Xhekaj is nowhere near worth 10th overall and a very late 2nd round pick. Glad Montreal fans are happy with his upside, but he still has a long way to go before showing he's not just a bottom pairing depth guy and he's far from a lock to get there. In case you haven't noticed, the Devils are in a win-now mode as shown by trading for a pair of 34-year old goalies in the past few months. They don't need to acquire a project, particularly at the price of #10 overall. It is ridiculous. Xhekaj has much more value for a rebuilding team like Montreal that can be patient with him than he does with a win-now team like NJ.

Devils will look to sign a LD UFA or make a trade for a vet that can step in for a couple seasons and play the PK. There are 6 really good defensemen available in this draft and a good chance at least one of them is there at #10 for the Devils that could be penciled into their top 4 on LD to go along with Hughes. I just can't wait for NJ to finally make that pick so these insane proposals for #10 can finally stop.

 

[Djp]

Probably another one that gets shot down but chat away...

Xhekaj, Anderson, Avs 2nd
for
10th OA, Palat

Anderson and Palat both have 3 years left. Anderson brings in some size/skating/grit and there were rumors of the Devils offering a 1st for Anderson prior to last year. I'm not that excited about taking on Palat but he's only there to even out the cap.

Xhekaj may be an easy target to devalue but this guy is one I have a hard time putting on the table in a trade. Only 95 NHL games and his nasty physical side is exactly what you want in the playoffs. All he is missing is maturity/experience and one more complete season might do that. He could make the Habs look like fools for trading before we know how good he is. Some are saying he is a bottom pairing guy only but others see his top 4 physical presence.

Chatter I am hearing is the Devils are after size/skating/grit in their top 6 or top 9 and a LD.

You could argue Snderson and Palat are a wash

Xheksy and a late 2nd does not get you 30th OA...let alone 10th

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

So you believe Lebrun said it but he lied or was fooled? The Habs told him to say it and he went with it. That kind of logic make me want to end the conversation with you. You're reaching bud

Lots of teams use the media to float things/pressure test things/push their own agendas.

Feel free to end the conversation (that you asked for). Your detachment from reality makes me we wish I never engaged in the first place.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

If a team did, Anderson wouldn’t be Hab. If other GM turned that down, he should be sued for malpractice.


I’ll give you 70 cents for a dollar. What is there to chat about?

Anderson had value at that point and it would have required MORE than a 1st because retention would have been needed.

 

[FerrisRox]

I believe Lebrun when he said... "I can assure you a 1st was offered for Anderson". Lebrun would not go out of his way to say something like that.

You have quoted Pierre Lebrun here. Can you source this quote, please? I can't seem to find this claim anywhere.

Earlier in this thread you offered a link that you claimed was Pierre Lebrun talking about the Devils interest in Josh Anderson, but you either didn't bother to read the link, or you were deliberately misleading people because LeBrun didn't even mention Anderson at all.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

You could argue Snderson and Palat are a wash

Xheksy and a late 2nd does not get you 30th OA...let alone 10th

GARBAGE. I guarantee you Xhekaj and a late 2nd would get a late 1st. It would need more for a 10th pick.

 

[CanadienShark]

Devils fans, by the end of this thread you will be convinced or at least have it beaten into you, that Josh Anderson is the ideal power forward you are missing and that Xhekaj is your best hope to have a Norris winner.

It would be best if you just accept this early.

Makar needs Xhekaj and MacKinnon needs Anderson. We'll take Rantanen in return. Thank you very much for your time.

 

[pth2]

GARBAGE. I guarantee you Xhekaj and a late 2nd would get a late 1st. It would need more for a 10th pick.

I'm pretty much at the same point. 10th has significant value.

But that doesn't justify the hate on Anderson and Xhekaj, with Palat and Anderson being reasonably equivalent overall.

 

[habsfan44]

Probably another one that gets shot down but chat away...

Xhekaj, Anderson, Avs 2nd
for
10th OA, Palat

Anderson and Palat both have 3 years left. Anderson brings in some size/skating/grit and there were rumors of the Devils offering a 1st for Anderson prior to last year. I'm not that excited about taking on Palat but he's only there to even out the cap.

Xhekaj may be an easy target to devalue but this guy is one I have a hard time putting on the table in a trade. Only 95 NHL games and his nasty physical side is exactly what you want in the playoffs. All he is missing is maturity/experience and one more complete season might do that. He could make the Habs look like fools for trading before we know how good he is. Some are saying he is a bottom pairing guy only but others see his top 4 physical presence.

Chatter I am hearing is the Devils are after size/skating/grit in their top 6 or top 9 and a LD.

Pass ! Too much size and grit walking out the door here , 10th. overall is a nice shiny toy to have but it won't help when we're being dominated by bigger , stronger teams next year when we want to compete for a playoff spot . The Devils understand this , that's why they traded for MacDermid March past and will be on the lookout for a big , strong forward with the ability to play in their top nine to help him protect their small skilled players .

 

[Devilsfan118]

Who else could be a young LD target for the Devils with the 10th OA pick? I'm curious to see this list. Can we assemble a possible list to see what the Devils fans expectations are? If you list guys like Guhle, you are reaching just like you are criticizing me of reaching with Xhekaj. But you could get Chychrun on a sign/trade though.

Funnily enough, I would consider Guhle a closer comparable but would expect some other assets to be involved in the deal.

The fact that you deem him apparently off the table is, I think, indicative of where your head is at as far as overvaluing your prospects.

 

[jfhabs]

No one offered a 1st for Anderson. Just because your GM said so doesn't make it true. Look at Calgary, they said they don't need to trade Markstrom & are fine keeping him yet was traded within 24 hours. If he was offered it he was a fool to not take it because Anderson is on a horrendous contract. He's a negative asset. You're going to have to pay to dump him. So what your trade proposal is a cap dump, a prospect and a 2nd for 10th OA and Palat who is an actual good player and fills a need for NJ. You act like Palat is a bad contract. In actuality he's more than good on our 3rd line and plays on our top line sometimes. Him, Nico and Bratt formed a really good line. So yeah this proposal is ludicrous.

Palat is a good contract?
Very similar situation to Anderson IMO.

Funnily enough, I would consider Guhle a closer comparable but would expect some other assets to be involved in the deal.

The fact that you deem him apparently off the table is, I think, indicative of where your head is at as far as overvaluing your prospects.

Why should we trade Guhle for the 10th pick? To hope to get another Guhle?
Doesn't make sense.

 

[HBK27]

I'm pretty much at the same point. 10th has significant value.

But that doesn't justify the hate on Anderson and Xhekaj, with Palat and Anderson being reasonably equivalent overall.

Aside from a few extra hits and saving $500K per season on the cap, what does Anderson offer over Palat?

Palat's regular season stats are better and the playoff stats are not even comparable. Both probably have negative value at their current deals and the value is not far off, but I still can't think of any reason why NJ would prefer Anderson. The hate on him is well deserved given the number of proposals Devils fans have had to suffer through for him on these boards (often involving a high pick in return).

As for Xhekaj, he's just not what NJ is looking for at the moment. They need someone that's proven that can play heavy minutes on the PK. Xhekaj hasn't played at all on Montreal's PK, which would be a huge issue for NJ as Hamilton and Hughes already don't play on the PK for them. He's just not at all a fit with the Devils.

 

[Devilsfan118]

Why should we trade Guhle for the 10th pick? To hope to get another Guhle?
Doesn't make sense.

I'm not saying the Habs would or should, but I think the value is closer than the other player OP originally included, even when considering Xhekaj's Grit/60 is apparently off the charts.

 

[tmg]

The timing of this thread is weird.

The Devils just ushered a plus-sized penalty-prone third pairing young defenseman out the door yesterday in Kevin Bahl.

I’ll grant Anderson Palat is a near wash. They’re both overpaid over term and underproducing and maybe the change of scenery would work (the idea that either of them has been considered to have first round pick value recently is laughable - both are in ‘attach a first round to shed them and get back future considerations’ territory. )

But the Devils didn’t send out Bahl for the opportunity to give 10th overall chasing the sudden need for a player whose role would be very much like Bahl’s. They sent out Bahl because that was an expendable role.

And even if Xhekaj stands to be better than Bahl … it’s not by a ‘give tenth overall’ factor.

 

[jfhabs]

Let this sink in. The guy could not crack a bottom-feeding NHL lineup for most of the year. When most of us have seen him play, he looks like a #6 d-man at best. He's 23. Tell me why, as a Devils GM, you would even entertain the thought of parting with #10 with this guy as the centerpiece of the deal.

I don't think the issue was him not being good enough. Sending him back was to give him more ice time and developpement opportunity. This is public stuff. St.Louis and Hughes said it. Xhekaj thought he was it because he's a star in Montreal, but St.Louis said they want him to be a star on the ice.

If you didn't see glimpse of a top 4 physical D with offensive upside, you need a new pair of eyes. Yes, like all young players, sometimes he looked bad.

I thought montreal had yo include their 5OA to take Anderson

Why would Montreal do that?

 

[jfhabs]

Aside from a few extra hits and saving $500K per season on the cap, what does Anderson offer over Palat?

Palat's regular season stats are better and the playoff stats are not even comparable. Both probably have negative value at their current deals and the value is not far off, but I still can't think of any reason why NJ would prefer Anderson. The hate on him is well deserved given the number of proposals Devils fans have had to suffer through for him on these boards (often involving a high pick in return).

As for Xhekaj, he's just not what NJ is looking for at the moment. They need someone that's proven that can play heavy minutes on the PK. Xhekaj hasn't played at all on Montreal's PK, which would be a huge issue for NJ as Hamilton and Hughes already don't play on the PK for them. He's just not at all a fit with the Devils.

Palat's stats are mostly better if you look in the past. If I'm making projection on what the player is going to give you for the next 3 years of their respective contract, I'd take Anderson (30yo). Palat is 33 and looks like he has started to decline. He has produce slightly more than Anderson, but Anderson provides size, speed and grit. Overall, Palat is a slightly better player now, but Anderson fits better in both line ups IMO(both lacking size). That doesn't mean Devils should make that trade. I think they could do a lot better in terms of help right now if they move the 10th pick.

But, the narrative that Palat is somehow just fine and his contract is not a cap dump while Anderson is an abominable contract is wrong. But contract sucks, a lot.

 

[Bond]

You have quoted Pierre Lebrun here. Can you source this quote, please? I can't seem to find this claim anywhere.

Earlier in this thread you offered a link that you claimed was Pierre Lebrun talking about the Devils interest in Josh Anderson, but you either didn't bother to read the link, or you were deliberately misleading people because LeBrun didn't even mention Anderson at all.

It was a very old soundbite that seemed more like a guy trying to help out a GM. A 1st was totalllllly offered for Anderson, get in other GMs lol. It spawned a whole bunch of bad proposals with the Flames at the time haha.

Is Xhekaj even that much better than Bahl?

 

[HugeInTheShire]

The value is way off, and this isn't what the Devils are looking to get out of 10OA

If the Devils move 10 it won't be for a D that hasn't even had a full season in the NHL, even if they think in a few years he'd be a top 4 guy, it will be for a D that is an established NHL player. They've got Marstrom for 2 years, they don't want projects they want NHL players.

Also Palat has a NMC and there is no way he waives for Montreal.

 

[HBK27]

Palat's stats are mostly better if you look in the past. If I'm making projection on what the player is going to give you for the next 3 years of their respective contract, I'd take Anderson (30yo). Palat is 33 and looks like he has started to decline. He has produce slightly more than Anderson, but Anderson provides size, speed and grit. Overall, Palat is a slightly better player now, but Anderson fits better in both line ups IMO(both lacking size). That doesn't mean Devils should make that trade. I think they could do a lot better in terms of help right now if they move the 10th pick.

But, the narrative that Palat is somehow just fine and his contract is not a cap dump while Anderson is an abominable contract is wrong. But contract sucks, a lot.

I mean...you can only really look at the past when comparing stats. I'd also argue that Anderson's physical style might be taking more of a toll on him, negating the age difference.

Also not sure if that last line is directed at me, as I specifically wrote "Both probably have negative value at their current deals and the value is not far off" so I'm not the one going with anything close to that supposed narrative.

 

[My3Sons]

No one offered a 1st for Anderson. Just because your GM said so doesn't make it true. Look at Calgary, they said they don't need to trade Markstrom & are fine keeping him yet was traded within 24 hours. If he was offered it he was a fool to not take it because Anderson is on a horrendous contract. He's a negative asset. You're going to have to pay to dump him. So what your trade proposal is a cap dump, a prospect and a 2nd for 10th OA and Palat who is an actual good player and fills a need for NJ. You act like Palat is a bad contract. In actuality he's more than good on our 3rd line and plays on our top line sometimes. Him, Nico and Bratt formed a really good line. So yeah this proposal is ludicrous.

Palat’s NMC shoots the whole thing down anyway they slice it.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Habs fans really fetishize any guy over 6’2” huh.

 

[Oneiro]

Literally nothing I want from the Habs. Which isn't to say they don't have great or good players but the teams are bad trade partners. Devils need checking forwards with size, experience and a strong cycle game. And they need a solid defensive LHD.

Matheson's numbers are trending down, plus I doubt they want to move him given the kind of minutes he plays. No interest in Xhekaj and his mediocre defensive play. For the same reason I don't want Zadorov - the hits are anecdotal, the remaining 90% of ice time, you're losing the puck.