CBC Hot Stove: Habs looking for top 4 D

[rhinoshawarma]

don't see bergeron paying a lot. we probably want a D because redmond is injured, sergachev will most likely go back to juniors soon and it'd take one injury for us to be thin on D. We don't have great replacements and I think it's gonna be more of a depth D than anything. Also, this is Kypreos

 

[Langdon Alger]

I could see Subban doing well there.

 

[lanceuppercut75]

Who's on the market right now anyways? Who is a competent top 4 Left D and could be acquired without sending a top 4 D back?

- Alex Edler
- Jack Johnson
- Marc Staal

- Scandella/Brodin (available?)
- Dmitry Orlov (available?)
- Andrew MacDonald (considered top 4?)
- Ron Hainsey (available?)

** Jacob Trouba (but WIN wants top 4 LD)
** Jake Gardiner (only for young top 4 RD)
** Olli Maatta (but PIT wants top 4 D)

 

[Digitalbooya]

Who's on the market right now anyways? Who is a competent top 4 Left D and could be acquired without sending a top 4 D back?

- Alex Edler
- Jack Johnson
- Marc Staal

- Scandella/Brodin (available?)
- Dmitry Orlov (available?)
- Andrew MacDonald (considered top 4?)
- Ron Hainsey (available?)

** Jacob Trouba (but WIN wants top 4 LD)
** Jake Gardiner (only for young top 4 RD)
** Olli Maatta (but PIT wants top 4 D)

Brodin isn't available barring overpayment. Scandella is an interesting scenario. Minnesota doesn't need dmen back.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

Edler.

Honestly, this would be a fantastic option for Montreal. Bergevin is loathe to give up much value though and Vancouver wouldn't gift Edler away. So, who knows.

 

[Fazkovsky]

Enstrom?

 

[sxvnert]

So are 25 other teams.

 

[BwoyHockeyfan8]

Please take edler

 

[Kent Nilsson]

If Fowler is going to Montreal it better be for Patches or extended Radulov.

You mean Lindholm ?

 

[Cquant]

Please take edler

No one is going to give good value for Edler. He has good chemistry with Stecher atm. Without Edler our 3 best LHD are Sbisa, Tryamkin and Hutton. When one gets injured... Pedan?

Yeah. We probably would be looking for a LHD back as well. Without Edler though, we may actually hit that 65 point prediction. Management would never do that to the Sedins.

 

[montreal]

Too bad Markov has a NTC

Markov has a limited NTC, 12 teams he can't be traded to but no way would they trade him. Imo it would be Beaulieu or Emelin.

 

[BatVader]

Due to needs and cap restrictions, if there was a trade to be had Fowler would probably cost, minimum, Lehkonen+1st or Lehkonen+2nd + juniors prospect.
Ducks need LW and Lehkonen has so far shown he's NHL ready and capable. He's LW, on his ELC so cost controlled, and the pick (and junior player) offset the remaining value.
Would I do it from a Habs perspective.... maybe, if there was a plan already in place to fill Lehkonen's slot.
But as was stated earlier, the Ducks seem as if they are planning on keeping their current roster at least for now, though things could change with the right offer or a change in circumstances in Anaheim.
But as I stated in the OP, for me Fowler is the best choice for the need and fit.

The rest, have their merits, but my biggest question is...
Does anyone consider Beaulieu or Emelin Top 4 D?
If so, there are talks to be had.
If not, the Habs are out on any trades requiring a top 4 D in return.

Would be nice if it's Emelin moved so Beaulieu can stay, but that 4m cap hit is hard to move, which is weird because Emelin is a force to be reckoned with. He's not as physical as he used to be, but when he hits... boy does he hit.
Best case scenario is Emelin is traded and Desharnais is waived to make cap space.

Lastly, everything depends on whether MB is looking for a short term fix or a long term keeper.
Short term, I like Scandella, Edler, Staal.
Long term, Fowler, Brodin, Gardiner
Not a consideration is Trouba. Wants to much money, wants to play the wrong side, wants to play in the US.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Habs would not be trading a roster forward, that's all I can say.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Ah, I remember when a Habs fan tried to argue that their top-4 was top-10 in all of hockey. Those were good times.

Issue is Markov suddenly got old. Sometime midway through last season he stopped being a top 2D and has slid back to Top 4 status.

Beaulieu can't make the jump to the top pair. He's much better as a #4, but since Marky holds that job now he's our #5. Our bottom pair is solid.

But, like Subban last year, Weber is left hanging. Right now, he's playing with Emelin, who is also better as a 4/5.

If we had the Markov of 2 years ago then our D is Markov - Weber, Emelin - Petry, Bealieu/Pateryn and there are no issues, but Markov is slowing down in every way.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

get Brodin

 

[montreal]

Issue is Markov suddenly got old. Sometime midway through last season he stopped being a top 2D and has slid back to Top 4 status.

Beaulieu can't make the jump to the top pair. He's much better as a #4, but since Marky holds that job now he's our #5. Our bottom pair is solid.

But, like Subban last year, Weber is left hanging. Right now, he's playing with Emelin, who is also better as a 4/5.

If we had the Markov of 2 years ago then our D is Markov - Weber, Emelin - Petry, Bealieu/Pateryn and there are no issues, but Markov is slowing down in every way.

aside from a bad 12 game period that saw Markov pick up only 1 pt, the rest of the season he was on pace for 50 pts, which would have put him tied for 9th in the NHL among all defensemen tied with Weber and Subban.

over the last 3 seasons he's had 137 pts only 13 blueliners have had more points then him since the lockout going into this season. Markov is getting slower but his production has remained the same just about, other then a bad few weeks last year.

 

[Benstheman]

Please take edler

I would do Emelin, Scherbak and a conditionnal first for Edler.

 

[varano]

Markov has a limited NTC, 12 teams he can't be traded to but no way would they trade him. Imo it would be Beaulieu or Emelin.

But why Trade beaulieu?

 

[TT1]

But why Trade beaulieu?

We need a top pairing LHD, adding one would mean we'd have 4 LHD's, Beaulieu is the most valuable LHD on our roster.

 

[Mark Kandy]

Honestly I think we're good at the blue line... I'd understand MB to look for an option to jump in if there's injuries but if not...

Beaulieu - Weber
Markov - Petry
Emelin - Pateryn

is a perfect group, Beaulieu did well with Weber and he's a good fit with him. He'll only get better and better playing with him. I understand Markov is aging but we have Sergachev that will probably be ready to take that #2LD spot next season or the other so there's no rush to complete a trade.

Next season...

Beaulieu - Weber
Sergachev - Petry
Markov - Pateryn

 

[A Loyal Demidog]

Honestly I think we're good at the blue line... I'd understand MB to look for an option to jump in if there's injuries but if not...

Beaulieu - Weber
Markov - Petry
Emelin - Pateryn

is a perfect group, Beaulieu did well with Weber and he's a good fit with him. He'll only get better and better playing with him. I understand Markov is aging but we have Sergachev that will probably be ready to take that #2LD spot next season or the other so there's no rush to complete a trade.

Next season...

Beaulieu - Weber
Sergachev - Petry
Markov - Pateryn

Sergachev prefers being a RD. Also, Beaulieu is not top pairing material.

 

[57special]

get Brodin

MTL has nothing to offer the Wild but mediocre prospects and Dmen, which we don't need.

All of their good players are " untouchable".

Didn't understand Scandella being lumped in with Edler and Staal as a short term solution in a post above. He's not as young as Brodin, but he's got plenty of years left.

 

[xxreact9]

You mean Lindholm ?

No, Lindholm would cost much more than Pacioretty. Fowler we're talking Pacioretty or Galchenyuk or there simply isn't a deal to be made. He's played on the top pairing of a division champ for 4 years, and he's still getting better as evidenced by his play this season. He's not getting traded for a spooner or tatar. Those were nonsense rumors created by nonsense fans.

In light of this, Habs say NAW... And why wouldn't they? They don't need to make large sacrifices to add top-4 defenders. They're 8-0-1 and they look fantastic.

Everyone wants top D, no one wants to pay for it. Except Edmonton.. working out quite well for them I'd say.

 

[puckluck33*]

Scandella would be the obvious fit for MTL. VG defensively with offensive upside(hard point shot) and a bit of nasty to his game. 26, and signed for 4(?) more years. He and Weber would be a beastly duo.

He's an NDG boy and Sergio Momesso's nephew.

Every time this is discussed, however, it seems that MTL doesn't want to give anything of value up. It's stuff like Andrighetto/Scherbak and a 3rd. Gets tiresome.

I think that Boston,BUF, and Detroit, amongst many others, are more likely to offer something of value in return for a top 4 Dman. Wild want young, talented forwards or forward prospects.

Scandella has not been good to start the year in Minnesota,but the Wild have to trade somebody on defense or they will lose someone for free to Las Vegas in the expansion draft on June 21st.

 

[puckluck33*]

Kulikov is available last year of his contract in Buffalo but he is not a top pairing d-man.