Holes to Fill Next Season

[dauv]

I decided to make this thread to see if we could have one thread where people can chime in and say how they think next year's holes can be filled (by who and how)

I personally think that we need the following next year

1 - Surefire 2 line C (to insulate if Dach can't be that). I think I would go after Malkin. Obviously this would be a TD or draft day acquisition. I think Calgary/Fla 1st + a b/c prospect (Farrel/kidney kind of prospects) should be enough I would think. This would help insulate Dach and could go a long way in getting Demidov comfortable

2 - 1RD or 2RD. No idea who for this hole, but I think we need to use Matheson as the major trade chip to get this part. It would allow a rebalancing of the D's and put everyone in their right chair (Guhle on the left)

1d pair if RD = Hutson / 1RD?
2d pair if 1rd = Guhle / Mailloux
1st pair if 2rd = Guhle / Mailloux
2nd pair if 2rd = Hutson / 2rd?
3d pair = Xhekaj / Engstrom or barron

Unless Reinbacher has an amazing camp he stays in AHL all year

3 - A gritty 3rd 4th line forward - FA Mathieu Olivier

4 - Re-sign Evans (unless someone sends you a can't refuse offer this TD.)

5 - Vet Back Up G - bring back FA Allen on a 1 year deal. This keeps Dobes and Fowler in the AHL all year

New Lines next year
cauf - Suz - Slaf
Laine - Malkin - Demidov
Dach - Beck/Evans - Anderson/Newhook/Heineman
Olivier - Evans/Beck - Gallagher

Guhle / Mailloux
Hutson / 1rd or 2rd
Xhekaj / Engstrom or Barron

Montembault
Allen

Trade Candidates either TD or off season
Matheson
Roy
Armia
Dvorak
Anderson
Newhook

possible, not likely, better options.... what are your thoughts

Click to read more...

 

[Vachon23]

I wouldn’t give that kind of asset for a player who won’t be with us when we will compete.

I would give many assert for a top RD like Ramsus Andersson or Noah Dobson if NYI decide to rebuild the team

Yes for Mathieu Olivier

Would give a chance at Dobes to get the #2 G spot

For the #2 C, I still believe in Dach

 

[Team_Spirit]

Next year is also a tank year.

 

[417]

Chill with that tread title man…

 

[Rapala]

I wouldn’t give that kind of asset for a player who won’t be with us when we will compete.

I would give many assert for a top RD like Ramsus Andersson or Noah Dobson if NYI decide to rebuild the team

Yes for Mathieu Olivier

Would give a chance at Dobes to get the #2 G spot

For the #2 C, I still believe in Dach

I agree if we use the trade chips mentioned it won't be on a aging star.
Balancing our D is a must as is allowing for another strong arm up front.
We recently saw an example of how screwed we are when a player like Carrick can get Xhekaj off the ice for 12 minutes.
Even though I didn't think Arber deserved the ten minutes it's too easy for the officiating to single out him.

 

[Nevins]

Slaf- Suzuki- Caufield
Laine- - Demidov
Haineman- Newhook- Dach
Gally- - Anderson


Matheson- Guhle
Hutson-
Xhekaj- Mailloux
Struble- Barron


Monty

Because Hage and the first overall pick this year( hopefully a center)should be playing in the NHL in 2-3 years and Beck, Kapanen, Xhekaj, Tuch in 2-3 years, I would only sign forwards UFAs to 2 year deals.On defense, Matheson is leaving in 1 year so it might look like this:Guhle- Mailloux,Hutson- Reinbacher,Xhekaj-Endstrom,Struble-Barron, I would only sign a right handed defenseman for 1 year.For goalies, I would sign a goalie for 1 year because Fowler and Dobes might be ready in 2 years.

 

[FerrisRox]

I personally think that we need the following next year

1 - Surefire 2 line C (to insulate if Dach can't be that). I think I would go after Malkin. Obviously this would be a TD or draft day acquisition. I think Calgary/Fla 1st + a b/c prospect (Farrel/kidney kind of prospects) should be enough I would think.

You think a re-building club should trade a 1st round draft pick and a prospect to acquire a centre who would be 39 years old for his first game with the Canadiens?

If the Habs did this, I would lose all faith in this management team. It would be an impossibly stupid thing to do.

 

[Ozmodiar]

2025-26:
(Dach does enough to buy a year)

CC - NS - Demidov
Slaf - Dach - Laine
Newhook - Beck - Gallagher
Heineman - Evans - Anderson

Matheson - Guhle
Hutson - Barron
Xhekaj - Mailloux

2026-27:

CC - NS - Demidov
Slaf - Hage - Martone (2025 draft)
Newhook - Beck - Dach
Heineman - Evans - Gallagher

Guhle - Andersson (FA)
Hutson - Reinbacher
Xhekaj - Mailloux

I’m not confident in the FA signing. lol

 

[26Mats]

Slaf- Suzuki- Caufield
Laine- - Demidov
Haineman- Newhook- Dach
Gally- - Anderson


Matheson- Guhle
Hutson-
Xhekaj- Mailloux
Struble- Barron


Monty

Because Hage and the first overall pick this year( hopefully a center)should be playing in the NHL in 2-3 years and Beck, Kapanen, Xhekaj, Tuch in 2-3 years, I would only sign forwards UFAs to 2 year deals.On defense, Matheson is leaving in 1 year so it might look like this:Guhle- Mailloux,Hutson- Reinbacher,Xhekaj-Endstrom,Struble-Barron, I would only sign a right handed defenseman for 1 year.For goalies, I would sign a goalie for 1 year because Fowler and Dobes might be ready in 2 years.

- Would be great to trade Matheson for a late 1st, and then sign Rasmus Andersson, or another RD, such as this year's UFA Corps' Brandon Montour.

- At forward, there's also Kapanen and Roy.

- Would be great to add Matthew Olivier.

- I hope Barron gets a regular shift once Savard is traded at the TDL. If the plan was to see if he can improve with time and experience, it would be good to give him a regular shift.

- In goal, it would be good at some point this year to see what Hughes can do.

 

[Runner77]

Because Hage and the first overall pick this year( hopefully a center)should be playing in the NHL in 2-3 years and Beck, Kapanen, Xhekaj, Tuch in 2-3 years, I would only sign forwards UFAs to 2 year deals.

Are there UFAs who would settle for such a short deal? Some other team is bound to offer more term.

Maybe a more successful alternative might be to target a vet who has 2 years remaining on his long term deal and offer redundant assets in a trade.

 

[red devil]

- Would be great to trade Matheson for a late 1st, and then sign Rasmus Andersson, or another RD, such as this year's UFA Corps' Brandon Montour.

- At forward, there's also Kapanen and Roy.

- Would be great to add Matthew Olivier.

- I hope Barron gets a regular shift once Savard is traded at the TDL. If the plan was to see if he can improve with time and experience, it would be good to give him a regular shift.

- In goal, it would be good at some point this year to see what Hughes can do.

On Insider Trading Dreger mentioned that Waddell and Oliver's agent have started preliminary contract talks

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Haha.








Tank

 

[tinyzombies]

I decided to make this thread to see if we could have one thread where people can chime in and say how they think next year's holes can be filled (by who and how)

I personally think that we need the following next year

1 - Surefire 2 line C (to insulate if Dach can't be that). I think I would go after Malkin. Obviously this would be a TD or draft day acquisition. I think Calgary/Fla 1st + a b/c prospect (Farrel/kidney kind of prospects) should be enough I would think. This would help insulate Dach and could go a long way in getting Demidov comfortable

2 - 1RD or 2RD. No idea who for this hole, but I think we need to use Matheson as the major trade chip to get this part. It would allow a rebalancing of the D's and put everyone in their right chair (Guhle on the left)

1d pair if RD = Hutson / 1RD?
2d pair if 1rd = Guhle / Mailloux
1st pair if 2rd = Guhle / Mailloux
2nd pair if 2rd = Hutson / 2rd?
3d pair = Xhekaj / Engstrom or barron

Unless Reinbacher has an amazing camp he stays in AHL all year

3 - A gritty 3rd 4th line forward - FA Mathieu Olivier

4 - Re-sign Evans (unless someone sends you a can't refuse offer this TD.)

5 - Vet Back Up G - bring back FA Allen on a 1 year deal. This keeps Dobes and Fowler in the AHL all year

New Lines next year
cauf - Suz - Slaf
Laine - Malkin - Demidov
Dach - Beck/Evans - Anderson/Newhook/Heineman
Olivier - Evans/Beck - Gallagher

Guhle / Mailloux
Hutson / 1rd or 2rd
Xhekaj / Engstrom or Barron

Montembault
Allen

Trade Candidates either TD or off season
Matheson
Roy
Armia
Dvorak
Anderson
Newhook

possible, not likely, better options.... what are your thoughts

Still have too many players there. And we badly need defense, so Mailloux/Reinbacher are going to be key. If they don't pan out, we are in a bit of trouble.

Can't keep both Xhekaj AND Olivier. One or the other. We have too many replacement level players as is.

Allen is fine, but I think we need to trade for a dman to bolster the blueline (like Provorov, then lock him up - after doing homework to see if he'd be ok in our room - can trade them Reinbacher, they were high on him, and it seems unlikely Columbus will pay up for Provorov and his contract is ending). Then you can bring Dobes up, he's ripe.

Unloading Dvo, Armia, Savard will be huge and free up lots of space for kids. I would let Evans go too (esp if Hage is ready... unlikely). Love the player, but he's a fourth line PK (small, will then be 29 yo, with miles on him) and we aren't close to contending, unless he takes a hometown discount. Free up the spot for Beck (if he's ready).

If someone bowls us over for Matheson on a deal, take it. Barron I would move also, he might have a bit of value still. Newhook doesn't have any value, Roy maybe a bit more, so I would only move if we need space. We aren't near contending, so no to an ancient guy like Malkin - they measured his speedbursts lately and he's not skating at all.

If Hage is ready, slot him in at 3C and don't re-sign Evans.

If Mailloux isn't ready by the deadline and we are in the hunt, trade him and bring in another veteran D and call it a day. We should pick up a couple good player this draft also, so that will fill up the cupboard again.

SO:

Caufield - Suzuki - Dach
Laine - Demidov - Slaf
Anderson - Beck (Hage?) - Heineman
Gallagher - Evans - Roy/Newhook

Guhle / Hutson
Provorov / Matheson
Xhekaj / Mailloux (or trade for vet by 2025 deadline)
Struble (Reinbacher??)

Montembault
Dobes

Also outside shot a guy like Thorpe will take a big leap, but they likely would just put him in Laval. If he scores bunches there, have to make room for him.

There are obviously way better ways of going about it, and we need to add more snarl than that to win a Cup. Luckily we have a great GM.

 

[Vachon23]

Can't keep both Xhekaj AND Olivier

Why ?

 

[JianYang]

Yes

 

[tinyzombies]

Why ?

Redundant. Love Olivier tho and would be happy to get him no matter what the circumstances are.

 

[expy]

Goaltending.

A real #1 and a full-time NHL backup.


For defense and offense, I'm waiting for Demidov and Reinbacher before determining the next step.

 

[Vachon23]

Redundant. Love Olivier tho and would be happy to get him no matter what the circumstances are.

And we can only have 1 physical player ? Not even at the same position ? We never have enough of physical player on your bottom 6/bottom pair

 

[Benstheman]

Redundant. Love Olivier tho and would be happy to get him no matter what the circumstances are.

But one is a D and the other a Forward... Both can play hockey. No problem with having two physical guys who can drop them.

 

[tinyzombies]

But one is a D and the other a Forward... Both can play hockey. No problem with having two physical guys who can drop them.

I just think they are both replacement level players at this point. You can't have two or even one of those guys dressed come playoff time. So it doesn't make sense to me to have two on the roster, this isn't the year 2004, you don't really need that anymore. But hey, if they want to declare all-out war on the league, I'm here for it.

 

[Benstheman]

I would focus on getting grit on the bottom pair (Olivier) and a bit of experience on the top 4 (RHD). Though the latter is always complicated for any team in the league. rarest bread in the league.

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

1. Top Goalie
2. 2C (Suzuki can't do it all alone)
3. Sniper for second line (top 6 winger/Laine's inconsistency is not worth the gamble)
4. effective bottom six players
5. 2 Top 4D (Hutson/Guhle not enough)

With the loss of Dvorak, Armia, Pezz, Savard and Evans next yr, the team will be worse. HuGo has lots of work cut out for him. I am sorry but having an ageing Gallagher and useless Anderson on the bottom six won't bring you anywhere. Time to admit that Barron, Dach and Newhook are nothing special. Package one or two in an attempt to bring a promising youngster.

 

[26Mats]

On Insider Trading Dreger mentioned that Waddell and Oliver's agent have started preliminary contract talks

Have to think if Waddell offers him big money for a 4th liner, he'll take it, rather than risk injury in waiting for free agency. The style he plays is condusive to injury. In any given fight he could get knocked out or throw out a shoulder.

 

[Nevins]

Are there UFAs who would settle for such a short deal? Some other team is bound to offer more term.

Maybe a more successful alternative might be to target a vet who has 2 years remaining on his long term deal and offer redundant assets in a trade.

Center: maybe Claude Giroux, Brock Nelson.
RD: Savard
Goalie: Fleury

 

[26Mats]

Are there UFAs who would settle for such a short deal? Some other team is bound to offer more term.

Maybe a more successful alternative might be to target a vet who has 2 years remaining on his long term deal and offer redundant assets in a trade.

I'm always reticent about vet UFA's.

I do think this year we may have missed opportunities in Monahan (30) and Montour (27). I would have given Monahan 3 years 7M AAV. That would have mittigated the risk of giving him 5 years.