Montreal Offseason UFA signings /trade predictions

[Habaneros]

Ok lets hear your serious prediction of what UFA will sign in Montreal or predict a trade that will happen



My prediction is Steven Stamkos will sign with the Montreal Canadiens. 3/4year deal.

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[LaP]

My prediction is we will not sign anyone because the interesting players are simply too old and i'm not even sure we have enough cap space. We need to keep cap space to sign Slafkovski and Guhle. The 2025 crop could be much better it would be stupid to tie our hands by signing a player in the middle of his 30ies.

 

[the]

Except for potentially Monahan I don't see us signing anybody nor we should.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Jalen Chatfield 3.75x4. One of Marchessault, Perron, Toffoli for 3-4 years at 4.75-5.5M.

 

[The Great Weal]

I predict we sign William Carrier and that's it.

 

[Habs13]

We already have too many roster spots filled and too many unmovable contracts. Montreal won't sign any UFA this off-season.

 

[salbutera]

Ok lets hear your serious prediction of what UFA will sign in Montreal or predict a trade that will happen



My prediction is Steven Stamkos will sign with the Montreal Canadiens. 3/4year deal.

I would throw boatloads of $$$ at Stamkos ($12M = $11M bonus + $1M salary) for 2-years max

 

[417]

No one of consequence really.

 

[salbutera]

We already have too many roster spots filled and too many unmovable contracts. Montreal won't sign any UFA this off-season.

Ylonen & Pezetta are gonzo, 2nd line W spot open

Newhook - Dach - xx
Roy - Dvo - Anderson
Gallagher - Evans - Armia

 

[Habs13]

Ylonen & Pezetta are gonzo, 2nd line W spot open

Newhook - Dach - xx
Roy - Dvo - Anderson
Gallagher - Evans - Armia

I wouldn't be so sure on Pezzetta and Ylonen just yet. Hughes and Gorton have shown a lot of paitience so far with the kids - and Pezzetta is a good 13th forward. You also forgot Harvey-Pinard.

 

[salbutera]

I wouldn't be so sure on Pezzetta and Ylonen just yet. Hughes and Gorton have shown a lot of paitience so far with the kids - and Pezzetta is a good 13th forward. You also forgot Harvey-Pinard.

Ylonen won’t be qualified, and all of Ylonen, Pezetta, RHP are tweeners

 

[417]

Ylonen & Pezetta are gonzo, 2nd line W spot open

Newhook - Dach - xx
Roy - Dvo - Anderson
Gallagher - Evans - Armia

I don't think it's a given they're both gone, I could see both of them back on 1 year deal because I don't think the Habs really want to tie up the kind of $$ it's going to take to sign a top 6 UFA when they've got young prospects pushing.

I could see them going the trade route, they can control the salary they'd be acquiring (see Dach/Newhook trades and subsequent contracts).

I don't expect free agency to be an important part of what this team is trying to do in the immediate.

at least not until Carey Price/Jake Allen's salary come off the books,

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

I wouldn't be so sure on Pezzetta and Ylonen just yet. Hughes and Gorton have shown a lot of paitience so far with the kids - and Pezzetta is a good 13th forward. You also forgot Harvey-Pinard.

They've been patient with kids, but these guys are going to be 25-27 year olds and haven't shown much in the NHL.

Ylonen probably won't be signed, Pezzetta will likely be a 13th/14th forward and if RHP doesn't show improvements from this year he will likely be in Laval since no one would claim him on a one-way salary of over $1M.

 

[Habs13]

I don't think it's a given they're both gone, I could see both of them back on 1 year deal because I don't think the Habs really want to tie up the kind of $$ it's going to take to sign a top 6 UFA when they've got young prospects pushing.

I could see them going the trade route, they can control the salary they'd be acquiring (see Dach/Newhook trades and subsequent contracts).

I don't expect free agency to be an important part of what this team is trying to do in the immediate.

at least not until Carey Price/Jake Allen's salary come off the books,

There's also a chance whomever we draft could start at the NHL level, too. Slim, but possible. I could see Lindstrom slotting into that 2nd line vacancy.

 

[417]

There's also a chance whomever we draft could start at the NHL level, too. Slim, but possible. I could see Lindstrom slotting into that 2nd line vacancy.

Yeah, slim chance at that too...but if you listened to Gorton/Hughes yesterday, and in the past, they've often talked about acquiring player's of the "right age".

The best UFAs in this crop are older and more expensive.

I just don't see it.

Summer of 25' might be a different story.

 

[salbutera]

I don't think it's a given they're both gone, I could see both of them back on 1 year deal because I don't think the Habs really want to tie up the kind of $$ it's going to take to sign a top 6 UFA when they've got young prospects pushing.

I could see them going the trade route, they can control the salary they'd be acquiring (see Dach/Newhook trades and subsequent contracts).

I don't expect free agency to be an important part of what this team is trying to do in the immediate.

at least not until Carey Price/Jake Allen's salary come off the books,

There are no fwd prospects pushing and the ones coming into the system Beck, Tuch, Xekaj all could use a full year of AHL development & none will start top-6 role

Also, unless Habs get Celebrini, no F from this draft will be NHL ready for 1 perhaps 2 seasons. Signing a vet (like Stamkos) for max 2-years allows growth of Habs team without creating a roadblock for F prospects

 

[Habs13]

Yeah, slim chance at that too...but if you listened to Gorton/Hughes yesterday, and in the past, they've often talked about acquiring player's of the "right age".

The best UFAs in this crop are older and more expensive.

I just don't see it.

Summer of 25' might be a different story.

Yeah, I agree. Two years ago they traded for Dach, last year for Newhook - if something like that is available, I think we could see that happen.

This team isn't ready to add UFA contracts yet though, and most players that reach UFA aren't looking to join a team that finished 5th and has been in the bottom of the standings for the last few years. At best you'll lure a Aaron Downey type. Sure won't get a Stamkos who is going to be looking for a shot at another cup.

 

[Laurentide]

The only mid-30's guy I'd pay money for is Crosby (were he to be available, which he will never be) I have zero interest in Marchessault, Stamkos, or any other end-of-the-line veteran. Well, maybe Corey Perry. Love that guy. Not as much as Bedard's mom does, of course, but close.

I can envision a scenario where we trade one or both of our 1st round picks for a young but established NHL talent, but that will depend on where the lottery balls drop.

 

[Gravity]

I will bet anyone money that there is 0% chance we sign Stamkos.

 

[417]

There are no fwd prospects pushing and the ones coming into the system Beck, Tuch, Xekaj all could use a full year of AHL development & none will start top-6 role.

Today, probably only Roy...over the next 2-3 years though? Which is the minimum timeframe required to sign any top 6 UFA you'd be looking at.

Again, during the press conference yesterday, Hughes/Gorton dropped more seeds about how they don't want to block the pathway for players who will be coming up.

IMO, if the Habs make any top 6 addition, it's way more likely to come via the trade route with a cost controlled player who fits in the age group they're looking for, rather than an older, more expensive and proven UFA like Stamkos or Marchesseault.

Also, unless Habs get Celebrini, no F from this draft will be NHL ready for 1 perhaps 2 seasons. Signing a vet (like Stamkos) for max 2-years allows growth of Habs team without creating a roadblock for F prospects

I'm not sure why Stamkos would sign for a max of 2 years in Montreal when he can get more to go play on a better team.

 

[417]

Yeah, I agree. Two years ago they traded for Dach, last year for Newhook - if something like that is available, I think we could see that happen.

Man, i'd put some real cash on that exact thing happening this summer

This team isn't ready to add UFA contracts yet though, and most players that reach UFA aren't looking to join a team that finished 5th and has been in the bottom of the standings for the last few years. At best you'll lure a Aaron Downey type. Sure won't get a Stamkos who is going to be looking for a shot at another cup.

I don't have much interest in free agency...I think that's where you go to compliment your team if you're looking for specific depth pieces. But free agency has become so washed down since teams have started locking down their young players to long term deals.

It's just not worth it.

If you're a playoff team though, and you can add a Stamkos or Marchesseault or Lindholm as a final piece to your already well constructed puzzle, that makes sense.

As a rebuilding team whose got almost 20M in salary already tied into 4 goalies heading into this offseason (Price, Allen, Monty, Primeau)...

Hard pass...resolve that above-referenced issue first and keep your money to sign your young players to contract extensions.

 

[Kosseca]

- White and Ylonen will be let got.
- One of Struble/Harris is traded. Kovacevic too
- Wont win the draft and will draft Iginla
- No big UFA signing.
- I'm 50/50 on the possibility that KH can swing another deal like Dach. Not sure what he want will be available or within a resonable price range

 

[the valiant effort]

Hearing through the grapevine Stamkos is interested in helping build the Habs as Suzuki’s #2, and with a team friendly deal to boot. He wants to reenergize Montréal’s Greek community

 

[xX SEYF Xx]

Why are we doing this? UFAs are the last thing we need
We already have too many overagers and we're not ready to contend

Pearson, white and ylonen are likely gone but we still have lots of bodies to ice a roster
Pezzetta btw still have another year I dont get why people think he's gone
Stamkos ffs??

Even if we aiming at a wildcard spot, we not contenders so no buyouts, no buying at TDL and no big UFAs.
Maybe short term cheap utility players, not more

 

[Team_Spirit]

Except for potentially Monahan I don't see us signing anybody nor we should.

the oracle has spoken