Speculation: MTL exploring acquiring Lafreniere from NYR

[Fatass]

Slaf for Laf +

This seems the obvious deal.
Slafkoski for Lafreniere.

 

[Fitzy]

And rags fans were doing handstands when they got laf and kakko. My what has transpired so far is incredible. Dumped kakko for a guy named borgen and laf is a 8 million winger for a paltry 50 points a season.

Wouldn't you have celebrated if your team had won the lottery into the top 2 two consecutive years?

 

[57special]

I’m thinking this. He doesn’t need to be a savior here. He could be a consistent 2nd line play driver, PP2 role and be a very good add for Montreal.

Sure. It's not like there will be any pressure for him to do well in Montreal....

 

[The don godfather]

Wouldn't you have celebrated if your team had won the lottery into the top 2 two consecutive years?

I would but rags are notorious in getting high picks busts. I cant list the amount of players it will take the entire thread.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

I’m thinking this. He doesn’t need to be a savior here. He could be a consistent 2nd line play driver, PP2 role and be a very good add for Montreal.

If he hits that level consistently or even a bit below that’s a really solid deal.

His contract isn't terrible and he seems to produce 5 on 5, no?

He's just not the best on the pp AND should produce more 5 on 5 when he mostly plays with Panarin.

Those are the major knocks on him from the Rangers stand point?

If you are a Rangers fan, or watch the Rangers frequently ?

Some don't seem to realize that just about all these eight year deals signed within the last year or two are going to be steals even if the guys are average compared to the current number. That's why you saw so many of them.

People already had a hard time understanding cap inflation, but it's even worse now with COVID freezing the cap in the low $80Ms for six years. People are now used to a certain number for contracts.

Reality is, within 2 years, Laf's contract will be deflated to the equivalent of $5.8M under the current cap. That's not really a jarring number when you consider in that same offseason, Cale Makar will likely be demanding $16M+/year.

 

[EveryDay]

I can guarantee you Slafkovski is not getting trade for Lafreniere lol.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

16th + Mailloux

but Im not convinced Hughes wants to add $7.5M for 7 years for a player whos put up 45, 57, 39 pts in his last 3 seasons..... this on top of the Hutson and Demidov contracts looming AND needing a 2C with a presumably big contract.

That sounds dire until you realize the terrible contracts coming off Montreal's books.

From Laine's contract expiring and the 2026 cap hike alone, they'll gain $17.2M in cap space when Hutson is up. Then in 2027, they gain another $21.5M in cap from Anderson/Gallagher expiring and the next cap hike.

And Demidov isn't even up until 2028, when you could see another ~$6M cap increase.

 

[Fitzy]

I would but rags are notorious in getting high picks busts. I cant list the amount of players it will take the entire thread.

High picks sure, but we had never had a top 3 selection. That was a whole new accomplishment for us.

I don't follow the idea that we were meant to put our heads down and toil like soviet laborers when the lottery balls came up

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

This seems the obvious deal.
Slafkoski for Lafreniere.

Except it makes zero sense for the Habs to do it. At best, you have a lateral move. Far more likely, Montreal ends up trading the better player

 

[The don godfather]

High picks sure, but we had never had a top 3 selection. That was a whole new accomplishment for us.

I don't follow the idea that we were meant to put our heads down and toil like soviet laborers when the lottery balls came up

I guess bad luck then both players they got were useless.

 

[Captain97]

Slaf is not being traded for Lafreniere. He is two years younger and is producing similar to Lafreniere.

I think it would be something around a forward prospect + 1st + Laine for cap.

 

[amnesiac]

That sounds dire until you realize the terrible contracts coming off Montreal's books.

From Laine's contract expiring and the 2026 cap hike alone, they'll gain $17.2M in cap space when Hutson is up. Then in 2027, they gain another $21.5M in cap from Anderson/Gallagher expiring and the next cap hike.

And Demidov isn't even up until 2028, when you could see another ~$6M cap increase.

I guess its more of a question of value.... thats a lot of term for a player whos been underachieving in his prime years so far. Better to lock down a 2C first rather than give up presumably valuable assets for a winger.

The Rangers would want a young roster player in return anyway, not something Montreal would give up.

 

[Fatass]

Except it makes zero sense for the Habs to do it. At best, you have a lateral move. Far more likely, Montreal ends up trading the better player

That could certainly be the case. But there is the whole home town plus for Lafreniere.

 

[amnesiac]

Slaf is not being traded for Lafreniere. He is two years younger and is producing similar to Lafreniere.

I think it would be something around a forward prospect + 1st + Laine for cap.

Laine barely worth anything right now. He has one year left, hes constantly injured, and has bad reputation everywhere he goes. He would go at the TDL to a contender, but thats it.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

I guess its more of a question of value.... thats a lot of term for a player whos been underachieving in his prime years so far. Better to lock down a 2C first rather than give up presumably valuable assets for a winger.

The Rangers would want a young roster player in return anyway, not something Montreal would give up.

Honestly I think the term is what makes it better lol.

NYR is a tire fire right now, so I'm not sure I see Laf getting worse. If he gets better, which I think he can and will and definitely would in a new environment, he's not far behind that contract. And when you've got massive cap inflation already started, it only gets easier. If he's a 60+ point winger every year, is that not worth $5.8M?

I do agree though, that 2C is a greater need for MTL. I think that's the big question mark in their rebuild is that they're kinda built around the wings and defense and are questionable down the middle. Kinda hard to justify spending on another winger when you have Demidov and Caufield and Slaf but are mediocre down the middle.

 

[sbhatt]

Lafreniere is a bad contract, and does not fit the profile of what this team needs. Hard pass.

 

[Fatass]

Laine barely worth anything right now. He hasa year left, hes constantly injured, and has bad reputation everywhere he goes.

Laine has enormous negative value. They’d have to attach a significant asset to move him. Best to just put him on waivers and send him to the minors than try to include him in a Lafreniere deal.

 

[amnesiac]

That could certainly be the case. But there is the whole home town plus for Lafreniere.

fans would not be happy giving up a younger developing big physical winger in Slaf for an underachieving Lafreniere.

 

[Captain97]

Laine barely worth anything right now. He has one year left, hes constantly injured, and has bad reputation everywhere he goes. He would go at the TDL to a contender, but thats it.

Did you not read the end of my sentence? For Cap. Meaning he isn't holding a ton of value.
He's a warm body with 1 year left to facilitate the deal.

The valuable pieces would be 1st + prospect the Rangers like.

 

[bernmeister]

Maybe we can trade Reinbacher for him, it’s not like anything could go wrong with that type of trade….Ugh

Have been saying this for yr +
THIS as core is win win
Habs need to add Fs, Rs need to add D
LaF NOT YET lived up to hype, but that hype said he was best non generational talent/pick since MacKinnon. Rein has had knee issues, both knees. Lots of reward-risk for both sides.

16th + Mailloux

but Im not convinced Hughes wants to add $7.5M for 7 years for a player whos put up 45, 57, 39 pts in his last 3 seasons..... this on top of the Hutson and Demidov contracts looming AND needing a 2C with a presumably big contract.

no
also, dep on exact details, ny can take back a bad exp contract retention possibly needed

This seems the obvious deal.
Slafkoski for Lafreniere.

that is too much coke for pepsi

 

[Savant]

The only Laf to Montreal deal that makes sense for the Rangers involves Guhle coming back. Don’t know if Montreal can, or should, do that. But if we are talking about a deal that helps the Rangers, it probably has to involve Guhle. Anything else is doing Montreal a favor.

 

[Captain97]

The only Laf to Montreal deal that makes sense for the Rangers involves Guhle coming back. Don’t know if Montreal can, or should, do that. But if we are talking about a deal that helps the Rangers, it probably has to involve Guhle. Anything else is doing Montreal a favor.

No, absolutely not. He is our best defensive dman, is 23, and signed 6 more years at 5.5.

 

[jellybeans]

Why would we spend 7m on a winger when we badly need a 2c and rd defence

 

[amnesiac]

Honestly I think the term is what makes it better lol.

NYR is a tire fire right now, so I'm not sure I see Laf getting worse. If he gets better, which I think he can and will and definitely would in a new environment, he's not far behind that contract. And when you've got massive cap inflation already started, it only gets easier. If he's a 60+ point winger every year, is that not worth $5.8M?

I do agree though, that 2C is a greater need for MTL. I think that's the big question mark in their rebuild is that they're kinda built around the wings and defense and are questionable down the middle. Kinda hard to justify spending on another winger when you have Demidov and Caufield and Slaf but are mediocre down the middle.

I understand the cap going up significantly makes $7.5M seem more like $6.5M (today), but if Laf ends out being a 45-55P player for 7 years, thats another Gallagher like anchor on your cap which prevents them from going after, say, a big UFA when the the time is right, ie. when they are real Cup contenders in 4-5 years. It already hasnt worked with Dach or Newhook, has Laf proven to be that much more worthy of a gamble?

I dunno, even with the 2C need, I think they need to be patient and not be too impulsive. I say get a stop gap 2C for 2-3 years, and see whos available in 2027 or 2028. Right now is not the right time to go "all in" at all. Hage may be the answer at 2C in 3 years anyway.

 

[ranold26]

Tony Marinara... so it's not happening.