Possible. But it kind of defeat the "we waited the TDL to max his value" argument. I think KH wanted to trade him way before that but could not get something done.
It depends how good is good. If Kapanen develops as a Plekanec with more grit then we could keep both. I think it would not be bad from Dach to move to the wing.
One thing is sure if we have to trade Evans in november/december because Kapanen has a great camp and make the team and then plays well enough then Evans will be easier to unload. Dvorak i think we're stuck with him until the TDL and we'll likely have to retain.
'The Canadiens are retaining 50 percent of his salary. If Allen plays 40 or more games next season and whichever team he’s on reaches the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the third-round pick will become a second-round pick.'
Never underestimate how much coaches love the ability to win faceoffs, and Owen Beck is one of the best out there at doing that for his age at the moment. Obviously skill trumps all but if all other things remain equal, that keeps Beck around if nothing else.
The way things have worked out for HuGo the starter could get hurt and they are forced to play him 40 games.
I said gone, not necessarily traded out. Gally is going to be bought out after this season. Buying him out this year is not a good deal but after the season it's much better. He's done but he's owed the money. I want us to be fair to him but we need his spot for the new players that are coming up.
I feel Beck could play 4th line to start. He's tough, will win his d-zone faceoff and could be that super reliable pk center. Kapanen has a bit more offensive which would fit well on a 3rd line with, say, Roy and Newhook.
I agree we need a spot opened up. I’m of the opinion, albeit maybe not popular, that it’s Anderson that needs to go. Gally can still be effective but at a much smaller role. He produced last year when with Newhook and Armia. He can play a grinding game he just can not play over 14 minutes a night. Anderson is too inconsistent, disappears for games at a time , has little IQ , plays die on his line.
I tend to agree with Gally having an okay last season which I hope he can repeat this season but I feel I'd rather we try Tuch/Florian next season than keep a 5'9 gassed out shell of what was a favorite of mine. He's still cool and can be usefull on a depleted team but we're building big young, skilled and fast and well, he's none of that.
I feel like if Gallagher is our only bad contract it's not the end of the world. I'm okay with keeping him for a while to play in the bottom 6. His attitude was better last season it looks like he accepted he'll be part of a rebuild and he's not a terrible player to have around. JA i would trade him as soon as possible.
Way overpaid but he bleeds bleu, blanc et rouge. 16 goals on the 3rd line coupled with great leadership isn't the end of the world.
The 2024 version of Gallagher, for sure. Not by a lot for me though, which is telling of how low I value Anderson at this point.
I know we haven’t seen Dach in a while, but let’s not forget he’s absolute possession monster and play driver. FOs can improve and wingers can sub in. I would want Dachnup the middle of the ice all day
Given is usage in a 3rd line role 16G is not bad. Who else had 16 goals last year?
In theory I would want to agree with you, but JA is absolutely useless most nights. It’s IQ. He constantly skates himself out of position and doesn’t anticipate. Add the fact that he has hands of stone at this point. If he could play to his strengths( speed and physicality) it would be great and he could compliment a line well. Trouble is, he shows up for Toronto and the. One out of every four games or so.
Despite his 16 goals, he has no energy at all and lack of defensive awareness. Those guys you describe are all good defensively, can take faceoff or better playmaker. Gallagher is only offense and he is going at the front of the net, thats all. He had no playmaking brain. His contract is literrally an anchor.
He is certainly overpaid but there is no need to do anything drastic like give up assets to move him (assuming he is willing NTC/ NMC) or buy him out. You buy a guy out if you
I wouldn't say he is defensively inept. His line with Danault and Tatar were very good defensively.
