Our most valuable assets in a potential trade.

[billy piton]

You wouldn’t trade a D3 for a 2C? Looks like Hutson will be on the top pairing.

A core of either :
1C, D1, D2, D3
Or:
1C, 2C, D1, D2

hutson has over 70% o zone starts. we need dmen who can defend as well. would you trade jacob slavin for sam bennett? filling one hole by creating even bigger hole isn't particulary enticing for me.

 

[billy piton]

i was gonna like your post until I read your last two sentences. You sure you want to make Bennett our most paid player. Might as well kick Suzuki in the nuts

of course i wouldn't. i also wouldn' t trade every single pick and prospect to get a #2c. it's an exaggeration to point out how i really don't want them to trade guhls and reiny

 

[ChesterNimitz]

No way
Fowler is close to untouchable.

Hage and Fowler are both untouchables for this writer. Both have the ability / potential to be impact players for this team and you trade away that type of potential at your team’ peril.

Unless the return is substantial, I’m holding onto Beck.

I think Mailloux’s limitations in skating creates a low developmental ceiling for this player so I would have little hesitation in moving a player who I think will only lose market value as his career plateaus.

I believe Engstrom’s high skill levels will make him a sought after commodity if Hughes lets the marketplace know of Engstrom availability. As with Beck, if the offer is good, I would move this young defenceman.

As for Dobes, I think he’s one of Montreal’s most overrated prospects and has limited market value. Fowler has made every goalie in the Canadiens’ system expendable.

 

[DAChampion]

i was gonna like your post until I read your last two sentences. You sure you want to make Bennett our most paid player. Might as well kick Suzuki in the nuts

Suzuki is not expecting to be the highest paid player forever.

All the Matheson haters are going to lose it when he extends next year.

You cannot win in the NHL without a veteran d corps. It's laughable to thing this team won't regress if Carrier is your only D man older than 25.

He is so valuable to this team especially now that he is becoming a defensive D first. Best PK and match up D on the team this year. If Guhle could play a whole season, we can start cutting down Matheson minutes, that being said you would still need veteran presence on the d corp.

Guhle-Hutson
Matheson-Carrier
Xhehaj/Struble - Reinbacher

Guhle, Carrier are becoming veterans.

 

[Scriptor]

Matheson should not be a part of this team next season. I could probably make an hour video of him making low IQ decisions, if I had the free time.

Also, before the injury, Guhle was playing so well with Carrier. They had instant chemistry.

Despite some flaws, Matheson is a HUGE part of the Habs' D and eats up dangerous minutes like a piece of bread sopping up gravy.

The overall appreciation of Matheson's selfless play and team ethic is sorely lacking for Hab fans.

I'm not saying to play him as a #1D, BTW. In a second pairing role, Matheson's value is comparable to Petry at his best, with an even better skating stride.

 

[Scintillating10]

No doubt that I would package our two 1sts to grab Frondell, but I dont think thats being realistic TBH, I have Frondell in the top tier with Shaefer and Misa. Moving up to grab Desnoyers seems more realistic, but I see him a tier or 2 below in term of talent and impact. Also, moving up in the top 10 is uncommon, it rarely happens.

As for signing a UFA, it doesnt seem to be part of the plan for KH, he doesnt want to be stuck with term and salaries.

I think it's imperative for future of team we get the right center. This off season will determine the future of team.

The UFA I see is the veteran on short term contract. The Duchene or Tavares type. To fill the gap until the Hage or our pick this draft is ready. I don't see the Bennett type on 7 year deal.

 

[Ozmodiar]

hutson has over 70% o zone starts. we need dmen who can defend as well. would you trade jacob slavin for sam bennett? filling one hole by creating even bigger hole isn't particulary enticing for me.

Your question isn’t relevant. We’re talking about the D3 here, but you use Slavin as an example - their most used skater. Bennett has the 10th most minutes.

Should I counter with “would you trade Barkov for Forsling or Mikkola?” lol

… and “even bigger hole” is just your opinion.

 

[billy piton]

Your question isn’t relevant. We’re talking about the D3 here, but you use Slavin as an example - their most used skater. Bennett has the 10th most minutes.

Should I counter with “would you trade Barkov for Forsling or Mikkola?” lol

… and “even bigger hole” is just your opinion.

this year time on ice per game:

guhle 21:14
slavin 21:43

career ppg:

guhle 0.34
slavin 0.40

yep, huge difference.

barkov is a top 10 #1c

 

[Habs]

did you have any issues when old uncle bob "fixed" the c position after 20 years by trading mcdonagh for scotty g?

Reinbacher isn't MdD by a mile and a half. Now if he would have traded Ryan for a legit 1c like Bobby G was trying to do, we would have been very well off and a win/win

One would hope the braintrust is much better these days. Reinbacher was touted as a 3-4 PP2 dman at the draft , not even slotted as a #1 PP guy. McD was a stud

 

[DAChampion]

Reinbacher isn't MdD by a mile and a half. Now if he would have traded Ryan for a legit 1c like Bobby G was trying to do, we would have been very well off and a win/win

One would hope the braintrust is much better these days. Reinbacher was touted as a 3-4 PP2 dman at the draft , not even slotted as a #1 PP guy. McD was a stud

 

[Nicko999]

Primeau’s drawback is exactly Fowler’s strength - the mental game. Primeau gives up a bad or early goal and it’s over, he’s rattled for the rest of the game. Fowler doesn’t have that.

And Montembeault is a great example of why we should keep Fowler. He’s an average goalie with a clear ceiling. He’s not a workhorse.

Recent Cup champions have shown you don't necessarily need a workhorse goalie but rather someone who will catch fire at the right time. Vegas won with Adin Hill who never even won 20 games in a season at that time.

I cannot say if Montembeault can be that goalie nor if Fowler can be that one since we haven't seen them in the playoffs.

The last 30 years have thought me something important, and that is that I am sick and tired of having my team being bailed by the goalie. I want to have the best skaters possible and the goalie is the last of our worry. Which is why Fowler should be used as a trade asset if the opportunity arise.

 

[Garbageyuk]

All the Matheson haters are going to lose it when he extends next year.

You cannot win in the NHL without a veteran d corps. It's laughable to thing this team won't regress if Carrier is your only D man older than 25.

He is so valuable to this team especially now that he is becoming a defensive D first. Best PK and match up D on the team this year. If Guhle could play a whole season, we can start cutting down Matheson minutes, that being said you would still need veteran presence on the d corp.

Guhle-Hutson
Matheson-Carrier
Xhehaj/Struble - Reinbacher

If his new deal reflects his reduced role, I’d have no problem with him being re-signed.

 

[Garbageyuk]

I'd have no issues trading Reinbacher at this point if it meant fixing the C position after 35 years. I think we would have to add much more to the package though

The C position is fixed. We need a 2C, which shouldn’t cost such an important piece like Reinbacher, considering some of the other expendable assets we have. Trading Reinbacher at this point would be colossally stupid.

 

[WeThreeKings]

The C position is fixed. We need a 2C, which shouldn’t cost such an important piece like Reinbacher, considering some of the other expendable assets we have. Trading Reinbacher at this point would be colossally stupid.

Yep and will not happen. Just like Guhle isn't moving.

 

[Habnot]

I'm not saying to play him as a #1D, BTW. In a second pairing role, Matheson's value is comparable to Petry at his best, with an even better skating stride.

We must not be watching the same game. Petry was never a defensive specialist - he was more of a puck mover but he was not a penalty killer and definitely didn't play against the other team's best line - that would of been Weber.

Guhle, Carrier are becoming veterans.

Carrier is the only veteran and he's even young for that role.

I could go way back but let's look at the last 3 Stanley Cup winners (last game lineup)

Panthers (age at the time of SC)
Kulikov -33
OEL - 32
Forsling - 26
Mikkola - 27
Ekbald - 28
Montour - 29
Average Age - 29

Vegas
Pietroangelo - 33
Theodore - 26
Whitecloud - 26
Hague - 24
Martinez - 34
McNabb - 31
Average Age: 29

Avalanche
Byram - 20
Manson - 30
E. Johnson - 34
J.Johnson - 35
Makar - 23
Toews - 28
Average Age - 28

If you want to remove Matheson an replace from within, we will regress next year and the window to win won't really start until your D corp reaches 27-28.

I would argue that I would add an experienced D to the mix - RH to eat up minutes with Carrier. Let Reinbacher marinate as 5-6 and ear his top minutes.

Hutson - XXX
Matheson - Carrier
Xhakaj - Reinbacher

Really good mix of puck movers, offensive and defensive D's - important to have roles as MSL always says.

This also allows you to trade an important piece (Guhle) if you want to impact your top six.

You can also draft a LD in this draft to start preparing for Matheson leaving in 4-5 years.

 

[Ozmodiar]

this year time on ice per game:

guhle 21:14
slavin 21:43

career ppg:

guhle 0.34
slavin 0.40

yep, huge difference.

barkov is a top 10 #1c

You just aren’t keeping up.

Slavin is their top minute player.

If the Habs were to trade a D, he would otherwise be their 3rd in minutes played. You tried comparing a #1 to a #3. Hope that helps.

 

[billy piton]

You just aren’t keeping up.

Slavin is their top minute player.

If the Habs were to trade a D, he would otherwise be their 3rd in minutes played. You tried comparing a #1 to a #3. Hope that helps.

lol! 21 minutes = 21 minutes

 

[Scintillating10]

The C position is fixed. We need a 2C, which shouldn’t cost such an important piece like Reinbacher, considering some of the other expendable assets we have. Trading Reinbacher at this point would be colossally stupid.

Acquiring the right center would make this team instant cup contender. Given Demidov coming over next season and Reinbacher here also. Young defense is maturing also.

Going to be hard to do as most top UFA won't sign in Canada. Veterans have all 7 Canadian teams on their no trade list. May have to take some unusual options, like RFA or sign a Bennett knowing year 5-6-7 are going to be bad. But you get proven #2 center the next 4 years.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Acquiring the right center would make this team instant cup contender. Given Demidov coming over next season and Reinbacher here also. Young defense is maturing also.

Going to be hard to do as most top UFA won't sign in Canada. Veterans have all 7 Canadian teams on their no trade list. May have to take some unusual options, like RFA or sign a Bennett knowing year 5-6-7 are going to be bad. But you get proven #2 center the next 4 years.

This team is not a Sam Bennett away from being a Cup contender lol, not even close

 

[CHfan1]

For me it's his injuries thus far, I don't feel warm and fuzzy about keeping him and injury prone Guhle on the core. I know what we get with Guhle, no idea what DR will deliver. However I'd be all for trading a package this year and Calgary's first round pick back to them for Zayne Parekh ....

I doubt that’s a trade Calgary makes.

As far as Reinbacher goes, I understand the injury concerns, but Montreal has to see what they have in going forward, especially with the lack of right shot defenceman in their system. After this season the only veteran RD they’ll have is Carrier. Also, even though they seem to have lots of decent defenceman in their system, the only 20+ minute a night defenceman I see, going forward after Matheson leaves is, Guhle, Hutson, and Reinbacher. I think they’d be making a mistake trading any of them. The goal should be to add while keeping their future core intact.