Proposal: Poll: Will Smith or trade 5th overall for Clayton Keller?

[Eegs]

Keller is fantastic and would be a sick add, I just don't think we're close enough to any sort of competing window to consider this.

 

[JoelWarlord]

I'll never understand why so many of these threads come down to "we can't trade for (guy who is the same age as Nick Suzuki), we're too far from contending", but nobody apparently seems to apply that same logic to the opportunity cost of keeping Suzuki himself.

 

[1909]

On offence yes, that could be a solid top 6:

Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Caufield
Dubois - Dach - Smith


but where still missing a #1 Dmen and #1 goalie

Do we really need one. Look at Vegas and some previous SC winners (outside TB).

 

[LaP]

I'll never understand why so many of these threads come down to "we can't trade for (guy who is the same age as Nick Suzuki), we're too far from contending", but nobody apparently seems to apply that same logic to the opportunity cost of keeping Suzuki himself.

We don't have to pay assets for Suzuki. By the time we build a contender Smith for Keller might be a sidestep and one that will cost more money. If our defense would have more exp then yeah you do it.

 

[26Mats]

I'll never understand why so many of these threads come down to "we can't trade for (guy who is the same age as Nick Suzuki), we're too far from contending", but nobody apparently seems to apply that same logic to the opportunity cost of keeping Suzuki himself.

This.
Plus, you'd think Suzuki, Caufield and the gang are tired of losing and would be ecstatic to add a building piece that is closer to their age.

But i think people are hoping for a more elite piece, whether with #5 overall or if we keep losing with next year's 1st.

 

[Jaynki]

unless we draft Michkov nobody at #5 will be better then Keller and hes under a great contract for the next 5 years he makes less then Caufield and Suzuki and much better

Dubois* - Suzuki - Caufield
Slafkovsky - Dach - Keller*


we would need to move some cap tho

Its not as simple as the player we draft will be better or not than Keller.

Would you trade Slafkovsky for Ovechkin right now?

We may extract a lot more value out of an 18YO that we will draft then we would out of 26YO Keller even if the player picked at 5 never ends up as good as Keller.

 

[JoelWarlord]

We don't have to pay assets for Suzuki.

I get that, but opportunity costs are costs too even if they're not as directly visible as trading a pick for a player. By holding on to Suzuki, we are paying a significant opportunity cost for the future by choosing to keep a veteran player around for non-competitive seasons. What would our prospect pool look like in 2026 if we traded Suzuki for picks and prospects right now? Holding Suzuki carries a real opportunity cost relative to what our system could become in the future by trading him right now. It's the exact same principle as potentially trading the pick for Keller, you're judging the value of what the veteran player (Suzuki or Keller) gives you relative to the value of the futures (5OA or the potential Suzuki trade return).

For the record I have zero interest in trading Suzuki, I just don't really see the difference between the two scenarios other than the captaincy/leadership side which is fair but not super important in this case IMO.

By the time we build a contender Smith for Keller might be a sidestep and one that will cost more money. If our defense would have more exp then yeah you do it.

It's certainly possible, I just think the balance of probabilities is pretty heavily in Keller's favour and he's still young enough that I don't think it puts you on too much of a clock (especially because he actively makes the team better and gets us closer to the point where we can "justify" this kind of move).

This.
Plus, you'd think Suzuki, Caufield and the gang are tired of losing and would be ecstatic to add a building piece that is closer to their age.

But i think people are hoping for a more elite piece, whether with #5 overall or if we keep losing with next year's 1st.

Honestly for me it really has nothing to do with whether Suzuki/Caufield etc are tired of losing, or even whether or not we should take things slow or try to more aggressively get better. I just think Keller is pretty much what Smith's best-case scenario would be and at 24 I think he'd still be young enough even if we're 4-5 years from contending.

 

[Guy Larose]

HF and their magic beans. Eventually it'll become a beanstalk lol...the PPG 24 year old easily.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

Its not as simple as the player we draft will be better or not than Keller.

Would you trade Slafkovsky for Ovechkin right now?

We may extract a lot more value out of an 18YO that we will draft then we would out of 26YO Keller even if the player picked at 5 never ends up as good as Keller.

its not the same and its not even close how the hell are you gonna compare Keller whos 24 not 26 to Ovechkin whos 37.....

Keller is a couple months older then Suzuki he fits our core perfectly

 

[The Great Weal]

Very easily Keller. He's likely a better player than anyone currently in the conversation at 5 (except Michkov who we likely won't take anyways if he's available). You can still add PLD and you got a competitive team as soon as next year.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

I'll never understand why so many of these threads come down to "we can't trade for (guy who is the same age as Nick Suzuki), we're too far from contending", but nobody apparently seems to apply that same logic to the opportunity cost of keeping Suzuki himself.

Well, Suzuki is a year younger than Keller, so Caufield must be younger than Keller too no?

This thread is a bit misleading because there is nothing that says the Coyotes would trade Keller for #5 (I wouldn't want the Habs to trade Suzuki for #5, for instance). So in all likelihood it would cost more.

I like Keller. I'd have no problem if the Habs traded for him, in theory. But given that the Habs are terrible and they will probably continue to be terrible for another 2 years, I wouldn't advocate trading for Keller. I'd be much more interested in trading Anderson, Gallagher, Hoffman, Edmondson and those kinds of guys. In 2-3 years, if some of the Habs actually look decent, then there will be some other team interested in trading their semi-stars, I'm sure.

 

[waffledave]

Keller is a good player, but it's the wrong timing to make that deal. By the time the habs will be ready to contend, Keller will have like 1 or 2 years left on his contract while Smith will be starting to have the same impact as Keller in Arizona on his entry deal.

Or, Keller puts up multiple seasons of ~40 goals and ~90 points and Smith never comes close to that. He's a great prospect and my pick at 5 but he's not a sure thing.

 

[Mackiaveli]

Will Smith or trade 5th overall for Clayton Keller?

I'm fine with trading for Keller if the move is to go all-in

but we would need to add other players .. Dubois/Hart/Keller would a good trio to add. Everyone outside of our big 3, Guhle and Hutson should be available.

 

[sampollock]

thing is at some point Habs will have to many prospects and contracts

 

[Skip Bayless]

Or, Keller puts up multiple seasons of ~40 goals and ~90 points and Smith never comes close to that. He's a great prospect and my pick at 5 but he's not a sure thing.

Fair, but you're now on the clock to contend as soon as possible, because when his contract is up, he has 0 allegiance to the habs and can bolt to another team that will give him 11M + and that is ready to contend.

We have no goalie and our D is still a question mark. If you get Keller, then you most likely need to get the rest of the pieces asap, which means UFAs and more trades.

I'm all for accelerating, but right now is not the right timing IMO.

 

[The Great Weal]

Or, Keller puts up multiple seasons of ~40 goals and ~90 points and Smith never comes close to that. He's a great prospect and my pick at 5 but he's not a sure thing.

Keller is like Smith if he had elite skating and competitiveness, you know, the things that many are criticizing him for.

 

[Habs4Life]

we need size and skill now, pick Smith

 

[Ozmodiar]

Keller is fantastic and would be a sick add, I just don't think we're close enough to any sort of competing window to consider this.

Agreed.

Ask Leaf fans how quickly that Matthews contract flew by.

The Habs would have 5 years of Keller. Earliest timeline to compete would be year 3 of what remains. That’s 2 years plus his final year when it would be decision time - to re-sign or trade away.

The 5OA will be ready when the team is.

Not sure Keller alone accelerates that timeline, and there’s a lack of Cap space. Find a way to remove Gallagher and add another quality player, then I’m all ears.

 

[Habs]

Cooley > Keller?


Smith may well turn out to be a Keller. But that's far from assured.


I think there will be room for both. Hoffman comes off the books next summer and Armia's last year can be moved. Also, maybe Armia is part of the deal for Keller to equilibrate salaries.

Also, when's the last time an American wanted out? Petry was due to covid. Was it Rod Langway???

long term, I always liked the kid, hard to say. We need size down the middle and wing (that's what she said) I like how Vegas is built.

 

[sampollock]

IF keller is traded, there will be a few teams stepping up

 

[Conflicted Habs fan]

We need more frenchies, everything else don't matter!

 

[JianYang]

I'll never understand why so many of these threads come down to "we can't trade for (guy who is the same age as Nick Suzuki), we're too far from contending", but nobody apparently seems to apply that same logic to the opportunity cost of keeping Suzuki himself.

I think the opportunity cost is a concept that far too many people gloss over. In a hard cap world, opportunity cost is a massive component.

That being said, there would intangible costs to moving a guy like suzuki as well. Suzuki represents the new build. You trade him, you have torn down a focal point in whatever you are building, and the morale of the team could take a hit. A domino effect could occur. Would caufield believe in the process anymore?

 

[Bombshell11]

we need size and skill now, pick Smith

Smith is a bruins fan, i dont think he wants to play here

 

[JianYang]

Smith is a bruins fan, i dont think he wants to play here

That doesn't mean anything.

Bourque was a habs fan who became a bruins legend.

Nilan was a huge bruins fan who cares for the Habs more than anyone.

Loyalties change when a team drafts you.

 

[26Mats]

long term, I always liked the kid, hard to say. We need size down the middle and wing (that's what she said) I like how Vegas is built.

Cooley and Keller are both listed at 5'10.