The state of the Habs Rebuild - The Next step

[Sorinth]

I don't want to see another rookie handed a spot without earning it - with the exeption of Demidov. We have enough youth in the lineup and Demidov is coming next year. There is also enough cap room to sign Evans and Armia, which we know we can't immediately replace without some regression.

No issue if Beck and Mailloux play another year in the AHL. Same with Rienbacher.

I think ideally we would want to trade Gallagher, let Dvorak walk while re-signing Evans and Armia and a borderline NHL/AHL vet in the mold of ABB, Gignac, Richard, etc... That way if young guys are ready they can earn a spot but if they aren't then we give the AHL vet the spot.

Main issue is that even at 50% retained Gallagher might be hard to move, but honestly some rebuilding teams could actually use his brand of leadership. And with Hughes there's always hope given that he somehow turned Hoffman into a 2nd round pick.

 

[Habnot]

I think ideally we would want to trade Gallagher, let Dvorak walk while re-signing Evans and Armia and a borderline NHL/AHL vet in the mold of ABB, Gignac, Richard, etc... That way if young guys are ready they can earn a spot but if they aren't then we give the AHL vet the spot.

Main issue is that even at 50% retained Gallagher might be hard to move, but honestly some rebuilding teams could actually use his brand of leadership. And with Hughes there's always hope given that he somehow turned Hoffman into a 2nd round pick.

I'm not sure why we need to move Gallagher's contract. We will be easily under the cap next year and the year after, Price comes off books. Also, there is not much to get excited by the 2025 UFA class.

Forget the price of the contract, Gallagher is a good vet to have on this team.

 

[Sorinth]

I'm not sure why we need to move Gallagher's contract. We will be easily under the cap next year and the year after, Price comes off books. Also, there is not much to get excited by the 2025 UFA class.

Forget the price of the contract, Gallagher is a good vet to have on this team.

Need is a strong word, so sure we don't NEED to move on from him, but it's the spot where we can see the biggest upgrade both in terms of individual and in terms of fit with the team. For example, as I said in my OP, Gallagher brings leadership, but for us it's of marginal value because of how much and how many of our young guys have been stepping up and taking leadership roles.

 

[Miller Time]

25: Suzuki
23: CC, Dach, Dobes, Xhekaj, Newhook,
22: Guhle, Strubble, Heineman,
21: Roy, Mailloux, Kapanen, Engstrom
20: Hutson, Slaf, RB, Beck, Fowler
19: Demidov, Hage,

The young talent we have, and the level they've been playing at for 20+ games is impressive.

Future is bright

 

[Fuonki]

Gallagher is easily worth his contract, and even if he wasn't trading him away would be an extremely dumb thing to do. Guy has some of the best analytics out of this team like always and even if you believe in none of that he's easily the most experienced and hardest working forward we have. And like the other posters already said, cap space is not a problem for us at all, so why lose player who plays an important role and who is loved by both the locker room and the fans?