Post-Game Talk: Trade Deadline Day: March 7, 2025: Montreal stands pat

[Runner77]

Next year he will be able to deal Laine and Matheson at the deadline....

don't make those promises next year Kent...

Best opportunity to move Laine. Habs would have to keep a retention spot for him.

I’m not sold that he will ever have more speed than he does now. I think it was a worthwhile gamble but man, had no idea he was this slowww. Guy is a huge defensive liability.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

I disagree, but ok sure, you consider it significant. Answer me this: why do the extra 3 losses represent a catastrophic season, but if those 3 losses were actually wins, it's something to be happy about? What is this magical number outside the playoff spot that people consider to be competitive hockey? Because from my point of view, only the Pens and Sabres haven't been playing competitive hockey in the East. More importantly, how many extra points in this 20 game stretch do we get by having Armia/Savard instead of their waiver wire replacements?

I'm not gonna answer anything as your post is filled with non-sequiturs.

It's quite simple and you can do the following exercise (i know you won't, because quite simply you can't be reasoned with because you're only looking to form a narrative so you can complain):

1- go back to the 05-06 season and find out the TDL. Go look at the standings at the date of the TDL. Note all teams who are -8 pts/g behind the last wild cards of each conference. Then go look at the final standings. Note if those teams made the playoffs. Repeat this for every season till last season.

I'm pretty sure you'll only find one or two exceptions who made the playoffs.

2- Do the same exercise for teams who are -2pts/g behind the last wild cards.

Please don't reply to me if you haven't done the exercise.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Based off the disappointment in the thread, I’d say the honeymoon phase for Kent Hughes is over.

If they make the playoffs, we should revisit this thread to admonish all the complainers.

How would the honeymoon be over when he's brought the team from dead last, with a putrid roster, to the playoff's doorsteps in the span of only 3 seasons?

If it is indeed ended, it's just a sign of how wholly emotional and immature the average fan around here is.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Next year he will be able to deal Laine and Matheson at the deadline....

don't make those promises next year Kent...

They'll probably be traded earlier, like he's done before with Monahan and Toffoli.

If Reinbacher handles himself well, Matheson will become an odd man out, as the top 4 will be complete without him, with Hutson, Guhle, Rain and Carrier.

Laine is another story though. Who knows how that will turn out, but he could fetch quite a haul.

 

[Frankenheimer]

This thread should be bumped when habs miss playoffs or get smoked in 4 games against Florida

why? What would it prove? I'd definitely forgo another second round pick for a chance of playoff hockey.

 

[TomKosto]

If they make the playoffs, we should revisit this thread to admonish all the complainers.

How would the honeymoon be over when he's brought the team from dead last, with a putrid roster, to the playoff's doorsteps in the span of only 3 seasons?

If it is indeed ended, it's just a sign of how wholly emotional and immature the average fan around here is.

Tell me how this team compare to last cup winners? We have Demidov coming up, Reinbacher too, after that? Yea we gonna make the playoff like we did a lot of time in the last 30 years but we were never contenders during that long time.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Tell me how this team compare to last cup winners? We have Demidov coming up, Reinbacher too, after that? Yea we gonna make the playoff like we did a lot of time in the last 30 years but we were never contenders during that long time.

They've been pretty good with later picks so far, and you forgot Hage. In the span of 3 drafts, they've added Slaf, Hutson, Beck, Reinbacher, Fowler, Demidov and Hage. That's quite a haul.

There's Engstrom who also looks solid. Now add the coming depth with Kap, Heine, Wifi#2, Tuch and whatever dark horse that might surprise.

2 first picks this year, might have even more next year.

There's going to be a lot of ammo to make trades and considering the 'culture' of this rising team and Hughes talent for negos, an importamt UFA signing along the way shouldn't be discounted.

I wish we could've drafted high for longer, but it is what it is. Can't be mad at this young core for taking the bull by the horns. It's not like there won't be solutions, nor that it will be impossible to draft good players outside the top 10 (Hutson & Hage are good examples, 2 steals in 3 years is encouraging).

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

why? What would it prove? I'd definitely forgo another second round pick for a chance of playoff hockey.

just gonna prove that those players are non factor to our team and that this chemistry thing has to be the out of pocket reason. If they had that much chemistry they could perhaps know how to not make so many damn mistakes

 

[Runner77]

If they make the playoffs, we should revisit this thread to admonish all the complainers.

How would the honeymoon be over when he's brought the team from dead last, with a putrid roster, to the playoff's doorsteps in the span of only 3 seasons?

If it is indeed ended, it's just a sign of how wholly emotional and immature the average fan around here is.

I’d argue that’s one of the realities of having such a large fan base — we are very likely to have a wide spectrum of divergent opinions.

Look at all the squabbles we had in the Bergevin era with so many fans defending him on the forum, tooth and nail.

It’s par for the course.

 

[Banjo Cat]

To me it makes perfect sense to stand pat right now. We aren't quite good enough to be buyers. And while we have a shot at making the playoffs, we aren't bad enough to be sellers.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

I feel he could have gotten a 2nd for armia. But id rather keep armia and push for playoffs

Savard I don't see getting a 2nd. All his comparables that got traded today are better than him. I think he would have fetched a 3rd

The time to have traded Savard was last year. Once again proving that it's way better to trade a player one year too soon than one year too late.

 

[Zalos]

I'll trust the management! We'll see how the season concludes. Will be difficult to finish ahead of Ottawa, Detroit, Columbus, New York, etc., but if we make it in, it'll be fun!

 

[ChesterNimitz]

If they make the playoffs, we should revisit this thread to admonish all the complainers.

How would the honeymoon be over when he's brought the team from dead last, with a putrid roster, to the playoff's doorsteps in the span of only 3 seasons?

If it is indeed ended, it's just a sign of how wholly emotional and immature the average fan around here is.

Little has changed in the 70 years that I have been following this team. We are indeed an entitled lot.

 

[Hostile Offer]

I don't really know why people were expecting Hughes to make moves on TDL. The Evans extension was a clear signal that they were going to roll with this team and why not? The season's been up and down but at the end of it the young core that hasn't seen success in a long time is playing meaningful games in March, the management should embrace it. And it's not like we missed out on much. Dvorak and Savard were probably worth mid round picks at best even with retention and trading Armia just didn't make sense once Evans was signed.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

All good to stand pat based on the team wanting a chance to compete down the stretch but if they shit the bed like they did in the 3rd period and OT like they did against the Oil it’s not going to age well. Need to keep the pedal down and play to win.

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

Based off the disappointment in the thread, I’d say the honeymoon phase for Kent Hughes is over.

It was over after that Slaf extension, I would even say after Newhook. That being said, he's 10x better than the fools this team had since the 90s. He's inexperienced and will fumble time to time. Today was one of those moments. You get rid of Dvo ASAP for a pick. I won't blame him for holding on to Armia and Savard. I understand they are loaded with picks, but they could have used those to get upgrades. Then again, HuGo never saw how this team will perform in a playoff race, so he didn't want to break the chemistry.

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

I don't really know why people were expecting Hughes to make moves on TDL. The Evans extension was a clear signal that they were going to roll with this team and why not? The season's been up and down but at the end of it the young core that hasn't seen success in a long time is playing meaningful games in March, the management should embrace it. And it's not like we missed out on much. Dvorak and Savard were probably worth mid round picks at best even with retention and trading Armia just didn't make sense once Evans was signed.

They better not extend Armia, unless it's for league minimum. They got themselves out of atrocious contracts and they still are on the hook for Price, Gally and Anderson.

 

[Scriptor]

Armia extended for two years at 2.5M would be fine for the role he can play on this team.

If that happens, though, with Dvorak gone and both Gallagher and Anderson likely hanging around until the trade deadline two years from now, there'd only be room at C for any of our prospects.

Considering that Hughes will likely look to add a 2C, there would only be one spot, barring injuries, open for prospects and it would be a battle between Beck and Kapanen, IMO.

For that reason alone, I wouldn't extend Armia, even if I prefer him to Anderson and Gallagher.

Got to keep one spot open on the wing for whomever of Beck and Kapanen doesn't get the 3C job.

Even without Armia in the lineup, that looks near impossible to do with both Heineman and Newhook, on top of Gallagher and Anderson, pencilled in for the bottom-6.

One of Kapanen or Beck will play in Laval next season, maybe both.

 

[McGees]

It’s not about the picks we didn’t get or the acquisitions we missed out on…
It’s about the friends we made along the way.

 

[ReHabs]

Simply put, the prices were too damn high. It’s not PlayStation, you can’t just acquire middle6 help. They’re just not available.

I think Hughes didn’t intend to buy whatsoever because he intended to tank. He doesn’t believe this roster has secret hidden abilities (because he’s not an idiot), so for him the extent of his favour was to stand pat and “reward” the roster by allowing them to continue defining their own culture.

It could pay off dividends.

Okay — well, I don’t agree with it but that doesn’t mean Kenny is wrong or that it is a totally irresponsible decision. I didn’t agree with many of his decisions but respect him overall all the same.

I hope he’s more judicious and decisive in a few months.

 

[Dagistitsyn]

Armia extended for two years at 2.5M would be fine for the role he can play on this team.

If that happens, though, with Dvorak gone and both Gallagher and Anderson likely hanging around until the trade deadline two years from now, there'd only be room at C for any of our prospects.

Considering that Hughes will likely look to add a 2C, there would only be one spot, barring injuries, open for prospects and it would be a battle between Beck and Kapanen, IMO.

For that reason alone, I wouldn't extend Armia, even if I prefer him to Anderson and Gallagher.

Got to keep one spot open on the wing for whomever of Beck and Kapanen doesn't get the 3C job.

Even without Armia in the lineup, that looks near impossible to do with both Heineman and Newhook, on top of Gallagher and Anderson, pencilled in for the bottom-6.

One of Kapanen or Beck will play in Laval next season, maybe both.

Kapanen should play in Laval for a year anyways, be an injury call up guy in the process.

 

[HuGort]

I'm always reminded of Brian Burke's wise admonition that more mistakes are made at the trade deadline than on any other day in the year. But it is quite possible that doing nothing is, in itself, a mistake.

In my opinion, with the team still in the playoff mix, there were no great lost opportunities by holding on to Armia and Savard.

A lot of teams stacked. Marchand in Florida. Hoping for a Florida/Tampa playoff series. Dallas/Colorado be a classic series. Rantanen went to Dallas. Leafs finally had added key playoff pieces

 

[Kimota]

I think we could have gotten a middle of the road player type like Toffoli. Just to add one more body to help win some games, maybe help us in the playoffs.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

I think we could have gotten a middle of the road player type like Toffoli. Just to add one more body to help win some games, maybe help us in the playoffs.

It's okay we got Armia and Dvorak two great players who are at their best when they don't have the puck

 

[BaseballCoach]

se them in a trade to get something you need , like you add an extra 2nd pick to favor a trade.

I will legit puke if i see
Evans Armia Dvorak Gallagher Anderson Dach and Newhook as our bottom 6 next year.

Evans Heineman and perhaps Newhook should be there and the rest all gone. All terrible veterans bringing almost nothing

Our bottom six is objectively one of the best in the NHL. Habs lead the league in 10 goal scorers. Dvorak is the only bottom sixer not pacing to 13+ goals.

Our offensive shortfalls are in the top 6. We are competing with 2 first line and 1.5 second line players.

We also have an inexperienced defence short on defensive rocks, and very average goaltending, not terrible but not consistently good either.