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

[sandviper]

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.

His defense, while not great, I don’t think is the REAL problem. It’s his inconsistent effort level to me, which I also think contributes to his lack of footspeed. Barring us making the playoffs and Laine all of a sudden goes full beast mode, I could see him being moved during the summer.

As for the TDL, I think it went as I expected. We really are in the mix and still have a relatively easier strength of schedule. The vets we held on to may be enough to get us through. I didn’t see any point moving Savard for a 4th or 5th. We know Armia is a solid tandem with Evans and they may as well ride it out rest of this season to try to get to the playoffs. Dvorak I’m convinced had like zero value. As other said anyways, all these guys are worth more to the team than a couple picks after pick #120.

I do expect an AHL deal or two coming.

 

[Be a Hab]

I think a big trade is coming this summer. Kent Hughes said he called some teams about players that had term and not necessary on the trade market.

I wonder who the Habs are targeting?

 

[HuGort]

Holy shit! Marchand to Florida.

Carlo to Toronto.

Bruins are tearing it down!

Marchand to Cats Really stuck it to the Leafs. He's a thorn in their side. Bruins probably going to fill the picks. Their fans say they hope to compete next year.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

His defense, while not great, I don’t think is the REAL problem. It’s his inconsistent effort level to me, which I also think contributes to his lack of footspeed. Barring us making the playoffs and Laine all of a sudden goes full beast mode, I could see him being moved during the summer.

As for the TDL, I think it went as I expected. We really are in the mix and still have a relatively easier strength of schedule. The vets we held on to may be enough to get us through. I didn’t see any point moving Savard for a 4th or 5th. We know Armia is a solid tandem with Evans and they may as well ride it out rest of this season to try to get to the playoffs. Dvorak I’m convinced had like zero value. As other said anyways, all these guys are worth more to the team than a couple picks after pick #120.

I do expect an AHL deal or two coming.

Laine would garner the most closer to TDL. I'd wait till then

 

[electron58]

As most of you on here, I too was disappointed at TDL day. But I was not upset! Teams will have streaks, winning & losing. It happens to most any team in any league. Judging the Hab season to date (over 60+ games) not 5 games here & 5 games there, Habs are in a position to compete. That was the goal from the get go. Frankly? I'm pleasantly surprised that we are so close to a playoff spot. Doesn't mean we make it. Doesn't mean we don't make it. But the experience is infinitesimal. Plus next year we are going to work 2 studs in to the lineup plus any off season moves. I know a lot of you posters have touched on the same information, but I just wanted to say it too.

 

[Hostile Offer]

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.

If we can get Armia to sign a similarly below market value deal as Evans then I'm not opposed to it. No chance he's getting a contract anywhere close to his current one. Give him two years for below 2.5M AAV and it'd be fine with me. He's a really good sidekick for Evans, especially on the PK.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

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.

Ahh…. the privileges and comfort of being mediocre.

 

[Riddick412]

Already starting with the: "well just wait until the off season, big changes".

Funny because when nothing happens in the off season, we get the: "well just wait until the TDL, big changes".

And some people fall for it lol.

 

[Andy]

Ahh…. the privileges and comfort of being mediocre.

The context is a little different though. It’s not like the habs have been in this range for the last 10 years.

3 and half years ago, the Habs decided to tear it down. They had three back to back bottom 5 finishes.

In year 4 the improvements from rebuilding has pushed the time into WC contention.

Instead of seeing this as a positive that the rebuild is working, people are just negative because they didn’t get a handful of middling picks.

The Habs are adding a potential star in Demidov next year. Hughes admitted they will continue to pursue a 2c in the offseason. They have a good basket of assets. Reinbacher will also be added to the lineup.

Everyone needs to take a breather.

 

[26Mats]

Savard might retire at the end of this season. He really should.

Or he needs to work on his fitness, like he did two years ago. When he comes to camp in shape and stays in shape he's much better at keeping up with the play. As soon as I saw his fitness level at camp, I was worried he wouldn't have a good season and wouldn't get us a good pick at the TDL.

It's his call: retirement and he can eat all the doughnuts he wants, or keep playing but be on a strict, healthy diet and follow a good fitness regiment.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

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

Talk about your ‘what have you done for me lately’ mindset, as just a week ago, these same disappointed fans, were singing Hughes’ praise for being able to sign Evans to a very team friendly extension.

 

[Naslund]

Already starting with the: "well just wait until the off season, big changes".

Funny because when nothing happens in the off season, we get the: "well just wait until the TDL, big changes".

And some people fall for it lol.

At a minimum, Demidov and Reinbacher happen in the off-season, with Dvorak and Savard gone. It guarantees big changes.

 

[ReHabs]

Talk about your ‘what have you done for me lately’ mindset, as just a week ago, these same disappointed fans, were singing Hughes’ praise for being able to sign Evans to a very team friendly extension.

Getting that deal out of Evans is undoubtedly a Win.

It doesn’t mean that the expectations for him to actually improve the roster have abated or been sidelined. I don’t like the “honeymoon phase” term because it doesn’t fit (this is not a marriage) but I guess it can mean fewer fans and media will now come to the breathless defence of the Habs GM’s any move or decision as time goes on.

But this is Montreal, the Habs GM will always have a big chunk of diehard support that will always defer to him. Permanent honeymoon phase.

 

[Deebs]

I just heard Kyper say the Leafs offered MInten, Cowen and two 1st's for Rantanen. I guess they were ok with walking away from Marner in the offseason. Interesting.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Getting that deal out of Evans is undoubtedly a Win.

It doesn’t mean that the expectations for him to actually improve the roster have abated or been sidelined. I don’t like the “honeymoon phase” term because it doesn’t fit (this is not a marriage) but I guess it can mean fewer fans and media will now come to the breathless defence of the Habs GM’s any move or decision as time goes on.

But this is Montreal, the Habs GM will always have a big chunk of diehard support that will always defer to him. Permanent honeymoon phase.

It offsets the fan base that criticizes and hates practically every move that is made (or not made).

 

[ReHabs]

It offsets the fan base that criticizes and hates practically every move that is made (or not made).

You’re referring to a cohort that numbered 0 at the onset and probably in the low hundreds worldwide currently. There is no offset.

It’s not like Bergevin where he had a cult of personality and a cult of people obsessed with hating him. And even then, Bergevin had die hard fans to the very end.

 

[BLNY]

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

Never underestimate the severity of bipolar disorder suffered by online personalities. They're only happy if management does what they want/think to be right course of action.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Already starting with the: "well just wait until the off season, big changes".

Funny because when nothing happens in the off season, we get the: "well just wait until the TDL, big changes".

And some people fall for it lol.

Off-season moves that were made were
- trading Romanov and then acquiring Dach
- trading Petry and getting Matheson
- acquiring Newhook.
- acquiring Monahan and a 1st
- acquiring Laine and a 2nd

so when people say wait until the off-season, they don't fall for it. It's been proven every year since Kent is GM.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Already starting with the: "well just wait until the off season, big changes".

Funny because when nothing happens in the off season, we get the: "well just wait until the TDL, big changes".

And some people fall for it lol.

We added Laine last off season.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

The context is a little different though. It’s not like the habs have been in this range for the last 10 years.

3 and half years ago, the Habs decided to tear it down. They had three back to back bottom 5 finishes.

In year 4 the improvements from rebuilding has pushed the time into WC contention.

Instead of seeing this as a positive that the rebuild is working, people are just negative because they didn’t get a handful of middling picks.

The Habs are adding a potential star in Demidov next year. Hughes admitted they will continue to pursue a 2c in the offseason. They have a good basket of assets. Reinbacher will also be added to the lineup.

Everyone needs to take a breather.

Good and wise advice.

But in my opinion, if the Canadiens make it into the playoffs, they will be a team that most contenders will have some unease about facing in the first round.

And here's another thing, if they do make the playoffs and when the real banging and intense style of hockey starts, those same fans currently so upset that Hughes held on to his UFA cards, will only be too glad that the team has veterans like Armia, Savard and Dvorak to answer the bell.

As I have said previously, some of the best transactions are the ones that you don't enter into.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

It's his call: retirement and he can eat all the doughnuts he wants

Seems like it's already what he's doing.

"Hmmmm pastries"

 

[Leto]

Seems like it's already what he's doing.

"Hmmmm pastries"

He should get a sponsorship from Homer's Donuts.

 

[NeptunesTrident]

Never underestimate the severity of bipolar disorder suffered by online personalities. They're only happy if management does what they want/think to be right course of action.

That's fair but there is also a thread on here questioning whether MSL is the right coach for the team. This has been building for awhile; yesterday just revealed it a little more.

 

[morhilane]

I think a big trade is coming this summer. Kent Hughes said he called some teams about players that had term and not necessary on the trade market.

I wonder who the Habs are targeting?

Hopefully a left handed 2nd line center.

 

[Leto]

That's fair but there is also a thread on here questioning whether MSL is the right coach for the team. This has been building for awhile; yesterday just revealed it a little more.

I would say the 2023 draft was the end of the honeymoon (if there was one after the 2022 draft ).