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

[HabzSauce]

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.

Nah most fans have been expecting 2025 summer to be big.

If he sits on his hands he will get obliterated. The few fans living in rainbow land will barely be noticed

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

He should get a sponsorship from Homer's Donuts.

Or Wegovy

 

[salbutera]

Need to keep an important factor in mind:

Evans took a hometown discount, that’s important and have to think it’s impact will only grow now that Hughes stuck to his word and kept the team intact at the deadline - good will has grown between management & players = TRUST

Had Hughes gone against the players wishes, how many players going fwd would’ve maintained trust in HuGo’s worse? Or even considered the option of hometown discounts?

The latter will be an important factor for this team as their aspirations grow starting this summer towards becoming a serious contender…. word will get around the league, backed up by actions such as this past deadline, and Habs could use all the help they can get in getting too end players to want to play in Mtl.

Like say luring Bennett for that 2C role at a more affordable AAV vs having to overpay?

 

[Ozmodiar]

Before the season, they did they wanted to be “in the mix”. This is exactly where they are.

During the 4 nations break, Hughes told Suzuki - if you want the team to remain intact, show us. He did. Led the league in points during winning streak.

Evans signed on, at a discount to market.

Now folks are upset because Hughes didn’t break up a tight locker room for a 2nd round pick??

They’d rather Hughes break his word and tell Suzuki “well, we can use that 2nd to move up from 18 to 15 for a player that will contribute in 4 years.” Or maybe they’d rather Hughes not challenge his Captain to see if he can take things to another level.

Keeping in mind the Habs already have one of the best prospect pools in the league, a boat load of draft picks, and cap space freeing up over the next few years. In other words, the pieces are already there. He just has to arrange and fit them.

Stop the whining.

 

[Guy Larose]

Before the season, they did they wanted to be “in the mix”. This is exactly where they are.

During the 4 nations break, Hughes told Suzuki - if you want the team to remain intact, show us. He did. Led the league in points during winning streak.

Evans signed on, at a discount to market.

Now folks are upset because Hughes didn’t break up a tight locker room for a 2nd round pick??

They’d rather Hughes break his word and tell Suzuki “well, we can use that 2nd to move up from 18 to 15 for a player that will contribute in 4 years.” Or maybe they’d rather Hughes not challenge his Captain to see if he can take things to another level.

Keeping in mind the Habs already have one of the best prospect pools in the league, a boat load of draft picks, and cap space freeing up over the next few years. In other words, the pieces are already there. He just has to arrange and fit them.

Stop the whining.

That's like asking water to not be wet, on this site.

 

[ReHabs]

Need to keep an important factor in mind:

Evans took a hometown discount, that’s important and have to think it’s impact will only grow now that Hughes stuck to his word and kept the team intact at the deadline - good will has grown between management & players = TRUST

Had Hughes gone against the players wishes, how many players going fwd would’ve maintained trust in HuGo’s worse? Or even considered the option of hometown discounts?

The latter will be an important factor for this team as their aspirations grow starting this summer towards becoming a serious contender…. word will get around the league, backed up by actions such as this past deadline, and Habs could use all the help they can get in getting too end players to want to play in Mtl.

Like say luring Bennett for that 2C role at a more affordable AAV vs having to overpay?

Good comment and worthwhile to consider. I think they really do take a lot from the Boston Bruins mythos of CULTURE above all.

But we need the talent in at some point otherwise it’s not gonna go anywhere.

 

[lamp9post]

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

Laine has zero trade value, this offseason or next year's TDL. We took on his contract essentially for free as a gamble and his value hasn't improved since then. He's a major liability 5-5 to the effect that no serious contender could play him in the top-9 for a regular shift 5-5. In the playoffs he'd be pinned to the bench until a power play rolled around. How much can that possibly be worth? Oh yeah, and his cap hit is $8.7M.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Nah most fans have been expecting 2025 summer to be big.

If he sits on his hands he will get obliterated. The few fans living in rainbow land will barely be noticed

He's been busy in the last 3 years, doing something every summer, every winter. He'll do something, but whatever he does, there will certainly be the usual hoardes of Nancies being loud and unreasonable.

 

[LaineBOOM]

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

"Hmmmm pastries"

Sure, he has a fat neck and hence he rocks the beard, but his body has been and is in really good shape, this pic is from 2 years ago before he grew his beard out:

I personally took this picture while I saw him in the water, if you wonder why he looks so confused.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Good point. Belzile can still be had.

« The AHL roster deadline is Mar. 14, players currently on AHL rosters can be loaned or traded until then. »

Bring back Belzile !

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Laine has zero trade value, this offseason or next year's TDL. We took on his contract essentially for free as a gamble and his value hasn't improved since then. He's a major liability 5-5 to the effect that no serious contender could play him in the top-9 for a regular shift 5-5. In the playoffs he'd be pinned to the bench until a power play rolled around. How much can that possibly be worth? Oh yeah, and his cap hit is $8.7M.

He has 24 points in 34 games. GMs aren't a hive mind all thinking the same way you do. You're completely deluded and full of yourself if you think they do, or that you know the actual value he'll have next year. At TDL next year, 75% of his cap hit (it's counted on a game basis, if you didn't know) is gone, and we can retain half of what remains for the couple months left on the contract, so his salary is not an issue for a trade. Who knows how well he'll do next year, a contract year mind you, with more time to get rehabilitated. He's also shown a willingness to do better.

 

[OnTheRun]

Good comment and worthwhile to consider. I think they really do take a lot from the Boston Bruins mythos of CULTURE above all.

But we need the talent in at some point otherwise it’s not gonna go anywhere.

We are in a situation where our prospects could very much be back-to-back Calder winner, yet somehow we need to act like not getting a 2nd round pick yesterday derailed the team future.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Sure, he has a fat neck and hence he rocks the beard, but his body has been and is in really good shape, this pic is from 2 years ago before he grew his beard out:
View attachment 989799
I personally took this picture while I saw him in the water, if you wonder why he looks so confused.

He's wondering if you have any pastries. His cheeks definitely look more pudgie. Forget the beard.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Laine has zero trade value, this offseason or next year's TDL. We took on his contract essentially for free as a gamble and his value hasn't improved since then. He's a major liability 5-5 to the effect that no serious contender could play him in the top-9 for a regular shift 5-5. In the playoffs he'd be pinned to the bench until a power play rolled around. How much can that possibly be worth? Oh yeah, and his cap hit is $8.7M.

If his lack of speed is the problem and that is due to the injury he may be back to 100% after the off season and not be a liability. If his play 5 on 5 doesn't improvenext season then yes he would be would be pretty much worthless.

 

[HabsForHire]

Now ask him if he would have liked just a little bit of help. Just a little instead of playing Beck 7 minutes a game.

he'll get his help this offseason

 

[ReHabs]

We are in a situation where our prospects could very much be back-to-back Calder winner, yet somehow we need to act like not getting a 2nd round pick yesterday derailed the team future.

Okay let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We have very exciting prospects for sure. It’s a great feeling to see Hutson and know he’s ours. Demidov too of course. Reinbacher too.

I don’t think anything by has been derailed. It’s just a small, unpleasant surprise to see Hughes be decisively indecisive. It’s less about the assets for me than it is about the asset management.

We’re gonna be in for a surprise when it comes to acquiring the 2C we need, it won’t be cheap or simple. Oh well.

 

[Erika]

Makes little sense to trade a 2nd for a player who doesn't have a spot on the habs next season. And I doubt he would return a 2nd if you try to trade him again in the summer.

Fabian Zetterlund will put up 50-60 points playing with Brady and Stutzle. That's 1st/2nd line material and definitely worth at least a 2nd round pick. It's a very nice trade for Ottawa. Zetterlund will be a beast for them.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Fabian Zetterlund will put up 50-60 points playing with Brady and Stutzle. That's 1st/2nd line material and definitely worth at least a 2nd round pick. It's a very nice trade for Ottawa. Zetterlund will be a beast for them.

It depends what kind of contract he wants. Apparently that's why SJ dealt him. But I agree could have been a sneaky good add

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Okay let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We have very exciting prospects for sure. It’s a great feeling to see Hutson and know he’s ours. Demidov too of course. Reinbacher too.

I don’t think anything by has been derailed. It’s just a small, unpleasant surprise to see Hughes be decisively indecisive. It’s less about the assets for me than it is about the asset management.

We’re gonna be in for a surprise when it comes to acquiring the 2C we need, it won’t be cheap or simple. Oh well.

There is no way to know what Hughes was trying to do. I am sure he would have gotten a 2c if the right one was available for the right price. (which would have to be futures).Highly unlikely there was one.
Cozens is an example. If glass body Dach hadn't gone down again they might have been able to move him for Cozens. But Sabres wanted Cozens gone so hen may be an ahole.

 

[The Great Weal]

Fabian Zetterlund will put up 50-60 points playing with Brady and Stutzle. That's 1st/2nd line material and definitely worth at least a 2nd round pick. It's a very nice trade for Ottawa. Zetterlund will be a beast for them.

He'll be a similar impact player as Lehkonen I think. I would have loved to see a Heineman-Beck-Zetterlund line when we're more competitive.

 

[OnTheRun]

Okay let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We have very exciting prospects for sure. It’s a great feeling to see Hutson and know he’s ours. Demidov too of course. Reinbacher too.

I don’t think anything by has been derailed. It’s just a small, unpleasant surprise to see Hughes be decisively indecisive. It’s less about the assets for me than it is about the asset management.

We’re gonna be in for a surprise when it comes to acquiring the 2C we need, it won’t be cheap or simple. Oh well.

It's fair, if you look at asset management in a vacuum.
For the record, I don't think they will make the POs this year, so if everything is just black or white they should have taken the pick.

BUT...
The team is 1pts out of a WC spot at the TDL, the team was seller for the 3 previous season and accumulated a few nice prospects along the way. It's fine to not dick punch the team for a meager 2nd rd pick in that context.

Also I can't think of a single scenario where the Habs would find themselves a 2nd rd pick short of acquiring a #2C, we have the assets to pull it off already.

 

[Team_Spirit]

So Kuzmenko was already beefing with Torts?

End result is Briere traded Frost and Farabee for Pelletier(bust) 2nd, 3rd.

Andrei Kuzmenko Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of Andrei Kuzmenko, a hockey player from Yakutsk, Russia born Feb 4 1996 who was active from 2012 to 2025.

www.hockeydb.com

My losers for this TDL, along with Chicago who got stuck with their crap.

 

[lamp9post]

He has 24 points in 34 games. GMs aren't a hive mind all thinking the same way you do. You're completely deluded and full of yourself if you think they do, or that you know the actual value he'll have next year. At TDL next year, 75% of his cap hit (it's counted on a game basis, if you didn't know) is gone, and we can retain half of what remains for the couple months left on the contract, so his salary is not an issue for a trade. Who knows how well he'll do next year, a contract year mind you, with more time to get rehabilitated. He's also shown a willingness to do better.

Do you respond this way to every poster that doesn't share your opinion?

Laine was a fine gamble for a rebuilding team looking to add offense and move up in the standings. He's just too much of a liability for a contender and has been that type of player his entire career. It's not the injury, this is who he is. Of course, anything can happen and the world is full of possibilities. People thought Monahan's career was over when we acquired him due to hip issues, but he got back to health, improved his value and parlayed that into a long term contract. A team could very well trade for Laine if we make him available at next years TDL. I just think the return and his impact on a playoff team will be more like Vanek than anything meaningful.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Do you respond this way to every poster that doesn't share your opinion?

Laine was a fine gamble for a rebuilding team looking to add offense and move up in the standings. He's just too much of a liability for a contender and has been that type of player his entire career. It's not the injury, this is who he is. Of course, anything can happen and the world is full of possibilities. People thought Monahan's career was over when we acquired him due to hip issues, but he got back to health, improved his value and parlayed that into a long term contract. A team could very well trade for Laine if we make him available at next years TDL. I just think the return and his impact on a playoff team will be more like Vanek than anything meaningful.

And actually Monahan supports your argument. He is hurt again. i don't know if Laine was always this slow or just always lazy so can't say if he it is the injury or not. You may be right that even if Laine has a good season up until the trade deadline HuGo shouldn't assume it will continue

 

[beowulf]

Is it just me or did some teams really give up a lot for what they got? A lot of not only 1st picks but 2x1st picks etc. Glad the team stood pat and didn't add anyone. Could have traded Armia maybe and Savard but I guess there was not a deal to be made.