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

[MarkovsKnee]

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.

Summer 2025 was always targeted as our "build" Summer. Molson said that like 2 years ago & HuGo has continually reaffirmed that.

That's because Dvorak, Armia & Savard's contracts end. Evans did too but we resigned him.

Allen & Petry also come off our retained salary meaning we can now trade one or both of Anderson or Gallagher with retained salary. Both have 2 years left, which is far more reasonable to carry RS.

Price has one year left and may also be movable after his bonus is paid out. Seattle for instance has a ton of cap space for next year & no 3rds in 2025 draft. We have 3. Trade Price & a 3rd for a minor leaguer or a 7th rounder.

I expect management to have our cap situation pretty much re-set, to dump some veterans, and bring in 2 more quality young players (Demidov & Reinbacher).

The biggest issue is now Dach / 2C. He's been a disappointment and injury prone.

That's really our biggest problem right now. Dach hasn't been it. And, now we have to question where exactly he fits in the lineup.

 

[lamp9post]

If you can believe it, Dvorak is making $5.75m this year. Lol

His cap hit is "only" $4.45m.

He was never going to be moved.

Brendan Gallagher makes $9M in actual dollars this year. Combined they make $14.75M.

 

[HuGo Sham]

Summer 2025 was always targeted as our "build" Summer. Molson said that like 2 years ago & HuGo has continually reaffirmed that.

That's because Dvorak, Armia & Savard's contracts end. Evans did too but we resigned him.

Allen & Petry also come off our retained salary meaning we can now trade one or both of Anderson or Gallagher with retained salary. Both have 2 years left, which is far more reasonable to carry RS.

Price has one year left and may also be movable after his bonus is paid out. Seattle for instance has a ton of cap space for next year & no 3rds in 2025 draft. We have 3. Trade Price & a 3rd for a minor leaguer or a 7th rounder.

I expect management to have our cap situation pretty much re-set, to dump some veterans, and bring in 2 more quality young players (Demidov & Reinbacher).

The biggest issue is now Dach / 2C. He's been a disappointment and injury prone.

That's really our biggest problem right now. Dach hasn't been it. And, now we have to question where exactly he fits in the lineup.

100% and sometimes posters don't pay enough attention to the pressers and what is said - and isn't said.
It's crystal clear Hughes did this as a response to Suzuki's plea. I think he's happy they're getting lots of experience - especially our big 4 and Dobes, but they aren't a playoff team.
I also get the complaints about not doing anything. However, I think they felt prices were insanely high for what they were getting and couldn't find another offensive piece because they were simply not available.
An interesting bit from Hughes that wasn't really talked about by us, I don't think, was his quote abut trying to make deals for guys that weren't even rumoured to be available.
It's going to be a very fascinating summer. I assume HuGo have like 10 plans in place for the way things will go.

 

[LaP]

Yeah you are right Florida drafted Barkov, Ekblad and? Oh yeah Tkachuk, Reinhart, Bennett, Verhaeghe, Rodrigues, Forsling and Bobrovsky.

We should hiring their scout. ROFL.

Tkachuk was acquired using a player they drafted. There's no Tkachuk without Huberdeau. Reinhart was acquired using Levon Devi a prospect they drafted. Bennett was acquired using Emil Heineman a prospect they drafted.

Nobody ever pretended that 100% of a team will be made from players you drafted. You have to fill holes. But it's FAR easier to fill holes using talented prospects or players you drafted than using scraps like Yoel Armia and Dvorak. Nobody will give you jack shit for scraps.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

100% and sometimes posters don't pay enough attention to the pressers and what is said - and isn't said.
It's crystal clear Hughes did this as a response to Suzuki's plea. I think he's happy they're getting lots of experience - especially our big 4 and Dobes, but they aren't a playoff team.
I also get the complaints about not doing anything. However, I think they felt prices were insanely high for what they were getting and couldn't find another offensive piece because they were simply not available.
An interesting bit from Hughes that wasn't really talked about by us, I don't think, was his quote abut trying to make deals for guys that weren't even rumoured to be available.
It's going to be a very fascinating summer. I assume HuGo have we like 10 plans in palce for thw way thigns will go.

For sure Hughes will have more options next summer. The tdl is for teams who pays high place for a playoffs run. Just for a last minute playoff spot it's rarely worth the price.

 

[LaP]

For sure Hughes will have more options next summer. The tdl is for teams who pays high place for a playoffs run. Just for a last minute playoff spot it's rarely worth the price.

He will. But adding another 2nd would have given him even more options without changing the fate of this season or next. I get they did not want to trade everyone. But i think people underestimate the value of having three 2nd round picks next draft instead of just two. I hope i'm wrong but now that their job is safe i think those vets will crap in the hands of KH. None of them have what it takes to second Suzuki.

 

[HuGo Sham]

For sure Hughes will have more options next summer. The tdl is for teams who pays high place for a playoffs run. Just for a last minute playoff spot it's rarely worth the price.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

He will. But adding another 2nd would have given him even more options without changing the fate of this season or next. I get they did not want to trade everyone. But i think people underestimate the value of having three 2nd round picks next draft instead of just two. I hope i'm wrong but now that their job is safe i think those vets will crap in the hands of KH. None of them have what it takes to second Suzuki.

I mean we have picks coming out of our asses. If it means having to add our own pick in like 2028 so be it.

 

[LaP]

Correct. However, the point remains that the context of the TDL is different this year than in previous years.

Only if you believe the team can sustain a 900 P% for longer. I always say and nobody will ever change my mind about this you don't evaluate a team in the middle of a winning sequence or a losing sequence. Extremes can't be sustained. We are two point behind after a sequence of 11 points in 12. Don't be surprised if we string a few losses (the law of average spares no one) and we fall 5-6 points behind with only 15 games remaining which means we'll be out.

 

[ReHabs]

100% and sometimes posters don't pay enough attention to the pressers and what is said - and isn't said.
It's crystal clear Hughes did this as a response to Suzuki's plea. I think he's happy they're getting lots of experience - especially our big 4 and Dobes, but they aren't a playoff team.

This is my thesis too. I think Hughes knows very well what a successful competitive team looks like and we’re not there yet.

I also get the complaints about not doing anything. However, I think they felt prices were insanely high for what they were getting and couldn't find another offensive piece because they were simply not available.

I don’t buy it. Middle6 help wouldn’t have cost much. We basically just need some NHL forwards of any kind— just to push out sub-NHL Pezzetta, and the like.

The prices are too high thing is not rational and never was during the Bergevin period. The prices are the prices.

An interesting bit from Hughes that wasn't really talked about by us, I don't think, was his quote abut trying to make deals for guys that weren't even rumoured to be available.
It's going to be a very fascinating summer. I assume HuGo have we like 10 plans in place for the way things will go.

He’s having calls and working the phones but prices were too high… fans should wait until summer when things are more clear.

Hmm this argument rings a bell.

 

[OnTheRun]

He will. But adding another 2nd would have given him even more options without changing the fate of this season or next. I get they did not want to trade everyone. But i think people underestimate the value of having three 2nd round picks next draft instead of just two. I hope i'm wrong but now that their job is safe i think those vets will crap in the hands of KH. None of them have what it takes to second Suzuki.

The job situation of the vets remain unchanged. If all goes well the Habs will be eliminated in the last ~2 weeks of season, instead of by the end of the month.
This give them something to battle for until "the end", instead of going through the motion and checking out every time they have a bad start in the next 2 months.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Brendan Gallagher makes $9M in actual dollars this year. Combined they make $14.75M.

That's just f***ing insane. Gallagher makes his cap hit next year. Dvorak is getting a huge pay cut. He's not getting more than $1.5m on his next contract.

Hopefully, we can move Gallagher at 50%. $3.25m isn't too bad.

 

[Bring Bak Damphousse]

What could he have done? I would have liked a stop gap center but it must not have been available.

Same, would have liked to be in on Cozens, but not sure who our Norris is to get that deal done, Buffalo was obviously looking for a known commodity or I’m sure we send a couple high draft picks/prospects the other way.

 

[Bring Bak Damphousse]

That's just f***ing insane. Gallagher makes his cap hit next year. Dvorak is getting a huge pay cut. He's not getting more than $1.5m on his next contract.

Hopefully, we can move Gallagher at 50%. $3.25m isn't too bad.

I like Gallagher as much as the next guy, but how the hell did he manage to get that contract out of Bergevin? His production was down, he was dealing with consecutive injuries to his hands, and he plays a style that will be difficult to play up to in his 30s, how the f*** did anyone think that contract was reasonable?

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I like Gallagher as much as the next guy, but how the hell did he manage to get that contract out of Bergevin? His production was down, he was dealing with consecutive injuries to his hands, and he plays a style that will be difficult to play up to in his 30s, how the f*** did anyone think that contract was reasonable?

It wasn't reasonable, but during his prime as a younger player he was seriously under-paid. Bergevin was making it up to him. Plus, Bergevin absolutely loved Gally. And, the whole cap was going up climate then Covid hit.

 

[Galaxydoggystyle]

It wasn't reasonable, but during his prime as a younger player he was seriously under-paid. Bergevin was making it up to him. Plus, Bergevin absolutely loved Gally. And, the whole cap was going up climate then Covid hit.

Don't forget the crying MB did....MB seriously screwed the Habs before he left. He signed all those players in the off season only to leave I believe a season later....

 

[HuGo Sham]

This is my thesis too. I think Hughes knows very well what a successful competitive team looks like and we’re not there yet.

I don’t buy it. Middle6 help wouldn’t have cost much. We basically just need some NHL forwards of any kind— just to push out sub-NHL Pezzetta, and the like.

The prices are too high thing is not rational and never was during the Bergevin period. The prices are the prices.

He’s having calls and working the phones but prices were too high… fans should wait until summer when things are more clear.

Hmm this argument rings a bell.

You could be right. At some point, he's definitely going to have to get more aggressive for habs to take the next step

 

[Team_Spirit]

Don't forget the crying MB did....MB seriously screwed the Habs before he left. He signed all those players in the off season only to leave I believe a season later....

On backloaded deals too. Truly evil.

 

[Tuggy]

On backloaded deals too. Truly evil.

Yup...

Gallagher salary this season - 9M
Anderson - 7M
Dvorak - 5.75M

At least the final year for Anderson and Gallagher is quite a bit lower.

 

[Runner77]

I don't understand how anybody could think that it would be ok for Hughes to stab the players in the back.

I don’t believe it’s a good idea for a GM to make commitments that limit his ability to optimize asset management. But once he does make them, I agree that they should be adhered to.

Next time, however, I hope that Hughes learns from this and would prefer that he makes no further promises of that nature. His coaching staff can motivate, rally and inspire players without handcuffing the GM.

 

[DAChampion]

Yup...

Gallagher salary this season - 9M
Anderson - 7M
Dvorak - 5.75M

At least the final year for Anderson and Gallagher is quite a bit lower.

What's the point of a bag loaded deal?

 

[Runner77]

Summer 2025 was always targeted as our "build" Summer. Molson said that like 2 years ago & HuGo has continually reaffirmed that.

That's because Dvorak, Armia & Savard's contracts end. Evans did too but we resigned him.

Allen & Petry also come off our retained salary meaning we can now trade one or both of Anderson or Gallagher with retained salary. Both have 2 years left, which is far more reasonable to carry RS.

Price has one year left and may also be movable after his bonus is paid out. Seattle for instance has a ton of cap space for next year & no 3rds in 2025 draft. We have 3. Trade Price & a 3rd for a minor leaguer or a 7th rounder.

I expect management to have our cap situation pretty much re-set, to dump some veterans, and bring in 2 more quality young players (Demidov & Reinbacher).

The biggest issue is now Dach / 2C. He's been a disappointment and injury prone.

That's really our biggest problem right now. Dach hasn't been it. And, now we have to question where exactly he fits in the lineup.

I don’t believe Dach fits on the roster and should not be counted upon as a long term asset. I’m hoping he gets traded as soon as he’s cleared to play. Let some other team buy into his attributes.

 

[The Great Weal]

The biggest issue is now Dach / 2C. He's been a disappointment and injury prone.

That's really our biggest problem right now. Dach hasn't been it. And, now we have to question where exactly he fits in the lineup.

I would even say that we also need a 3C. Counting on Beck/Kapanen to do it next season is quite premature. I think you go into next season without even factoring Dach, if he's healthy, great he can play in a bottom 6 winger role.

And Matheson really shouldn't be the top pair RHD next season. We need a physical guy who can also shoot the puck, we have no threats from the backend in terms of a goalscorer.

Should be an interesting offseason.

 

[CHfan1]

What's the point of a back loaded deal?

Players took those type of deals when the escrow amount would be lower on the final years of the contract.

It was 20% in the 2020-21 season, 17% in 2021-22, 10% in 2022-23, then 6% afterwards.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Players took those type of deals when the escrow amount would be lower on the final years of the contract.

It was 20% in the 2020-21 season, 17% in 2021-22, 10% in 2022-23, then 6% afterwards.

Could it also be to make it more buyout proof?