Unfortunately, I don't see us doing much anything besides trading Monahan. One of Matheson/Savard needs to get traded, I think Savard at 50% would net a good return but we already have the greenest defense in the league. Dvorak is immovable, Evans would be a next year trade if we go down that route, Anderson can't be traded because of his contract but also we need size and speed despite his massive flaws, Gallagher has one of the worst contracts in the league so he can't go anywhere, Armia can't be traded unless we retain 50%, Allen might net a mid round pick, and Kovacevic's massive decline would get us a mid round pick at best too.
Ideally in the offseason, we trade both Harris and Barron, then trade one of the vet forwards/Allen for a vet dman of similar caliber which can facilitate trading Matheson/Savard.
Doubt that Savard nets more than a 2nd round pick, even at 50%. What's the point of trading Savard this year, with the little depth on the right side of our D-Corps and the better usage of Reinbacher getting settled into playing on North American ice in Laval, away from the limelight in Montreal?
By the trade deadline next season, Savard at 50% is likely still worth a 2nd round pick, or, at worst, a 3rd round pick.
Matheson is the only D worth a serious return back, especially at 2.4375M if Hughes holds back 50% of his salary, but the something applies with actual quality depth on the left side and player development.
Outside of Guhle, Matheson is currently the only top-4 LHD material the team at the NHL level. Hutson will likely make the jump to pro hockey after the playoffs for histamine the NCAA are over. He'll get a few games in the NHL to round out 2024, much like Farrell did last season, but it might be wiser to saddle him alongside Reinbacher in Laval to start off the 2024-2025 season. It will give Hutson a chance to develop chemistry with Reinbacher as he gets used the switch in pace from the NCAA to the pro ranks in the AHL.
I'd try to move Harris at this deadline, or the following offseason if no move can be made earlier, to make some room on the NHL roster, but we shouldn't expect much a return for Harris. He might get us a 2nd round pick or, at least, the 3rd round pick it cost us to draft him, but not much more.
I'd keep Kovacevic as depth and keep Barron around as the 7th D who can provide an insurance policy in case of injuries. His value will be greater as an add-on, later, in larger trade, IMO, than as the main course in a sub-par meal.
I'd start the season in Montreal by bringing up the Xhekaj-Mailloux pairing as the 3rd pairing.
With a D-Corps of:
Matheson - Guhle
Struble - Savard
Xhekaj - Mailloux
Barron, Kovacevic
until we ease in Reinbacher and Hutson post trade deadline in 2025, we can properly keep developing Reinbacher and Hutson in Laval, as well as Struble, Xhekaj, Mailloux and Barron in Montreal, with Mailloux being the only one that has zero NHL experience .
In the meantime, coming off a 50-60 point season, Matheson keeps getting a 1st pairing and PP role with the Habs (and Guhle this time, over Savard, even if on his off side at RD).
Savard is less exposed on a more defensive 2nd pairing with Struble.
That way, both veterans that will be moved at the deadline can continue building up their values in a more proper role.
Matheson should keep pacing at a 50-60 point offensive production for a 2nd consecutive season and confirm his coming of age, at 30, as an offensive, PMD who can play a top-4 role.
Savard, playing less minutes as a 2nd pairing Din more a defensive role, will be less exposed and make a better case as a defensive depth addition to a playoff roster.
Xhekaj - Mailloux and Struble - Savard can get comparable minutes, depending on their play.
At the deadline, with Matheson, Savard and Barron traded (I'd package Barron in a Matheson trade), we'd have a D-Corps of:
Guhle - Reinbacher
Hutson - Struble
Xhekaj - Mailloux
with the bottom two pairings getting similar TOI and providing regular offensive upside. Guhle - Reinbacher can act as a shutdown pairing against the opponents' best players while still providing some offensive upside with their transition game.
At the 2024 trade deadline, Monahan should be the only player traded that brings back any value. Hopefully, that will be a late first round pick AND a decent prospect, or a Grade A prospect and a 2nd round pick.
A healthy, 55-point veteran C/W with an expiring 2M contract, with skill and hockey IQ, some grit and physicality, leadership qualities, plus a 56.4% in the dot, should have real value for a team looking to make it deep in the hunt for Lord Stanley's Cup.
But, beyond that, don't expect much more.
