If I'm a decent UFA looking to get paid, I'm definitely looking at Chicago as a destination. They've got a ton of money to spend and they're going to be looking to add. They're prime candidates for a dumb contract or two.
Do you guys think they might trade away Erik Cernak and would we be interested? TBL is desperately missing depth and they only have couple years left. Cernak is 27, signed for 7x5,2M, 6'4 RHD, basically upgrade to Savard, Cup pedigree, great warrior and a close friend of Slaf.
They need to surround Bedard with more than just Foligno. I watched an interview where former NHL great Adam Oates mentioned that Foligno fought 13 times as a response to hits against Bedard. Oates suggested that Bedard made some bad decisions and left himself open to contact that a seasoned NHL player would not.
I think he has a history of concussions though. I'd be interested too if it wasn't for that.
Doubt it, Brisebois said at end of season presser, his #1 priority is to upgrade top-4D - which they now have done w McDonagh acquisition and Cernak is an integral part of that top-4
It is that dumb if they have cap space to spare though?
There no love lost between Gorton and MSG. Also, after watching Kakko in these playoffs, I wouldn’t want him either. He was super soft and trash. Couldn’t have been less impressed by him and I was hoping/wanting to see him succeed as a possible target. He never did and showed he’s a busy imo. 99 better options and a Kakko ain’t one.
They have 18 players signed and just 5M left of salary cap, still trying to re-sign Stamkos. They definitely need to give up someone.
The Habs are still stuck with the abonimable contracts of Armia, Anderson, Gallagher and Dvorak. These 4 guys eat up 20 mil. alone. This year's UFAs are quite good. Imagine signing Stamkos @8 mil, Reinhart @ 9 mil., Marchessault @ 6 mil., Toffoli @ 6 mil. and Monahan @ 3 mil. what difference that would make in your lineup. Even bringing in Perron @ 4 mil. As long as the Habs are incapable of moving their dead weight until July 1st, then it's impossible to do much. You also have guys on expiring contracts like Pez, Kova, Evans and Savard. So the Habs will have more flexibility next year, but the UFA market will not be as good. Even then, Price, Gallagher and Anderson will still be around for another 2 - 3 yrs. Meanwhile, BargainBin is laughing in LA.
Armia and Dvorak are on the last year of their deals.
These numbers, except for Toffoli, seem very low.
I don't think the free agent market is intended to build your team anymore, its to complement it.
I would think Cirelli is a good candidate to leave. He has no trade protection. Cernak has a 16 team NTC.
With most of these free agents past their prime, my numbers given seem within range except for Reinhart who will likely get the max 8 yr deal around 72 mil total. Most teams are to the cap, anyways, and you won't see big surprises. Again because of Dvo & Armia, the Habs don't have much flexibility. These two take around 8 mil on the cap and teams have no interest to acquire any of these 2. They will be trade deadline bait for some contender who will be looking for depth and for a very late pick + Habs retaining, it will be a discount.
What if scenarios can quickly turn into BS, but would it be realistic to believe that Armia has woken up in the second half last season to such an extent that it’s very likely to carry over into his final contract year?
How could you neglect to include Sean Monahan as an example !?
I’ve been debating this as well and I was thinking about opening a thread. I think Armia’s contract is no longer a negative. I’m sure if we wanted to get rid of that contract right now we could find some suitor’s. We won’t receive anything worthwhile but I think we could shed his salary without giving anything.
Again, if you can get 3rd for Armia at the trade deadline, that's good asset management in my books.
That's why we see now that the panic moves of the BargainBin era are bitting the Habs in the a**. Armia, Anderson, Gallagher and Dvo are expensive dead weight hindering the Habs chances at chasing a big name UFA. Stamkos, Guentzel, Marchessault and Reinhart are still unsigned.
At this point, it's time to move on. The Jets gave him as a freebie so the Habs can buyout a contract of theirs. He took on some minutes as a plug while with the Habs and BargainBin rewarded him because of loyalty. He was a serviceable 3rd liner that didn't live up to the hype. If they can trade him for a 3rd or 4th this summer, so they can open up a spot for a youngster, that's worthwhile. Next, it should be Dvo, Gallagher and Anderson. 2 more seasons of Price on LTIR and the mistakes of the BargainBin will be all but forgotten. Pezz, Kova, Evans and Savard are the ones who will give it their all to get another contract.
