HF Habs: Trade Proposal Thread #88: 2024 Off-Season Thread

[jaffy27]

Why would the Habs trade Suzuki for Perfetti and Ehlers? Makes no sense at all. Who is supposed to play center?

Forget who’s suppose to play centre….the proposal is so ludicrous that one has to conclude that HockeyBuzz has been hacked by a Leaf fan and is trolling the hab fanbase for a laugh as he’s witnessing the meltdown on HF

Ignore the E5 and let’s focus on the season

 

[Riggins]

Zegras - Dach - Laine makes too much sense for this team coached but MSL…

All about acquisition cost

Demidov will fit on that line next year. No need for Zegras at all. We need more size with skill, not Zegras types.

 

[yianik]

That 2nd line has question marks. Can Dach stay healthy? Can Laine return to top form, or will he be gone in two years? Ideally, Newhook would be on the 3rd line - - and probably will be once Demidov arrives.

I don't disagree with anything you said. But we have these 3 guys right now , one which we just traded for, we need to see them play this year and then make decisions. I mean if Dach is out yet again ( I think if he plays the year he will be good ) and / or Laine whiffs, then sure look for a trade. But not now.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Demidov will fit on that line next year. No need for Zegras at all. We need more size with skill, not Zegras types.

People need to stop with Zegrass

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Demidov will fit on that line next year. No need for Zegras at all. We need more size with skill, not Zegras types.

The point is to strengthen the team this year. More skill is good. Size is not absolutely necessary. They have Slaf, Laine and Dach on the scoring lines. Suzuki and Newhook are not small and neither is Zegras for that matter. None of them play small with the possible exception of Zegras.

 

[salbutera]

People need to stop with Zegrass

Why ?

 

[vokiel]

Why ?

Makes you lazy in the long term. A break of a couple years can bring back the creativity... Wait...

Lets get on Rasmus Andersson's case. It makes more sense for next season or the end of this one anyway.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Everyone seems to think Barron is going to suck and be the odd man out at camp, not even considering he could be a standout and have a great camp.

Unless he’s absolute hot garbage, I do t think he’s going anywhere. Too young and too much potential to lose for nothing.

Just gonna leave this here.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1837549526032224622

 

[HuGort]

Just gonna leave this here.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1837549526032224622

If Barron makes it be great. Habs need right D

 

[sampollock]

Canadiens Not Done Making Upgrades

Training camps have opened around the NHL and teams are preparing to jump into the 2024-25 season, the Montreal Canadiens might not be set with their roster. On

www.si.com

 

[Sorinth]

That 2nd line has question marks. Can Dach stay healthy? Can Laine return to top form, or will he be gone in two years? Ideally, Newhook would be on the 3rd line - - and probably will be once Demidov arrives.

The thing about question marks is you need to need to wait until they get answered one way or another before making moves. If you spend a bunch of assets to get a high end 2nd line center but it turns out Dach can stay healthy and puts up 70+ points you've just created problems and likely lost important assets doing so.

 

[pepperMonkey]

That 2nd line has question marks. Can Dach stay healthy? Can Laine return to top form, or will he be gone in two years? Ideally, Newhook would be on the 3rd line - - and probably will be once Demidov arrives.

Err...if Laine returns to top form, he'll be on the 1st line, unless Caulfield starts scoring 45-50+ goals...

 

[Rapala]

Just gonna leave this here.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1837549526032224622

Pretty much what I've been saying since that stretch run in Laval.
Not that many people agreed.

 

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

All this Zegras talk... Habs brass aren't interested in Zegras.

Stop smoking ze grass people!

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

All this Zegras talk... Habs brass aren't interested in Zegras.

Stop smoking ze grass people!

They were looking at Zegras, McGroarty and Askarov. Presumably the asking prices were too high. Unless Zegras' asking price comes down there won't be interest.

 

[ReHabs]

Just gonna leave this here.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1837549526032224622

It's a ringing endorsement but the subtext is also clear: these were things he had to work on and improve and the things the coaches would look at because they were deficiencies.

MSL's totally right, for a young d-man play without the puck is much more important than play with the puck in evaluating their NHL-readiness. If "JB" is up to speed and broke through his hesitancy to play physical and athletic hockey, he's going to have gained a lot of goodwill and NHL TOI. This is his year.

 

[Adam Michaels]

It's a ringing endorsement but the subtext is also clear: these were things he had to work on and improve and the things the coaches would look at because they were deficiencies.

MSL's totally right, for a young d-man play without the puck is much more important than play with the puck in evaluating their NHL-readiness. If "JB" is up to speed and broke through his hesitancy to play physical and athletic hockey, he's going to have gained a lot of goodwill and NHL TOI. This is his year.

Barron looked good at the start of last year. He started to become less efficient as the season went and that is why he was sent to Laval. He struggled initially there (as is expected from players who are sent down), but he found his groove eventually.

This year, with him no longer being waiver eligible, he will surely get a better opportunity. If he can slowly put it together at the NHL level, Montreal will be all the better for it. Because offensively. he will contribute. He had 7 goals in 48 games last year. At that pace, he'd have 12 goals in 82. Matheson had the most among the D with 11.

We also tend to forget in his case, he is only 22 (will be 23 in November). He needs to take the next step and be a full-time NHL'er, but it's not like he's been in the pros for like 5 or 6 years already and he is what he is.

 

[WeThreeKings]

They were looking at Zegras, McGroarty and Askarov. Presumably the asking prices were too high. Unless Zegras' asking price comes down there won't be interest.

Even if his asking price comes down.. they're not going to trade for him.

They moved on to Laine and drafted Demidov and Hage.

 

[Kosseca]

Even if his asking price comes down.. they're not going to trade for him.

They moved on to Laine and drafted Demidov and Hage.

I agree with you... the Zegras option is pretty much dead for now. Something drastic on MTL side would need to happen for it to be revived.

That said, people are looking at the lineup as if this was a fantasy league and they can make trade all the time. On top of that some here have the patience of a lemming and can't see that you need to give a chance to what you have and evaluate your asset before you can make the "good" trade. People talk of Zegras as if this was a place to spend asset... what about taking care of RD?? What about getting a real no1 D? what about G?? are we sure we dont need help there?? Too many Q at this point, which most of them require time and patience in order to get the real answer.

 

[Habs Halifax]

They were looking at Zegras, McGroarty and Askarov. Presumably the asking prices were too high. Unless Zegras' asking price comes down there won't be interest.

Both the Ducks and Habs probably decided to delay the decision.

A few factors both sides might be monitoring:
* Habs likely do not want to chew into Price's cap hit before the season
* Both the Ducks and Habs would like to see how Zegras performs in preseason and the first month of the season
* Ducks may want to look into some of the pieces Hughes offered a bit more as well. Gives them time to evaluate someone like Barron for example... Does he show maturity or not. That kind of thing

 

[Captain Mountain]

Demidov will fit on that line next year. No need for Zegras at all. We need more size with skill, not Zegras types.

Its not even just more size, Montreal needs more defensive reliability in the top-6. Laine is deficient there, Caufield at his best could be mediocre. Slaf has a ton of work to do there and Dach and Newhook are question marks.

 

[Egresch]

People talk of Zegras as if this was a place to spend asset... what about taking care of RD?? What about getting a real no1 D? what about G?? are we sure we dont need help there?? Too many Q at this point, which most of them require time and patience in order to get the real answer.

I would add one more, but that is a tricky one. It seems like we have great depth at center with Suzuki, Dach, Kapanen, Beck, Hage, maybe even Koivu, but they are all right-handed. Only leftie is Newhook and maybe Kidney. Did it ever happen that team had 4 righties at center?

 

[junyab]

I think the upgrades referred to bottom 6. Top 6F is staying as is for now. Possibly RD1 but I think it's less likely.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

I would add one more, but that is a tricky one. It seems like we have great depth at center with Suzuki, Dach, Kapanen, Beck, Hage, maybe even Koivu, but they are all right-handed. Only leftie is Newhook and maybe Kidney. Did it ever happen that team had 4 righties at center?

If Kapanen or Beck are good enough to start the season then there is no reason to look for a centre. Should Kapanen/Beck then need time in the AHL and Dach goes down they will need a centre for this season. If one comes at a bargain right now you take him. Once the season starts and one is needed you look for one at an acceptable price or tank for another year.

 

[G0bias]

We're set for this year, unless something pops up.
I think upgrades to the top 6 would come only if Dach and Laine's season were considered a disappointment, be it injury related or lack of progress.