HF Habs: Trade Proposal Thread #89: 2024-2025 season part II

[sampollock]

Crosby would cost Dach + 1sts...u are not getting him cheap.

And yet never getting him

Crosby is tantalizing, but would cost too much and sidetrack the rebuild, imo.
HuGo know the rebuild isn't linear and while they must love what's happening,
I think they'll be very selective with what they do in March.
I'm not sure they even know yet; will depend on this season.
Can Dach stay healthy?
Can Reinbacher dominate in Laval next year?
Can Mailloux take the next step?

I think they resign Evans and keep all the pending UFAs - except maybe Dvorak.
Or if Savard wants to chase a cup - trade him and then maybe he resigns for a year before retirement.
Slaf/ caufied and Suzuki is an elite 1st line...the pieces are there for the 2nd when Demidov arrives...
But again, can Dach stay heathy or do they move a few high picks and a prospect or 2 for a young, 2C again this summer?

interesting times ahead

Would love it
Never happen

 

[Habsfan2992]

Ehlers would for sure be a luxury, but I don't agree that it's one we should avoid. Capwise we can afford it, and honestly probably would have trouble spending the money otherwise.

Roster wise it allows us to build 3 true offensive lines which is very hard for opponents to defend against. Size maybe a concern, but it would be temporary, Ehlers probably means Newhook will move on, Gally is another who will be gone sooner rather then later. But one wrinkle would be if Ehlers not only wants to be on the team with Laine but also his line.

If he's going into the off-season knowing he won't re sign they'll probably try to trade him at the deadline instead of losing him for nothing that would be the smart move. A smart move on our behalf would trade New hook straight up for him even though we'd probably get home for nothing in the off-season but we free up yet another roster spot from a guy that doesn't score for a ppg player plus we save on Newhooks cap.

 

[Habsfan2992]

I've always liked Ehlers. Plays with great pace, hard worker, doesn't slack. Hard to play against.

But he's 28.


Kerfoot?

Man, if you guys do not like Newhook, you won't like Kerfoot.

So is Evans but you want him to sign right?

 

[ZUKI]

I've always liked Ehlers. Plays with great pace, hard worker, doesn't slack. Hard to play against.

But he's 28.

He's 28 yeah, and ?

 

[Habs7631]

He's 28 yeah, and ?

He’s gonna want a 7/8 years contract. Until he’s 35/36. This will be his chance to get his big payday. And he’s on pace to have a career year to boot. And he’s a winger, the last thing this team need.

Jake DeBrusk got 7 years at 5.5M. Ehlers will command 7M+ for 7 years and some contending teams will offer it to him and it shouldn’t be us. Let’s not be Nashville and get wrecked by Free Agency.

Contending teams don’t care if he falls of a cliff due to age during the 2nd half of his contract because their window is open right now. We’re not there yet.

 

[HabzSauce]

Alex Tuch is another guy who could help us with another year left on his contract.

Ideally moving Christian Dvorak, David Savard and Alex Newhook out.
Bring in Ryan O’Reilly, Alex Tuch Rasmus Ristolainen in.

I like the way you think

 

[Thomas Sowell]

KH when and if he makes a deal will shut this site down

I feel it's a centre we dont even or have talked about

God I pray so. I think with reinbacher, Huston, ghule, were set on the back end. Goaltending situation looks great. Wing is flooded, But I would feel so much better to add a monster centre. The type of player you ship the farm for. A massive haul of picks +

 

[Saundies]

Screw it. Bring Sid home. Do it Kent.

I will erect the Hughes statue myself.

 

[26Mats]

Struble needs a chance to play elsewhere if we're not going to play him.

Having said that, it's nice to have him as the number 7 in case there is an injury.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

Struble needs a chance to play elsewhere if we're not going to play him.

...hot take...we sit Matheson, play Struble...

 

[417]

Struble needs a chance to play elsewhere if we're not going to play him.

He's a 7th D…thats his role right now, he doesn't need to go anywhere.

 

[windycity]

No matter where we are in the standings, I want us to trade Savard by the trade deadline.... Get what you can for him as he's on an expiring contract and won't be coming back. We have Mailloux at Laval ready to come up and fit in on the bottom pair with Xhekaj where he'll have limited exposure.

Mailloux is nowhere close to being ready for the NHL

 

[Guy Larose]

OMG with this Crosby stuff. Pens already said they're not trading him...

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

...said it before and I'll say it again; Matheson for a defensively responsible RD...I'll even pay his flight out of Montreal...to Siberia if it comes to it...

 

[26Mats]

He's a 7th D…thats his role right now, he doesn't need to go anywhere.

it's great for us to have him as he 7th D.

It's terrible for his development.

 

[Beendair Donedat]

For me, based on what I’ve watched from Hughes and Gorton, I see something around this happening over the next few weeks and then into the off season:

This year:

1) If the Habs have played themselves into a playoff position, which they are certainly trending toward, I see them adding a veteran left hand center while potentially jettisoning Dvorak at the deadline. They need someone who can come in and play up tempo, two way hockey and can be relied upon in all situations. Enter Mikael Granlund who is currently the pivot on the top line in San Jose. He’s a solid veteran performer, has played lots of playoff hockey and adds an underrated scoring touch. I doubt he costs a lot asset wise, probably a second and a third round pick, and I see him as a nice addition to keep the momentum going for a playoff run.

2) The Jake Evans situation needs to be resolved fairly quickly. The way he’s been playing, I can’t see him being dealt, as he’s been terrific in all areas for the Habs this year, and is well liked by all of his teammates. He will get paid, but within reason, as this is clearly an outlier season for him. I’d offer him a 3.75 million deal for 4 years, he doubles his salary and gets a chance to sign another decent deal before he retires.

At the deadline:

Signed - Jake Evans

In - Mikael Granlund
Out - Christian Dvorak

Lines for the playoffs:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Laine - Dach - Newhook
Anderson - Granlund - Gallagher
Heineman - Evans - Armia

Hutson - Matheson
Guhle - Carrier
Xhekaj - Savard

Montembeault
Dobes

In the Off Season -

UFAs:
David Savard - Unsigned

Joel Armia - Re-signed* The* being that only if it’s a significant drop in salary. Essentially a reversal of money between Evans and Armia, Armia is now making 1.9 million per, signed for two years. This deal should give enough time for future fourth line guys like Davidson, Tuch and Xhekaj 2.0 to develop enough to make the jump to the show.

Michael Pezzetta - will not be offered a contract by Montreal.

Granlund - walks.

Additions during off season

Within the system:
First rounders from the last couple of drafts, Ivan Demidov and David Reinbacher will be given every opportunity to earn a spot on the team. Demidov will almost certainly be given a role in the top 6, while Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux should compete for the opening left by Savard’s departure.

UFA Signings/Trades (outside of the system):

Sam Bennett, if available, should be the number one target for Hughes and Gorton. Another Quartexx client, Bennett, brings a left handed shot, size and snarl, offense and a cup winning pedigree. He’s basically everything we’ve been looking for in a center. A one two punch of Suzuki and Bennett down the middle would be pretty potent.

If there’s a deal to be made, I think the Brendan Gallagher era has to come to an end in Montreal. I have no idea what that deal is, or if one is even feasible. I just don’t see a role for him moving forward. Especially not at 6.5 per year. I suspect he will probably be bought out.

2025-2026 Lineup:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Laine - Bennett - Demidov
Heineman - Dach - Anderson
Newhook - Evans - Armia

Hutson - Matheson
Guhle - Carrier
Xhekaj - Reinbacher

Montembeault
Dobes