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

[WeThreeKings]

I'm actually surprised that ROR does not have any NTC conditions.

Trotz said they are treating it like he does. They respect ROR and will not trade him where he doesn't want to go.

 

[FerrisRox]

I keep hearing how the Leafs think Y Gourde is a perfect fit for them. They don't have a 1st but they have a 2nd and 3rd.

A good move from the Habs could be to trade Evans for a late 1st and use one of our 2nd or 3rd's to get Gourde and screw the Leafs over. haha. Sign Gourde to a 2 year deal at a low AAV (lower than what Evans is asking for). Age 33-35 seasons and a solid stop gap for when Hage, Kapanen, Beck might be ready for 3C.

Heineman / Gourde / Newhook. Decent line with two guys who can share the center role. I hope you are paying attention Evans. Habs are not going to give you the max bloated deal

Jake Evans isn't returning a 1st round draft pick.

I have zero interest in Yanni Gourde.

 

[417]

I don't see adding a 1st and Gourde playing 3C screws us over. Trigger words like "Screw" us over is exaggeration and that usually means it's not a good point to use with your disagreement. You missed the question. What do you do if Evans is asking for too much. Don't comprehend this like I want him traded and I'm desperate for Gourde.

But YOU used it (before you went to edit your post lol), i just used the wording you did lol

I don't personally see how Evans can be asking for too much, he's a homegrown player who plays an important role for this team and the Habs have more than enough money to sign him.

I don't see how this could be problematic whatsoever...Jake Evans isn't going to ask for 5M+.

What are your stop gaps if Evans asks for too much and we have to let him walk or trade him for the late 1st?

Any potential stop gap, say just off the top of my head...Scott Laughton whose a pending UFA, is going to be even more costly than what Jake Evans will cost.

There's no one conceivably attainable that can replace Jake Evans at bang for buck.

Edit - Check that, Laughton is not a pending UFA

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Joe Haggerty on TSN 1200.

He thinks the Bruins will trade Frederic one way, or another. He thinks he will get a big contract on the open market.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

The holes right now are too big too fill at a deadline. You'd need to add a strong top 6 player to push Newhook down the lineup and add a top 1st pairing two way RHD. It would not make any sense to pay the big price for those pieces this year.

Demidov will be here for the playoffs that's the top 6 piece. All they need is another Carrier RD.

 

[Habs Halifax]

But YOU used it (before you went to edit your post lol), i just used the wording you did lol

I don't personally see how Evans can be asking for too much, he's a homegrown player who plays an important role for this team and the Habs have more than enough money to sign him.

I don't see how this could be problematic whatsoever...Jake Evans isn't going to ask for 5M+.

Any potential stop gap, say just off the top of my head...Scott Laughton whose a pending UFA, is going to be even more costly than what Jake Evans will cost.

There's no one conceivably attainable that can replace Jake Evans at bang for buck.

It's simple pondering thoughts about life without Evans. I understand the challenges to replace his 200' game, forecheck, and faceoffs.

 

[FerrisRox]

It depends on how you view this year for Evans.. Is this him? Has he taken a step and is now this player full time? Or is it another case of a superhuman-contract-year.

The former, he's probably worth what he's asking. The latter he's definitely not and signing him for long term at that is not great.

Look at Jake Evans shooting percentage. It's 23.4 percent. Last year it was 8.6. The year before it was 3.6.

His career best as a regular NHLer is 10.5

 

[417]

If we're not going to "overpay" Evans, only to "overpay" a replacement on the market, it's best to just give Evans what he wants.

Or even worse, think that Owen Beck can just slide into that spot and provide the same level of play.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Nobody is going to part with any 1st rounder for Evans - nor probably not a 2nd either.

I don't agree with the "nobody" narrative. Look across the NHL and the shortage of 3C's on top 10 teams. We are talking about a 25-32 range 1st which is a good dart but not a sure shot at a NHL player. Teams don't like to trade the 1st and I agree but contenders also want an edge for their playoff run too.

TDL's is all about supply/demand. Throw your "fair" narrative out the window. Saying he won't even get a 2nd is a massive reach to support your opinion

I prefer the Habs to retain Evans but I believe he is asking for too much. We will see how Hughes manages this. We are not the ones who have the right information

 

[Saundies]

Look at Jake Evans shooting percentage. It's 23.4 percent. Last year it was 8.6. The year before it was 3.6.

His career best as a regular NHLer is 10.5

Yeah that's my worry. Years before this one, he left a lot to be desired offensively. He was strictly a 4C.

He morphed into a 3C this year with his production uptick, but it could easily be a case of contract-year-itis. If he regresses back to his previous production, at 4.5million/5 years, we may as well have kept Kotkaniemi

 

[Naslundforever]

is the hab bottleneck the cap or the amount of contracts? Seems the cap is going way up as big contracts are done.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Or even worse, think that Owen Beck can just slide into that spot and provide the same level of play.

Nope. I'm a fan of Beck but he will take some time. I'd be OK if we try him at 4C yes. If we are going to try something without Evans, it's Newhook at 3C bud.

Term is my issue with Evans. I prefer 3 years and my gut says he is asking for 5 or 6 years. What AAV? Guess work. I really do want him to stay but 3 years at a time.

 

[417]

It's simple pondering thoughts about life without Evans. I understand the challenges to replace his 200' game, forecheck, and faceoffs.

Sure, no problem lol just saying you're admonishing me for using the term "screwed" when you used it first and then edited your post...come on man lol

Anyway.

The Habs aren't up against the cap, there's no reason why they couldn't re-sign him. He's a super valuable player, arguably one if not the top PKer in the NHL, he's home grown too.

You let him go, you're just going to end up spending that same money if not more to replace him. If the Habs were a basement team right now, I might think differently, but they're not and Evans has proven to be a very versatile, reliable and useful player even before he started shooting an unsustainable shooting % this year.

Solution is simple.

Sign him.

 

[Goalfield13]

Evans' shooting percentage means nothing. His value as a player is and has always been his defensive C role. Teams aren't looking to trade for him because of his scoring this year.

 

[Habs Halifax]

is the hab bottleneck the cap or the amount of contracts? Seems the cap is going way up as big contracts are done.

I personally don't see any cap issues until Demidov finishes his 3 year ELC. Hard to say what Hutson gets but he won't break our cap and like you said, we have expiring contracts. Gallagher and Anderson frees up $12M. That could very well be Demidov's allocated cap hit.

 

[FerrisRox]

Yeah that's my worry. Years before this one, he left a lot to be desired offensively. He was strictly a 4C.

He morphed into a 3C this year with his production uptick, but it could easily be a case of contract-year-itis. If he regresses back to his previous production, at 4.5million/5 years, we may as well have kept Kotkaniemi

He absolutely will regress offensively.

For context, Alexander Ovechkin has *never* had a season over 20 percent.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Evans' shooting percentage means nothing. His value as a player is and has always been his defensive C role. Teams aren't looking to trade for him because of his scoring this year.

100% agree. His value is the 200' game, forecheck, pPenality kill, and faceoffs. His extra points this year is the cherry on top but not the heart of his game.

 

[417]

Nope. I'm a fan of Beck but he will take some time. I'd be OK if we try him at 4C yes. If we are going to try something without Evans, it's Newhook at 3C bud.

Agreed. But same thing with Newhook, he could slide in t 3C...but he's not giving you what Evans does.

The offense with Evans this season, is a bonus, he doesn't need to keep repeating it to be worth his contract. He does a lot of other things.

Term is my issue with Evans. I prefer 3 years and my gut says he is asking for 5 or 6 years. What AAV? Guess work. I really do want him to stay but 3 years at a time.

I could go either way.

If they give him term, he has to concede on the salary...a long term deal at lower AAV.

If he wants money, say in the 4.5M range, i'd be OK with that, but you're not getting more than 2 years.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Sure, no problem lol just saying you're admonishing me for using the term "screwed" when you used it first and then edited your post...come on man lol

Anyway.

The Habs aren't up against the cap, there's no reason why they couldn't re-sign him. He's a super valuable player, arguably one if not the top PKer in the NHL, he's home grown too.

You let him go, you're just going to end up spending that same money if not more to replace him. If the Habs were a basement team right now, I might think differently, but they're not and Evans has proven to be a very versatile, reliable and useful player even before he started shooting an unsustainable shooting % this year.

Solution is simple.

Sign him.

If the solution was simple, he would have an extension by now.

 

[FerrisRox]

Evans' shooting percentage means nothing. His value as a player is and has always been his defensive C role. Teams aren't looking to trade for him because of his scoring this year.

Actually, it means a ton, because the idea that he is a 3rd line centre rather than a 4th line centre has everything to do with his offensive production this season and it's the primary reason people are suggesting a contract that starts with a 4.

It's Fool's Gold, and a fool is going to be burned by it.

 

[417]

He absolutely will regress offensively.

For context, Alexander Ovechkin has *never* had a season over 20 percent.

Even if he regresses, and as you said, he certainly will...do you think he brings other intangibles that offset that regression?

I think he does.

 

[FerrisRox]

Even if he regresses, and as you said, he certainly will...do you think he brings other intangibles that offset that regression?

I think he does.

Do I think he's a valuable player and a great fourth line centre? Yes.

Do I think he should be paid over $4 million to be a fourth line centre? Absolutely not.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Agreed. But same thing with Newhook, he could slide in t 3C...but he's not giving you what Evans does.

The offense with Evans this season, is a bonus, he doesn't need to keep repeating it to be worth his contract. He does a lot of other things.

I could go either way.

If they give him term, he has to concede on the salary...a long term deal at lower AAV.

If he wants money, say in the 4.5M range, i'd be OK with that, but you're not getting more than 2 years.

My gut tells me this...

Hughes wants 3x $4M but Evans and his agent says they will only sign 5x $4.5M. Evans wants the term or they will go to UFA. I honestly think he does not want to leave but this is a family decision. It's his chance to maximize his earnings.

I agree Newhook can't do what Evans can do with the forecheck, penality kill, and faceoffs but it would be the best we can do with what we have. Or we try to find another stop gap.

Y Gourde is around 50% at faceoffs and his takeaways/60 is very solid at 2.48 over the last two years. I think he's a solid stop gap

 

[Rapala]

Caufield needed some work to be more than a one dimensional goal scorer.

Zegras looks like he needs a massive amount and given how the Habs are playing and where they want to be, they can't afford to give time to Zegras to figure it out, screw up defensively/fall into old habits, etc.

People have to balance what is potentially going out to what is potentially coming in. Trevor Zegras does not check any of the boxes Jake Evans brings to the table. Role replacement is critical if we target a 2C that player has to take on some of what Evans brings to the table and be able to PK at the very least.

 

[417]

Do I think he's a valuable player and a great fourth line centre? Yes.

Do I think he should be paid over $4 million to be a fourth line centre? Absolutely not.

Fair...I see him more like a 3rd line C rather than a 4th.