HF Habs: Trade Proposal Thread #90: 2024-2025 season part III

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"In speaking to sources, I'm told there have been multiple expressions of interest from clubs for Dylan Cozens of the Buffalo Sabres, including: Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings."

- Kevin Weekes

what would KH have to give? why does buff want him gone?
 
Don’t see why PIT does this. They need quality in their prospect pool that currently his one of the worst in the league.

Actually I think Pittsburgh could be a great target because they need both quality AND quantity; exactly what a package of 7 OA for 11 OA + 39 OA could potentially provide!

Habs could also afford to send B prospect to sweeten the deal if need be to avoid using CGY’s pick.

(It’s the Habs that should prioritize quality over quantity at this stage of their rebuild!)
 
As is usually the case, the Habs continue to need some size and snarl throughout their lineup. The small speedy guys are great, but there needs to be some larger forwards added, that will make life miserable for opposing teams.

That being said, I’d make some moves to clear some roster spots to bring in some UFAs and graduates from Laval.

Trades:

To New Jersey: Jake Evans, Joel Armia

To Montreal: 2026 1st round pick, Nathan Bastian.


Jersey gets the center they need, and the best penalty killing duo in the league for their upcoming playoff run.

Habs get a first rounder and a warm body that they can jettison once the season ends.

Trade 2:

To anywhere - David Savard, Christian Dvorak.

To Montreal - just do your best Kent, we understand.

UFA SIGNINGS 2025:

Sam Bennett. I’m beating the drum because it makes so much sense. If Bennett stays as a UFA, the Habs should be camped outside his house in the bushes with a contract waiting for him to sign at 12:00:01

Mathieu Olivier. He’s arguably the top heavyweight in the league, he’s a solid player and he’s a Quebecois. He belongs with the Tricolor, and would take the fighting onus off of Xhekaj.

Promoted from Minors/Laval:

Ivan Demidov. Perhaps you’ve heard of him? Here comes an elite talent to Montreal. Kid has all the natural ability in the world. Jump on and enjoy the ride.

Owen Beck. A young man with incredible hockey sense, speed, a vicious shot and strong as can be. A heart and soul player that will be an excellent Hab.

David Reinbacher. Habs brass absolutely love him and kept him around the team all year even while injured. Clearly has the talent and ability to be a terrific shutdown while underrated offensively defender.

2025-2026 lineup:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Demidov - Bennett - Laine
Heineman - Dach - Anderson
Newhook - Beck - Olivier
Gallagher

Hutson - Matheson
Guhle - Carrier
Xhekaj - Reinbacher
Struble

Montembeault
Dobes
 
As is usually the case, the Habs continue to need some size and snarl throughout their lineup. The small speedy guys are great, but there needs to be some larger forwards added, that will make life miserable for opposing teams.

That being said, I’d make some moves to clear some roster spots to bring in some UFAs and graduates from Laval.

Trades:

To New Jersey: Jake Evans, Joel Armia

To Montreal: 2026 1st round pick, Nathan Bastian.


Jersey gets the center they need, and the best penalty killing duo in the league for their upcoming playoff run.

Habs get a first rounder and a warm body that they can jettison once the season ends.

Trade 2:

To anywhere - David Savard, Christian Dvorak.

To Montreal - just do your best Kent, we understand.

UFA SIGNINGS 2025:

Sam Bennett. I’m beating the drum because it makes so much sense. If Bennett stays as a UFA, the Habs should be camped outside his house in the bushes with a contract waiting for him to sign at 12:00:01

Mathieu Olivier. He’s arguably the top heavyweight in the league, he’s a solid player and he’s a Quebecois. He belongs with the Tricolor, and would take the fighting onus off of Xhekaj.

Promoted from Minors/Laval:

Ivan Demidov. Perhaps you’ve heard of him? Here comes an elite talent to Montreal. Kid has all the natural ability in the world. Jump on and enjoy the ride.

Owen Beck. A young man with incredible hockey sense, speed, a vicious shot and strong as can be. A heart and soul player that will be an excellent Hab.

David Reinbacher. Habs brass absolutely love him and kept him around the team all year even while injured. Clearly has the talent and ability to be a terrific shutdown while underrated offensively defender.

2025-2026 lineup:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Demidov - Bennett - Laine
Heineman - Dach - Anderson
Newhook - Beck - Olivier
Gallagher

Hutson - Matheson
Guhle - Carrier
Xhekaj - Reinbacher
Struble

Montembeault
Dobes
benett will not come to canada after no tax FLA
 
As is usually the case, the Habs continue to need some size and snarl throughout their lineup. The small speedy guys are great, but there needs to be some larger forwards added, that will make life miserable for opposing teams.

That being said, I’d make some moves to clear some roster spots to bring in some UFAs and graduates from Laval.

Trades:

To New Jersey: Jake Evans, Joel Armia

To Montreal: 2026 1st round pick, Nathan Bastian.


Jersey gets the center they need, and the best penalty killing duo in the league for their upcoming playoff run.

Habs get a first rounder and a warm body that they can jettison once the season ends.

Trade 2:

To anywhere - David Savard, Christian Dvorak.

To Montreal - just do your best Kent, we understand.

UFA SIGNINGS 2025:

Sam Bennett. I’m beating the drum because it makes so much sense. If Bennett stays as a UFA, the Habs should be camped outside his house in the bushes with a contract waiting for him to sign at 12:00:01

Mathieu Olivier. He’s arguably the top heavyweight in the league, he’s a solid player and he’s a Quebecois. He belongs with the Tricolor, and would take the fighting onus off of Xhekaj.

Promoted from Minors/Laval:

Ivan Demidov. Perhaps you’ve heard of him? Here comes an elite talent to Montreal. Kid has all the natural ability in the world. Jump on and enjoy the ride.

Owen Beck. A young man with incredible hockey sense, speed, a vicious shot and strong as can be. A heart and soul player that will be an excellent Hab.

David Reinbacher. Habs brass absolutely love him and kept him around the team all year even while injured. Clearly has the talent and ability to be a terrific shutdown while underrated offensively defender.

2025-2026 lineup:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Demidov - Bennett - Laine
Heineman - Dach - Anderson
Newhook - Beck - Olivier
Gallagher

Hutson - Matheson
Guhle - Carrier
Xhekaj - Reinbacher
Struble

Montembeault
Dobes
...Dach isn't a C, he's nowhere near defensively reliable enough...
 
Actually I think Pittsburgh could be a great target because they need both quality AND quantity; exactly what a package of 7 OA for 11 OA + 39 OA could potentially provide!

Habs could also afford to send B prospect to sweeten the deal if need be to avoid using CGY’s pick.

(It’s the Habs that should prioritize quality over quantity at this stage of their rebuild!)
I see your point but with the supposed drop off at 8, I think PIT will want to target a grade A prospect by keeping their pick.
 
Yes to Cozens.

What would Buffalo need or want? Their stacked on Defence and deep prospect pool.
 
I see your point but with the supposed drop off at 8, I think PIT will want to target a grade A prospect by keeping their pick.

They have a very shallow draft pool so they are the most likely target to trade down to do so. Keep in mind, not everyone's list is the same, so maybe Pittsburgh's drop off is earlier, or their secondary tier is larger than some other teams.
 
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Like Cozens but in 5 years in the league he has had one year of 31 goals.This year he has been awful and i think he just signed a rather large contract no?
7.1 mill to 2028

is he worth it? he is young though, which in a few years 7.0 mill will look like a good contract IF he pans out
see CC and Slaf's deals


EP is 11 mill to 2028 heavy deal
 
Cozen's would be a big upgrade on Dach anyway you look at it.

One thing we have going for us is we probably have more cap flexibility than any other team interested in him, so retention wouldn't be a problem. I'm not sure what he have that would interest the Sabres though, unless they want to take futures and then flip those for immediate help.
 
Cozen's would be a big upgrade on Dach anyway you look at it.

One thing we have going for us is we probably have more cap flexibility than any other team interested in him, so retention wouldn't be a problem. I'm not sure what he have that would interest the Sabres though, unless they want to take futures and then flip those for immediate help.
1st rounder +++
 
1st rounder +++
I'd be interested depending on the plus they want. I'm not super stoked about anyone outside of the top 5 in this draft anyways, so if moving a 1st + a few pieces gets us a big center who put up 68 points at 21 years old then sign me up.
 
Cozen's would be a big upgrade on Dach anyway you look at it.

One thing we have going for us is we probably have more cap flexibility than any other team interested in him, so retention wouldn't be a problem. I'm not sure what he have that would interest the Sabres though, unless they want to take futures and then flip those for immediate help.

Big is extrapolating.

This is his first season above 50% face-off percentage, so we aren't getting a face-off ace either.

He makes 7.1 million, so almost double what Dach is costing on the cap.

He's on pace for 40 points this season. Which is only 8 more points than Dach, and that's without recovering from a major injury and losing a full season prior.

His previous season was 47 points.

38 points the year before his 68 point season.

At this point that 68 point season is an outlier, not the norm.

The only certainty here is you are getting the healthier player. But you aren't getting a left shot. You aren't getting a sure fire center.

It's a complete gamble, a 7.1 million dollar gamble with term on top of that. If all Cozens is, is a 40-50 point winger.. that's going to be a big whiff.

If they want to do something around the Calgary pick and a prospect like Mesar, sure, go for it. I can live with it since Cozens has speed and size. But this is not an acquisition that I'm dying to make.
 

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