We have those same assets to address the 2C position as well. Usually, you trade from one position to fill another, unless you are trading a problem for another team's problem at the same position, hoping that a change of scenery will solve the two problems.
Matheson/Mailloux (or both) + CAL 1st rounder/FLA 1st rounder for a 2C.
Dach + Evans + MON 1st rounder for a RHD.
Ideally, we address the 2C stop-gap with an UFA C that is still able to produce at a high level. That way, we just have more assets to get us that RHD and still keep some draft capital to use at the 2025 draft, whether it is our own 1st round pick, or CAL's/FLA's.
We are, however, definitely not in DAL's position from the Gainey days as GM there, where we would trade Hage (instead of Iginla) for a Nieuwnedyk, for example.
I think that we might well have enough assets to address both positions of need, in a vacuum, but it's always a question of availability of players and the match for our available assets in a trade.
It might well just be easier to address one need this year, and the other next year, using draft picks from 2026 then, to fill the second hole.
Anybody picked in 2025 -- especially of we don't need to trade our own 1st round pick -- will be closer to fitting a Cup window for the Habs than a pick in 2026 might be, especially if we make the playoffs in 2025.
I say, in a vacuum, again, address the 2C position first (bigger impact overall, right now, for the Habs) and address the RD position next year.
Of course, we might only have a suitable candidate for RD available this year (in a trade). At which point, you fill the need at that position via a trade and you look to sign a stop-gap as an UFA in the offseason, or trade for one next year, or sign an UFA C in next year's offseason, making do internally in the meantime.
