HF Habs: Trade Proposal Thread #91: 2025 Trade Deadline edition

[HuGo Sham]

You have to be careful about opinions so freely expressed here. I suspect that those here who express a willingness to trade Hage probably haven't watched this kid play other than watching highlight snippets. I have had the chance to watch a fair amount of Hage's play and would repeat my assessment that this kid reminds me of a young Mogilny. Unless the return is huge, you never trade that level of potential. Never.

agreed, Admiral, and beyond that, it would be an absolute PR nightmare to trade a kid who's been a lifelong habs fans fulfilling the dream of his late father also a lifelong habs fan who died tragically in an accident at a young age.
Beyond those loaded optics, the kid looks special...wether he plays C or moves to the wing, he looks like a legit offensive winger. He's not poehling imo

 

[TheArch]

While UFA is not a likely option, it is by far the best possible outcome IMO, as it allows us to retain all of our assets for strengthening other areas.

If we signed a stop gap UFA (say Tavares at 3-4 years at varying AAV), he would be a perfect stop gap for the arrival of Hage. That makes one of Dach, Newhook or Beck expendable for an upgrade at RD. Preferably Dach or Newhook for me, as we control Beck for much longer.

Let me just play this out in my head a little.

Offseason

Trade Dach + Jayden Struble for Simon Nemec

Free Agent Frenzy

Sign John Tavares for 3 years x 7 million or 4 years x 6.5 million
(we have Tavares for age 35, 36, 37 and possibly 38)


2025/26 starting lineup

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Heinemen - Tavares - Demidov
Laine - Beck - Newhook
Anderson - Evans - Gally
Kapanen

Guhle - Matheson
Hutson - Reinbacher
Xhekaj - Carrier
Nemec

As Nemec or Reinbacher elevate their game - we can consider moving off from Matheson or dropping Xhekaj to 7th and pairing Matheson with Carrier.

Future assets

Hage
Mailloux
Konyushkov
Habs 2025 1st
Flames 2025 1st

We draft BPA for both picks to stock some of the cupboards as we will have graduated Demi, Beck, Kap, Rein and Nemec.

Hage moves into lineup when he is ready and we make some decisions about where he is placed and who gets moved around or traded at that time.

Not sure why NJ would give anything for Dach or Struble. And I don't want Tavares at all.

 

[BLONG7]

You have to be careful about opinions so freely expressed here. I suspect that those here who express a willingness to trade Hage probably haven't watched this kid play other than watching highlight snippets. I have had the chance to watch a fair amount of Hage's play and would repeat my assessment that this kid reminds me of a young Mogilny. Unless the return is huge, you never trade that level of potential. Never.

They wanted this kid........badly, no way they trade him eh............just no way.
We are all hoping for a 2C this deadline, but it may have to wait until the summer, I hope not, and would love to see us shock the NHL wirh a deal that lands us a guy, but not at the expense of Hage.

 

[waitin425]

Not sure why NJ would give anything for Dach or Struble. And I don't want Tavares at all.

I prefer Bennett, but Tavares has been pretty consistently at or near PPG for so many years - including this one. Having him at 2C wouldn't be the worst option in the world. Particularly if it is a short term commitment.

Just my opinion.

 

[le_sean]

His contract is expiring but I wonder if Yanni Gourde would be a cheap 2C pickup so we can send Beck back to Laval for their playoff push? Poor season because he was hurt, which is why it wouldn’t be expensive. He has the motor that Laine needs from a centre.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Gallagher's contract isn't a Full NMC. He has a NMC where he can't be waived but it only comes with 6 team NTC.

https://puckpedia.com/player/brendan-gallagher

Cool! That's helpful. Maybe we can trade him. Edmonton loves old guys with no speed. Hopefully, they're not on his no trade list.

If he can get to 20 goals or even close (18-19), and we retain half, $3.25m for 2 years isn't terrible especially with the cap going up.

He's #1 on my list to trade. Anderson at least brings speed, physicality, the occasional beat down in fights & pks.

If we can move Gallagher, Newhook can slot into his spot on 3rd line, Demidov slots into Newhook's spot on 2nd line.

Anderson-Beck-Newhook would be one hell of a fast 3rd line.

Just need a 2nd line center, decide if we're going to keep Armia for the 4th line, and figure out what the f*** to do with Dach.

 

[BLONG7]

Is this a deal you saw mentioned somewhere or just wishful thinking?

Mav really hasn't taken off but I don't know if that is because of a lack of opportunity. He was always a talented kid

Yes, saw this on a blog.........but just throwing it out there............I know the guy is smallish, and local so not so likely. I do think that most of us here, are wishing for a 2C today, tomorrow or friday, but.........hard to say what will happen.

This deadline doesn't seem like we know how to gauge what is good value for whom........weird.

 

[Rapala]

I would go after Jared McCann big time as someone who can and has played center.
It's said he is likely on the Market and the teams showing interest include Ottawa and Vancouver.
He still has 2 x 5M left on his contract and at 28 would be a fantastic stop gap.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Beaudoin is translating something Dreger mentioned this morning on the radio regarding what Habs are looking for this TDL. He said that Habs are buyers on the long term. In other words, not buyers for rentals, but hockey trades for guys with term.

He also mentioned that he believes the Jets are interested in Armia and Savard.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

They wanted this kid........badly, no way they trade him eh............just no way.
We are all hoping for a 2C this deadline, but it may have to wait until the summer, I hope not, and would love to see us shock the NHL wirh a deal that lands us a guy, but not at the expense of Hage.

This says it all.

Hage is tremendously underrated. There are very few untouchables on this team. Among the non-NHL assets, I would only include in this category: Fowler, Demidov and Hage. And, in this writer's opinion, I think the trajectory gap between Demidov and Hage is not as pronounced as some so readily assume. Demidov, Hage, Hutson and Fowler are the cornerstones of this team's future. As I said above, you trade these type of players at your franchise's extreme peril.

I have been a fan of this team since the early 1950s. The past 30 years have been hard to stomach. But for the first time since 1984, when we had the likes of Richer, Lemieux, Roy, Corson, Chelios, etc. on the team, I see a much brighter, more promising future for this franchise. You don't trade the future building pieces that you have acquired through insight (or luck) simply to scratch an itch born of impatience.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

I hope we trade for a guy like Sturm as an upgrade on Pezzetta.

 

[HuGo Sham]

Cool! That's helpful. Maybe we can trade him. Edmonton loves old guys with no speed. Hopefully, they're not on his no trade list.

If he can get to 20 goals or even close (18-19), and we retain half, $3.25m for 2 years isn't terrible especially with the cap going up.

He's #1 on my list to trade. Anderson at least brings speed, physicality, the occasional beat down in fights & pks.

If we can move Gallagher, Newhook can slot into his spot on 3rd line, Demidov slots into Newhook's spot on 2nd line.

Anderson-Beck-Newhook would be one hell of a fast 3rd line.

Just need a 2nd line center, decide if we're going to keep Armia for the 4th line, and figure out what the f*** to do with Dach.

great points; I also like the idea of continuing to move out smaller players.
I don't want more than Caufield and Hutson around (I know Newhook is still here)
lol

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I hope we trade for a guy like Sturm as an upgrade on Pezzetta.

Is it really an upgrade if the guy never plays ?

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Is it really an upgrade if the guy never plays ?

You need depth. Anderson is banged up. You can also keep Sturm for next year as well.

 

[le_sean]

Beaudoin is translating something Dreger mentioned this morning on the radio regarding what Habs are looking for this TDL. He said that Habs are buyers on the long term. In other words, not buyers for rentals, but hockey trades for guys with term.

He also mentioned that he believes the Jets are interested in Armia and Savard.

Always thought Armia going back to the Jets made sense. He’s already played there and he’d be a great depth piece for any contending team.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Beaudoin is translating something Dreger mentioned this morning on the radio regarding what Habs are looking for this TDL. He said that Habs are buyers on the long term. In other words, not buyers for rentals, but hockey trades for guys with term.

He also mentioned that he believes the Jets are interested in Armia and Savard.

Both one at 50% for Walton and a 3rd.

 

[LaP]

I hope we trade for a guy like Sturm as an upgrade on Pezzetta.

We have 12 upgrades on Pazetta in the AHL

 

[CaptainKirk]

Both one at 50% for Walton and a 3rd.

I think we only have 1 retention spot left

 

[ReHabs]

Even now Hage isn't a "must-retain" prospect. That would be Demidov.

And I am not the biggest Newhook/Dach fan, but they are still serviceable players even now, and were both fine acquisitions when Hughes tried to get them, with a lot of upside still.

They’re really not serviceable. They produce at a bad rate for their TOI. They are busts.

As for our prospects, well, if a nice deal comes along, where we can acquire an impactful player that would be with us long-term, basically nobody save Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Hutson, and Demidov should be "off-the-table".

Of course, the player(s) we'd acquire this way would have to be quite valuable if we're trading Hage/Reinbacher/Fowler types vs. picks and/or lesser prospects, but if the "fit" is right with our team quality and age-wise then our management shouldn't hesitate.

I think due to our deficiencies, Hage is unfortunately not easily lost. Obviously everyone has a price but we have no other good top6 C prospects.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I think we only have 1 retention spot left

Yeah, that's why 1 is 50%.

Hell, trade a later pick for a 3rd team to retain 50%on the other one.

 

[red devil]

 

[TheArch]

I prefer Bennett, but Tavares has been pretty consistently at or near PPG for so many years - including this one. Having him at 2C wouldn't be the worst option in the world. Particularly if it is a short term commitment.

Just my opinion.

Both don't interest me. I want HuGo to spend cap space and / or assets to acquire long term solutions, aka players hitting their primes in a few years when the team is ready to be contending one.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

We have 12 upgrades on Pazetta in the AHL

None with a lot of NHL experience or that would be good for development to sit around

 

[Adam Michaels]

Both one at 50% for Walton and a 3rd.

Habs have only one retention slot remaining. They are still retaining on Allen and Petry.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

We have 12 upgrades on Pazetta in the AHL

I have a couple of upgrades on my grandson's beer league team.