HF Habs: Trade Proposal Thread #92: Waiting on the Draft edition

[McGuires Corndog]

I like Bennett, but I doubt he would wanna go from tax haven in Florida to communist Quebec. Unless we overpay the shit out of him. And that's not something I think we should entertain for a player of his calibre.

The trade avenue is more interesting, and some opportunities we don't see right now will open up to acquire that C.

Zacha is a good C too, but I think we can do better. Would be a plan B or C.

Who do you think is a realistic option for us at 2C?

I think Zacha is a pretty good choice that shouldn’t be too expensive to acquire.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Although it has no actual bearing on Demidov, who almost certainly has a greater chance to succeed given his talent level and greater defensive acumen, the experimental attempts to convert skilled wingers into sub-optimal centers over the last decade - see Domi and Drouin - has left me leery and dubious about the attempt

I get that. But Drouin was set up to fail. We already had a center here and they moved him to the wing. And then they put Drouin there... Dumbest shit ever.

Also, we were constantly looking for a saviour. There was so much pressure on him. Now there's Suzuki, Slaf, Caufield... if he goes to center and it doesn't work we just leave him on the wing.

I'm simply saying I'd experiment with it. See how it goes.

 

[le_sean]

Who do you think is a realistic option for us at 2C?

I think Zacha is a pretty good choice that shouldn’t be too expensive to acquire.

I like Zacha as a stopgap, but the priority should be to find a known impact player. We have the assets to do it. I’m not going to try and bank on Hage being that guy, he might even be more suited for the wing for all we know.

 

[salbutera]

Stars vs Avs is likely a 1st round matchup the loser will likely have one of their Cs become available via UFA or trade

 

[le_sean]

I'm going to go against the grain.

Though 2C is the top priority, Hughes should not force an acquisition. If he does he may end up making a bad one. It is better to stand pat than to force an acquisition.

Part of that is I remember Gainey going absolutely insane obsessively trying to get a 1C in the 2008-09 period. He went out and randomly acquired center prospects Johanson and Engvist. He drafted only centers in the 2009 draft. He went aggressively after Danny Briere and Brad Richards on the trade market offering contracts that would not have worked out, and he aggressively pursued trades for Lecavalier, Sundin, Gomez. Only one of those pursued options (achieved or not) would have been worth it, Mats Sundin, and that was declined. Team would have been better off not even considering the issue.

In my opinion it would be better off to run the bottom nine by committee (Dach, Newhook, Evans, Beck, Kappanen) than to overpay for a 2C. It should be fine to draft BPA with the 13th and 19th picks (or whatever), and that has to be considered as an option.

I think that would be a massive mistake. We are getting a likely superstar joining us next year on an ELC. A 60+ point rookie season is likely, with the ability of that to jump by 20 points in each of the next two seasons. He’s that level of player. You HAVE to take advantage of that.

 

[Vachon23]

I'm going to go against the grain.

Though 2C is the top priority, Hughes should not force an acquisition. If he does he may end up making a bad one. It is better to stand pat than to force an acquisition.

Part of that is I remember Gainey going absolutely insane obsessively trying to get a 1C in the 2008-09 period. He went out and randomly acquired center prospects Johanson and Engvist. He drafted only centers in the 2009 draft. He went aggressively after Danny Briere and Brad Richards on the trade market offering contracts that would not have worked out, and he aggressively pursued trades for Lecavalier, Sundin, Gomez. Only one of those pursued options (achieved or not) would have been worth it, Mats Sundin, and that was declined. Team would have been better off not even considering the issue.

In my opinion it would be better off to run the bottom nine by committee (Dach, Newhook, Evans, Beck, Kappanen) than to overpay for a 2C. It should be fine to draft BPA with the 13th and 19th picks (or whatever), and that has to be considered as an option.

I don’t think Brière would have been disaster, he give Philly many good years

For this summer, they really need to look at every options they can. They want to take an other level and we won’t take it without an other center

 

[McGuires Corndog]

I like Zacha as a stopgap, but the priority should be to find a known impact player. We have the assets to do it. I’m not going to try and bank on Hage being that guy, he might even be more suited for the wing for all we know.

That’s fine by me, who are you thinking?

 

[DAChampion]

I don’t think Brière would have been disaster, he give Philly many good years

For this summer, they really need to look at every options they can. They want to take an other level and we won’t take it without an other center

Briere would have been ok because contract compliance buyouts were around the corner. But I excluded that from my analysis.

 

[Vachon23]

Briere would have been ok because contract compliance buyouts were around the corner. But I excluded that from my analysis.

Until years 5, the contract would have been worth it, especially that we wouldn’t had to face him in the 2008,2010 playoffs

 

[JianYang]

Well It's New York, It's the biggest market in the NHL, there's a cachet to it. People want to play there in pretty much every sports, except the Giants maybe lol. Taxes are still lower than Canada and I have a feeling you can get a lot of money from publicity there. Getting a winning culture in Mtl will help, that's for sure, but taxes are a big disadvantage, always been.

Yeah, that's my point. Taxes are a barrier, but not an insurmountable one.

Taxes are a part of the cost of living for these players, and the cost is highest in the NYC area. It also does not have great winter weather relative to the southern markets.

What new york does have going for it is the following:

- you get all the big city amenities

-No fishbowl atmosphere

- you have the lightest travel in the league and play in a division where you don't have any Canadian teams where you would cross customs

-its very multicultural to the point that any player coming from whatever part of the globe can feel comfortable.

To me, it's the blend of all of the above that makes NYC a unique attraction for players.

Montreal has barriers but taxes can be reduced especially if players are playing as non-residents for tax purposes, but the biggest barrier of all is the fishbowl atmosphere and lack of privacy. This is something a player in NYC does not have to be concerned with because the people either don't know you or don't care.

What Montreal can do is build a culture that players want to be a part of. Word gets around when players are treated exceptionally well.

The habs need to invest alot in amateur scouting. Players generally have a good track record of sticking around here if their roots are set unless the scrutiny gets to them. The habs should be trending well here given the organizational changes gorton implemented since he got here which clearly puts puts more emphasis to this realm.

And of course, the #1 tool for recruitment is to build a consistent cup contender which is the ultimate goal, regardless.

 

[le_sean]

That’s fine by me, who are you thinking?

You wonder with the Blues and Isles being in no man’s land if guys like Horvat, Robert Thomas could be available if the offer is good enough.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

You wonder with the Blues and Isles being in no man’s land if guys like Horvat, Robert Thomas could be available if the offer is good enough.

Thomas or Kyrou this summer please.

 

[JianYang]

You wonder with the Blues and Isles being in no man’s land if guys like Horvat, Robert Thomas could be available if the offer is good enough.

I doubt it unless there are management changes in either market.

The directive will come from ownership in both cases, and if they decide it's time to tear it down, they will likely give the car keys to someone else. Lou is late in his career, and it seems like Armstrong has been around forever in stl.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

I doubt it unless there are management changes in either market.

The directive will come from ownership in both cases, and if they decide it's time to tear it down, they will likely give the car keys to someone else. Lou is late in his career, and it seems like Armstrong has been around forever in stl.

Technically Steen is taking over next year as GM IIRC

 

[salbutera]

You wonder with the Blues and Isles being in no man’s land if guys like Horvat, Robert Thomas could be available if the offer is good enough.

Neither of those teams can afford a rebuild in their markets, it’ll be a retool on the fly

 

[JianYang]

Technically Steen is taking over next year as GM IIRC

Oh really? I guess the question then is whether he will be directed to stay the course or take a step back.

 

[salbutera]

Oh really? I guess the question then is whether he will be directed to stay the course or take a step back.

Consortium owners will never allow a rebuild in STL

 

[le_sean]

Neither of those teams can afford a rebuild in their markets, it’ll be a retool on the fly

The entire existence of the Blues was futility and they were fine. Isles are likely losing fans from simply being mediocre with no direction. I think NY sports fans are smart enough to deal with a rebuild.

 

[Benstheman]

I don’t see a deal for a long term, youngish top 6 C happening. It will be a stop gap UFA for 3 years or a guy like Zacha who I think would be the best choice as a plan B.

Draft a C with our best pick this summer and hope he or Hage become our 2C in 2-3 years.

Bring Reinbacher up next season and trade Matheson for an equivalent RHD.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

I don’t see a deal for a long term, youngish top 6 C happening. It will be a stop gap UFA for 3 years or a guy like Zacha who I think would be the best choice as a plan B.

Draft a C with our best pick this summer and hope he or Hage become our 2C in 2-3 years.

Bring Reinbacher up next season and trade Matheson for an equivalent RHD.

This is the way

 

[salbutera]

I don’t see a deal for a long term, youngish top 6 C happening. It will be a stop gap UFA for 3 years or a guy like Zacha who I think would be the best choice as a plan B.

Draft a C with our best pick this summer and hope he or Hage become our 2C in 2-3 years.

Bring Reinbacher up next season and trade Matheson for an equivalent RHD.

Let see where Cgy pick ends up, I could see Habs putting up a large package of prospects + both 1st rounders to try and pry Caleb Desnoyers (whom I expect to go between 5-7) at the draft, and then grab a veteran 2-3 year solution at 2C while Desnoyers cultivates

 

[Runner77]

Stars vs Avs is likely a 1st round matchup the loser will likely have one of their Cs become available via UFA or trade

We’d need any one of those teams failing to advance in the playoffs, to overthink their strategy and lineup. You never know what pieces become loose.

 

[Matteus]

I don’t see a deal for a long term, youngish top 6 C happening. It will be a stop gap UFA for 3 years or a guy like Zacha who I think would be the best choice as a plan B.

Draft a C with our best pick this summer and hope he or Hage become our 2C in 2-3 years.

Bring Reinbacher up next season and trade Matheson for an equivalent RHD.

I agree, I expect we'll have to settle for a transition 2C for the next year or two. As long as it's a proven pro who doesn't come with a load of question marks. A Zacha type would examplify that.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Let see where Cgy pick ends up, I could see Habs putting up a large package of prospects + both 1st rounders to try and pry Caleb Desnoyers (whom I expect to go between 5-7) at the draft, and then grab a veteran 2-3 year solution at 2C while Desnoyers cultivates

They're already "cultivating" Hage for that role. Don't think they'll go full out trying to get Desnoyers, especially with that big of a trade package. Sure, having another possible C in the prospect pool would be great, but the way you're talking, it's as if Hage is a non-factor and thry'll set him aside for Desnoyers. There's a good chance Hage will be the better player. Desnoyers is more limited offensively, and I always cringe when people mention a 'complete game' as the ultimate sell point for a player without extraordinary stats in the Q.

 

[Noble]

Id be willing to trade both 1st and both 2nds in packages along with B prospects to acquire a 2C and/or a top 4 defenseman for next season.

I think this draft class sucks, especially where we'll be picking. Another 2012 for me.