HF Habs: Trade Proposal Thread 92 Waiting on the DRAFT Edition

[Rob Sense]

I think that your timeline and the finer details of your post, probably to make your point, are a bit off. How many star players do the Habs have that are 22 or younger?

Hutson and who?

Yes, Demidov and Reinbacher are not yet in the NHL.

However, the idea that Suzuki will be 30 when the team is competitive and would require final touches is a bit far-fetched as a timeline.

Realistically speaking -- especially if a 2C arrives next season to facilitate the development of everyone, from the forward group to the D-Corps -- four years from now, with two years left on Suzuki's contract (as a 29-yr-old), there should be an opening window for the Habs to win a Cup if all goes well.

Suzuki will be a veteran in his prime, as will be Caufield (28, with three years left on his contract) and Guhle (27, with three years left on his contract as well).

Slafkovsky, in his 7th year at the NHL level already, should be considered a young veteran at 24, all with 5 years left on his 2nd NHL contract.

Hutson will be 24, with four years of NHL experience as a young veteran with most of his second NHL contract ahead of him.

If Laine signs an extension with the Habs, he should be roughly halfway through that contract as a 30-yr-old veteran.

Demidov will be 23 and starting his second NHL contract, with three years of NHL experience behind his belt.

Reinbacher, at 24, should have three years of NHL experience if his health holds up.

Four years from now, Hage should be in his 2nd NHL season as a young player and beginning to have some impact on the results of games for the Habs.

Four years from now is the season to watch out for, IMO, but, to get there in the form required to challenge for a Cup, Hughes needs to get a genuine 2C for next season, in order for everyone to develop as close to their projected ceilings as players.

Slaf...future stars under 22... Reinbacher, Demidov, Hage. I think we are saying the same thing. We will not be real contenders next year even with a 2C so we should not sell the farm expecting this to happen. FAs sure. Trade B prospects and draft picks sure like the Lehkonen trade. I think starting 2026-2027 we are in the serious contender discussion. Now luck can change all that for better or for worse.

 

[themilosh]

Resign Dvo on Evans deal, promote Reinbacher and Demidov, trade for Crosby (or a lesser option stopgap veteran 2C) with whatever asset is needed. Lineup assuming we’re losing Newhook in the trade

Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Caufield
Laine-Crosby-Demidov
Gally-Dvorak-Anderson
Heineman-Evans-Dach

Roy/Beck/Kapanen

(no Pezz next year please, your services as tank commander will be remembered)

Guhle-Carrier
Hutson-Struble (or Xhekaj)
Matheson-Reinbacher

Xhekaj/Mailloux/Engstrom

This would be a very good lineup. No promotion out of the gate for Beck/Kap/Roy/Mailloux/Engstrom which are maybe all good enough for the show - odds are we get more injuries then this year, some of them will have their chance.

Still lacking a true #1D (a Rasmus Dahlin / Hedman / Doughty, 2 way monster), we can hope Reinbacher becomes that guy but in the meantime we improve just by getting rid of black hole Savard.

Crosby is the perfect 2 year stop gap. I think the Habs would be the only place he'd consider a move to aswell.

Habs 1st, Pitts 2nd (back) + choice of Beck/Roy/Mailloux + Mesar + choice of Dach/Newhook

 

[Goalfield22]

Slaf...future stars under 22... Reinbacher, Demidov, Hage. I think we are saying the same thing. We will not be real contenders next year even with a 2C so we should not sell the farm expecting this to happen. FAs sure. Trade B prospects and draft picks sure like the Lehkonen trade. I think starting 2026-2027 we are in the serious contender discussion. Now luck can change all that for better or for worse.

I think we can get a 2C without selling the farm. Our barnyard is stacked. Even keeping Demidov, Hage, Reinbacher and Fowler, we have so many assets in hand. two firsts this year, Mailloux, Kapanen, Beck, Engstrom, Roy. We also have cap space to make a trade without the other team retaining anything. Having said that, vet 2Cs with term all have NTC/NMC. We could potentially get them to waive if we prove we are a playoff team this year.

 

[Benstheman]

I think that your timeline and the finer details of your post, probably to make your point, are a bit off. How many star players do the Habs have that are 22 or younger?

Hutson and who?

Yes, Demidov and Reinbacher are not yet in the NHL.

However, the idea that Suzuki will be 30 when the team is competitive and would require final touches is a bit far-fetched as a timeline.

Realistically speaking -- especially if a 2C arrives next season to facilitate the development of everyone, from the forward group to the D-Corps -- four years from now, with two years left on Suzuki's contract (as a 29-yr-old), there should be an opening window for the Habs to win a Cup if all goes well.

Suzuki will be a veteran in his prime, as will be Caufield (28, with three years left on his contract) and Guhle (27, with three years left on his contract as well).

Slafkovsky, in his 7th year at the NHL level already, should be considered a young veteran at 24, all with 5 years left on his 2nd NHL contract.

Hutson will be 24, with four years of NHL experience as a young veteran with most of his second NHL contract ahead of him.

If Laine signs an extension with the Habs, he should be roughly halfway through that contract as a 30-yr-old veteran.

Demidov will be 23 and starting his second NHL contract, with three years of NHL experience behind his belt.

Reinbacher, at 24, should have three years of NHL experience if his health holds up.

Four years from now, Hage should be in his 2nd NHL season as a young player and beginning to have some impact on the results of games for the Habs.

Four years from now is the season to watch out for, IMO, but, to get there in the form required to challenge for a Cup, Hughes needs to get a genuine 2C for next season, in order for everyone to develop as close to their projected ceilings as players.

I think in 2 years, we are battling for a top 3 spot in the Atlantic. in 3 years we are battling for top spot and enter our cup window.

 

[Rapala]

I'm confident their are plenty of possibilties that will open up once teams rework their strategies for 25/26.
We see it every year players may become available who aren't neccessarily available now.
Cap going up great guess who benefits the most the first wave of UFA's and RFA's.
There will definitely be some over-payments and opportunities coming off the back of that.
I can also see a good team getting ousted in the first round and then over reacting.
Personally I don't see us over-paying in a trade or in free agency to land what we need.

 

[Benstheman]

I'm confident their are plenty of possibilties that will open up once teams rework their strategies for 25/26.
We see it every year players may become available who aren't neccessarily available now.
Cap going up great guess who benefits the most the first wave of UFA's and RFA's.
There will definitely be some over-payments and opportunities coming off the back of that.
I can also see a good team getting ousted in the first round and then over reacting.
Personally I don't see us over-paying in a trade or in free agency to land what we need.

Why not?

 

[le_sean]

Zacha is the best choice if Boston would be willing to trade.

Ive come around on Horvat. Lou is a dinosaur though

Horvat is a DAWG. Really impressed by him when I watch the boring Isles. It would be like having two Suzukis on the team.

 

[Benstheman]

Horvat is a DAWG. Really impressed by him when I watch the boring Isles. It would be like having two Suzukis on the team.

Absolutely. He would be a great add. But you always have to wonder on many quality years a 30 yo guy will give you.

 

[Rapala]

Why not?

Because realistically we are not ready to play that card yet.
How about we try to take the first step before we reach for the top rung.
I don't see us getting Sam Bennett or any of those top names.

If you listened to Kent Hughes after TDL he was targeting players who weren't neccessarily mentioned by the media socilal or otherwise. I fully expect them to stay the course and pass on players who don't fit our cultural standards. You just have to ask yourself why Evans is still with us to understand our game plan.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Absolutely. He would be a great add. But you always have to wonder on many quality years a 30 yo guy will give you.

We just need him to bridge a gap. The cap going up, he can easily transition down the line up and provide value since he's not strictly an offense only player.

 

[le_sean]

Absolutely. He would be a great add. But you always have to wonder on many quality years a 30 yo guy will give you.

I guess you hope for a good 4 years before a dip. Having him go from 20 mins per game to 16-17 should help.

 

[DAChampion]

You just have to ask yourself why Evans is still with us to understand our game plan.

Because the team is competing for the playoffs and because Evans signed for a discount.

 

[Benstheman]

Because realistically we are not ready to play that card yet.
How about we try to take the first step before we reach for the top rung.
I don't see us getting Sam Bennett or any of those top names.

If you listened to Kent Hughes after TDL he was targeting players who weren't neccessarily mentioned by the media socilal or otherwise. I fully expect them to stay the course and pass on players who don't fit our cultural standards. You just have to ask yourself why Evans is still with us to understand our game plan.

What's the first step?

Who said we would overpay for players that doesn't fit??

 

[Goalfield22]

We just need him to bridge a gap. The cap going up, he can easily transition down the line up and provide value since he's not strictly an offense only player.

He has a full NTC. It will take a miracle to get him. I'd love him on this team, though.

 

[Benstheman]

I agree we need 4 years to let Hage develops. I would love trading for Horvat but I wouldn't want to include Hage in the package because it would kill the whole argument to do it.

 

[WeThreeKings]

He has a full NTC. It will take a miracle to get him. I'd love him on this team, though.

He did say he loved Suzuki.. so as long as the Islanders look like a terrible destination to keep playing for, there's a hope.. but Lou won't rebuild, that's the biggest barrier imo.

 

[Rapala]

Because the team is competing for the playoffs and because Evans signed for a discount.

Yup he signed for a discount the same refrain Hughes has been preaching since day one.
Players who put the team first not mercenaries.

 

[Benstheman]

One of our 1st in 2025
Mailloux
Beck/Kapanen
Newhook

Would that be enough for Horvat if off course NYI decides to go for a rebuild?

 

[Essenege]

Crosby isn't coming.

I wouldn't qualify this as a "very good lineup ".

Dvorak is not worth Evans' deal.

That D corps is problematic.

Not sure why Dvorak is playing over Evans and why there is a Dach on the 4th.

Because the Dvorak line has been the best line in terms of scoring chances differential this year without being sheltered at all.

Also Evans and Dvo have been pretty equal this season. Are you one of those blinded by the 30 games unsustainable shooting % (of himself and line mates).

I said 2 months ago in the Evans thread that I wouldn’t be surprised if Dvo was the better center of the 2 to finish the season, based on the fact his line was producing more scoring chances….

To predict future success scoring chances > points. For example, Ovy…everybody thought he was finish last year but his underlying number were the same as usual. Shooting percentage is mean reverting.

 

[Rapala]

What's the first step?

Who said we would overpay for players that doesn't fit??

The first step is obviously to become a consistent playoff team hopefully organically.

 

[Benstheman]

The first step is obviously to become a consistent playoff team hopefully organically.

For how many years should we make the playoffs to become a consistent playoffs team?

 

[le_sean]

He has a full NTC. It will take a miracle to get him. I'd love him on this team, though.

If his end goal is to win a Cup, then he should want out of NY as quickly as possible. Now if the team calling is Montreal, that’s another question.

 

[Rapala]

We just need him to bridge a gap. The cap going up, he can easily transition down the line up and provide value since he's not strictly an offense only player.

That is the beauty of our situation. We have our bank built up we can go either way depending on what becomes available.
I'm not sure why anyone would think we are looking at anything other than trade.
There will be plenty of manufactured rumors like always but we are all aware of that gambit.

 

[Rapala]

For how many years should we make the playoffs to become a consistent playoffs team?

If we make it this year and then become a solid top 3 next season I'd say we are there.

 

[Goalfield22]

He did say he loved Suzuki.. so as long as the Islanders look like a terrible destination to keep playing for, there's a hope.. but Lou won't rebuild, that's the biggest barrier imo.

Yeah, for sure. The isles are making a run for it even after trading players. They made the playoffs the last two seasons. I wouldn't be in rebuild mode yet either. If they miss this year and next, then maybe.