Deebs
Registered User
- Feb 5, 2014
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One year left on his deal would allow us another year of finding a younger stalwart for the future.
HF Habs: Trade Proposal Thread 92 Waiting on the DRAFT Edition
- Thread starter MarkovsKnee
- Start date
LesCactus
Registered User
- Mar 20, 2025
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Only reclamation project I want them to maybe go after is Simon Nemec.
DAChampion
Registered User
- May 28, 2011
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The Habs might be drafting 32nd.
Beendair Donedat
You sold a dead bird to a Blind Kid??????
More than a few roster holes, who stays and who leaves? There are questions to be answered and I’ll try to give my honest assessment on what we may do… I’ve broken it down into a couple of sections.
Our biggest hole is a second line center and with it, a second line that can score and alleviate some of the pressure from the top unit. This means we need a pivot that can make the second line offensively dangerous while defensively respectable.
Potential Center acquisitions
From the world of UFA’s:
1) Sam Bennett. The best fit for us in every possible way. Adding an elite player who is downright nasty to play against, while also being a left hand shot and a cup winner? Costs us nothing but cap, which we have in spades. Can Hughes parlay his Quartexx contacts into an offseason home run?
2) Mikael Granlund. Would be an excellent placeholder until Hage is ready to take the reins, Granlund adds veteran leadership and is a well respected leader on and off the ice. He embraced the mentorship role in San Jose and leads by example.
3) Brock Nelson. A man who will be in demand, Nelson knows how to score, and is a veteran left hand shot leader. Has great size and has developed into a decent penalty killer over the years, Nelson would fit nicely with the leadership group here.
Potential trade targets:
1) Nazem Kadri. Grew up as a Habs fan, Kadri would add a similar hard nosed element that Bennett would provide but would cost some significant assets to acquire. Is he worth it? I think so, the Habs need some scoring and sandpaper in the top 6 and Kadri would add that nastiness we’ve been without for awhile. If Calgary is committed to a rebuild, getting their first back would probably be the starting point, with more to be added from Montreal.
2) Anthony Cirellli. This is the guy that would probably fit most with Kent Hughes vision and timeline and the guy I would low key say is a genuine option for the Habs. Tampa has almost no draft picks or prospects left in the system, and could use the opportunity to acquire some picks, while the Habs could land their signed second line center (at a great deal for his current production) for a package of picks/futures that would entice the Bolts. I’d love to have him in Montreal.
Our biggest hole is a second line center and with it, a second line that can score and alleviate some of the pressure from the top unit. This means we need a pivot that can make the second line offensively dangerous while defensively respectable.
Potential Center acquisitions
From the world of UFA’s:
1) Sam Bennett. The best fit for us in every possible way. Adding an elite player who is downright nasty to play against, while also being a left hand shot and a cup winner? Costs us nothing but cap, which we have in spades. Can Hughes parlay his Quartexx contacts into an offseason home run?
2) Mikael Granlund. Would be an excellent placeholder until Hage is ready to take the reins, Granlund adds veteran leadership and is a well respected leader on and off the ice. He embraced the mentorship role in San Jose and leads by example.
3) Brock Nelson. A man who will be in demand, Nelson knows how to score, and is a veteran left hand shot leader. Has great size and has developed into a decent penalty killer over the years, Nelson would fit nicely with the leadership group here.
Potential trade targets:
1) Nazem Kadri. Grew up as a Habs fan, Kadri would add a similar hard nosed element that Bennett would provide but would cost some significant assets to acquire. Is he worth it? I think so, the Habs need some scoring and sandpaper in the top 6 and Kadri would add that nastiness we’ve been without for awhile. If Calgary is committed to a rebuild, getting their first back would probably be the starting point, with more to be added from Montreal.
2) Anthony Cirellli. This is the guy that would probably fit most with Kent Hughes vision and timeline and the guy I would low key say is a genuine option for the Habs. Tampa has almost no draft picks or prospects left in the system, and could use the opportunity to acquire some picks, while the Habs could land their signed second line center (at a great deal for his current production) for a package of picks/futures that would entice the Bolts. I’d love to have him in Montreal.
That could be the worst thing that happens. It would likely prevent us from firing Hughes or St-Louis.
Ozmodiar
Registered User
- Oct 18, 2017
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Depending on the cost, I'd almost prefer Malkin over Crosby as a mentor and big brother for Demidov. As a bonafide Superstar who checked his ego at the door in Pittsburgh for the benefit of the team, he'd make a great example for our 5th OA pick at the draft.
If Malkin is healthy next season, he'll be a perfect offensive partner for Demidov and Laine. After that, they can gauge if he's good for renewable 1-yr deals.
Perhaps Malkin would like the idea of taking Demidov under his wing?
I'd offer our worst 1st round pick and some B prospect like Farrell and/or Trudeau for Malkin at the draft.
While it looks like a contender acquiring a rental player, Montreal's acquisition of Malkin is that of acquiring a development tool for it's best prospect with the potential to become a franchise player (as per Bob Hartley who watched him for three years in Russia's equivalence to North American Junior Hockey.
I can't see the Habs, or any other team, trading a 1st for Kadri who turns 35 this year and has 4 more seasons at 7M$. Maybe if the "more added" was Gallagher, it could make sense, but otherwise no way.
It's all a question of cost, but Cirelli would be a nice addition as a 27-yr-old shutdown C who can produce 50+ points with 2nd line minutes and teammates and who is signed at 6.25M for another 6 years.
Suspect that, with Hedman getting longer in the tooth at 34, TB would be looking for a D like Guhle to remain relevant a while longer.
Would you give Guhle, to begin with, for Cirelli? Who would TB have to replace Cirelli?
Would Guhle + Newhook make sense for TB? Would you pay that? Would adding another C choice between Beck and Kapanen be too much?
Guhle
Newhook
Beck/Kapanen
VS
Cirelli
Brisebois just said couple weeks ago he don’t believe in keeping picks and prefer to spend them to win in the next few years. Cirelli would be a great adition but don’t believe hes available.
Granlund is the most possible target IMO and would not be againts it. A 2nd line of Laine - Granlund - Demidov is kinds interesting.
I wouldn't do Guhle for Cirelli, let alone add. Hard pass
Beendair Donedat
You sold a dead bird to a Blind Kid??????
Fair enough.
Kadri is scoring about 28 goals a year the last 3 years in Calgary, and he plays with an edge that we dearly miss/need in our top 6.
He should go well over 30 goals this year and doesn’t look to be slowing down at all….
Honestly I think he’d be a great fit, but as you said he’s relatively expensive and some may not want to take a flyer on him. If he provided some grit, 25-30 goals a year, and gave us a second line with an identity?
Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Laine - Kadri - Demidov
Heineman - Dach - Newhook
Gallagher - Evans - Anderson
Matheson - Carrier
Guhle - Hutson
Xhekaj - Reinbacher
Struble
That’s a pretty strong top 6, that has a little bit of everything, but I’d much rather Bennett. Just saying it’s not a terrible option if Hughes wants to explore that avenue.
Coffee
not wanting something is as good as having it
- Nov 12, 2021
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I don't think so tbh
but if it does happen somehow, yeah your guys center depth all of sudden is near the top imo
Would be exciting because of Montreal's wingers
Walksss
Registered User
- Mar 26, 2013
- 448
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I think making a major play at Bennett if he isn't resigned by July 1st should be priority #1.
If that fails I wouldn't mind putting together an offer for Pettersson and a huge one at that. All these crazy proposals for other players might just be worth it for a guy like that, even at his contract rate. Imagine a Laine-Pettersson-Demidov second line? We'd be contenders, overnight. Pettersson gets to join a much better room and situation where he has far less pressure. I think he'd love it here.
I would imagine Vancouver isn't gonna go for futures in that trade though, they'd want established players and not somebody like Kirby Dach. I think you'd have to offer a ridiculous amount of assets to get it done without an established player involved like both 1sts this year, 1st 2026, Beck and Engstrom, but I'd still maybe do it.
Hopefully KH can work some magic cause the 2nd line next year could be amazing if he plays his hand right.
If that fails I wouldn't mind putting together an offer for Pettersson and a huge one at that. All these crazy proposals for other players might just be worth it for a guy like that, even at his contract rate. Imagine a Laine-Pettersson-Demidov second line? We'd be contenders, overnight. Pettersson gets to join a much better room and situation where he has far less pressure. I think he'd love it here.
I would imagine Vancouver isn't gonna go for futures in that trade though, they'd want established players and not somebody like Kirby Dach. I think you'd have to offer a ridiculous amount of assets to get it done without an established player involved like both 1sts this year, 1st 2026, Beck and Engstrom, but I'd still maybe do it.
Hopefully KH can work some magic cause the 2nd line next year could be amazing if he plays his hand right.
Egresch
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- Jul 10, 2022
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It is interesting to watch Rasmuss Andersson who was supposed to be one of potential RHDs to acquire. He really fell of a cliff this season. After a hot start 8GP, 10PTS, +6, he is at 61GP, 17PTS, -31.
He is currently 3rd worst D in +/- in whole league. I wonder if Flames would trade him in the summer, he has 1 year left in his contract.
He is currently 3rd worst D in +/- in whole league. I wonder if Flames would trade him in the summer, he has 1 year left in his contract.
Grate n Colorful Oz
Get busy livin
EP40's NMC kicks in on July 1st, so it's either you do EP40 before trying to sign Bennett, or you don't.
Besides that, EP40 is a snowflake soft as baby poo, making 11.5m per, who will then have a full nmc, and who also was at the center of a bad lockerroom dynamic. We can be patient and find a much better solution elsewhere.
Don't get your hopes up on EP40 either, as he doesn't seem to be the kind of player that fits the HuGo profile. One Laine was already enough and he was a two year experience who could be moved on from easily if things don't work out. If it doesn't work out with Elias Softersson, we're boned, and then we will have lost the assets sent their way, on top of being stuck with him. EP40 is a plan that might seriously stall our rebuild.
Vachon23
Registered User
If EP rebecome the player he was before this year, you won’t find anyone close to be better than him.
That being said, they are a lot of red flags and Hugo would need to make a big research on him and on what happen this year
BLONG7
Registered User
Do the Isles and Habs make trading partners?? For some reason I think Barzal could be a target for HuGo.
Vachon23
Registered User
Don’t understand what happen with him, he was so good at the start of the year and years before
Hannibal
Fear the Weber
- Feb 11, 2007
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Grate n Colorful Oz
Get busy livin
It's far too big of a risk. All of that based on a IF. Soft as poo to boot. You're all in lala land, desperately wanting the team to be better by aiming at anything that's remotely close to a solution. Pretty sure HuGo won't even entertain the idea.
DAChampion
Registered User
- May 28, 2011
- 30,021
- 23,239
It is interesting that Vancouver chose to keep Petersson rather than Miller. Why do you think that was?
Grate n Colorful Oz
Get busy livin
I'd much rather go for Barzal than EP40. Fits the HuGo profile so much better. Better two way player too.
Vachon23
Registered User
You need to make your research, you probably won’t have a chance to grab a center of his caliber again..
If the red flags are confirmed, then don’t touch him. If you think it was just a bad season where he was on a bad place mentally then look at what it would cost
- Jan 18, 2022
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Miller was the one who demanded a trade away. They wanted to keep him but he wanted to go. They got a shoddy return for him due to him steering the trade.
EP40’s performance and contract also made him a toxic asset, he likely had no market.
