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

[Skip Bayless]

From Elliotte Friedman's 32 thoughts

3. Was talking with a few teams about the Demidov signing. It’s believed there were two aborted trades at last year’s draft that could have changed history. First was Chicago’s offer to trade their 2026 first-rounder (unprotected) for the fourth pick, which the Blue Jackets turned down. (They took Cayden Lindstrom.) Second was the Canadiens’ own attempt to acquire Trevor Zegras. I’ve never received complete clarity on why that deal didn’t happen, but I suspect it's because the Canadiens changed their minds when they realized Demidov would fall to five — although they were not offering that particular pick in the Zegras deal.

Habs tried to trade for Zegras at the draft if Demidov wasn't there, but nixed a deal when Demidov fell. They weren't trading 5th overall for him obviously, but maybe they were trading a D for Zegras then taking Buium at 5 since the rumor was Montreal really liked Buium.

Buium was my guy, I thought Demidov was a pipedream. I thought the Levshunov pick was absurd talk from the twitter nerds and Chicago would for sure pick Demidov.

 

[sampollock]

From Elliotte Friedman's 32 thoughts

3. Was talking with a few teams about the Demidov signing. It’s believed there were two aborted trades at last year’s draft that could have changed history. First was Chicago’s offer to trade their 2026 first-rounder (unprotected) for the fourth pick, which the Blue Jackets turned down. (They took Cayden Lindstrom.) Second was the Canadiens’ own attempt to acquire Trevor Zegras. I’ve never received complete clarity on why that deal didn’t happen, but I suspect it's because the Canadiens changed their minds when they realized Demidov would fall to five — although they were not offering that particular pick in the Zegras deal.

Habs tried to trade for Zegras at the draft if Demidov wasn't there, but nixed a deal when Demidov fell. They weren't trading 5th overall for him obviously, but maybe they were trading a D for Zegras then taking Buium at 5 since the rumor was Montreal really liked Buium.

glad KH got Demi that is ok with me

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Friedman confirms that the habs were interested in Zegras.

So he's likely to be in the list of centers that Hughes will look at acquiring this summer.

 

[Captain Mountain]

View attachment 1010030

Friedman confirms that the habs were interested in Zegras.

So he's likely to be in the list of centers that Hughes will look at acquiring this summer.

Assuming Montreal even sees Zegras as a center or don't see Demidov as a potential center.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Assuming Montreal even sees Zegras as a center or don't see Demidov as a potential center.

It's obvious they thought of Zegras as a winger if once they selected the winger, they no longer pursued Zegras.

We also have to remember that they still felt Dach was their 2C and so they obviously wanted to put Zegras on his wing (or put Zegras with Cole and Nick and put Slaf with Dach). At the draft, we didn't know Dach would be having such a difficult season.

 

[Gains]

The more I think about this, I’ve come to believe Habs are at the point where they need to pull off their equivalent of a Delino DeShields for Pedro Martinez type deal the Expos executed to address that 2C missing element

For those unaware, Mtl media & fans were furious when the deal was announced… in hindsight it was tremendous player evaluation by GM Dan Duquette at the time - DeShields was traded at his peak value, and Pedro was an immensely undervalued asset.

Not sure who the Habs equivalent of DeShields is Slaf? Caufield? Guhle?

Nor who that Pedro equivalent is?

It’s not that I’m down on Slafkovsky—I still think he has real potential. But when I watch him play, I don’t quite see the puck control you’d expect from a truly elite forward. He could still become a solid sniper, maybe a 30-goal, 35-assist type, which is valuable.

That said, when I think back to Suzuki and Caulfield in their third year post-draft, even though they produced less than Slaf at that point, the way they handled the puck made it easier to project them as high-end players. With Slafkovsky, especially on the power play, I worry that his hands may never develop to that same level.

He does bring other tools—size, skating, offensive instincts—so he could still be a very useful player. But I don’t think it’s crazy to at least consider trading him for a high-end center around the same age if the right opportunity came up.

I know I’m kind of contradicting myself by saying I’d trade him for someone of similar age, but I also wonder if he could be the main piece in a bigger deal—like with the Islanders for Barzal and Dobson. Something like Slafkovsky plus Matheson or a good prospect and a high pick. Suddenly, our defense looks solid, with Reinbacher and Dobson on the right side, and Guhle, Hutson on the left.

 

[sampollock]

Assuming Montreal even sees Zegras as a center or don't see Demidov as a potential center.

to much pressure for demi to be a centre.
let him rule the wing

 

[Treb]

I wish Sid would come out and say " I am not leaving Pitt"
end the dream

It's cute you think this would end it.

He's been saying for years he's staying and people still do it.

 

[Adam Michaels]

There are definitely some centers that could be intriguing, some maybe in UFA, but I think most likely it will be via trade.

One guy I feel would be perfect is Bo Horvat.

 

[yianik]

It's cute you think this would end it.

He's been saying for years he's staying and people still do it.

This is the fan base that kept " believing " Vinnie might land in Montreal eve
n though he passed on multiple occasions.

 

[That Habs Fan]

I just noticed Pionk is a UFA this summer and I think he'd be a great target for us.

Hutson-Guhle
Matheson-Pionk
Struble-Carrier
-
Xhekaj-Reinbacher

I expect Savard to probably retire after this season.

 

[Treb]

I just noticed Pionk is a UFA this summer and I think he'd be a great target for us.

Hutson-Guhle
Matheson-Pionk
Struble-Carrier
-
Xhekaj-Reinbacher

I expect Savard to probably retire after this season.

Not sure a pairing of Matheson and Pionk is a good idea defensively.

 

[sampollock]

Not sure a pairing of Matheson and Pionk is a good idea defensively.

math will be gone. lol maybe

 

[That Habs Fan]

Not sure a pairing of Matheson and Pionk is a good idea defensively.

Yeah I kinda just slotted him in there somewhere. My main reason for wanting him is he's a good RHD and not too old/not too young.

Maybe

Guhle-Pionk
Hutson-Carrier
Matheson-Struble

If Reinbacher really turns into something that will be absolutely huge for us. Hutson-Reinbacher...

 

[Egresch]

I just noticed Pionk is a UFA this summer and I think he'd be a great target for us.

Hutson-Guhle
Matheson-Pionk
Struble-Carrier
-
Xhekaj-Reinbacher

I expect Savard to probably retire after this season.

He is 30 and will get a huge contract in free agency. He can start declining very quickly because he is not a great skater, plus he is not very big. Of course, he would help short term, but he is the right piece for the future.

 

[Hannibal]

f*** off with zegras

 

[Miller Time]

f*** off with zegras

Don't worry, you'll learn to love him and his Michigan's

 

[Hannibal]

Don't worry, you'll learn to love him and his Michigan's

Hes a soft perimeter player who’s not even good at center.

 

[417]

There are definitely some centers that could be intriguing, some maybe in UFA, but I think most likely it will be via trade.

One guy I feel would be perfect is Bo Horvat.

I'd stay away from UFA Cs

The Habs have the assets to acquire one via trade.

You're mostly signing washed played to overpriced contracts in free agency

There's no John Tavares or Artemin Panarin in free agency this year.

 

[Miller Time]

Hes a soft perimeter player who’s not even good at center.

Meh.
The "soft" label is exaggerated.

Statistically, per game he hits more than Suzuki, Dvo, CC, Laine. Blocks more shots than CC, Newhook & same as Armia. Has more takeaways than Evans, Dach, Newhook & Slaf.

He's played in a losing environment with a brutal coaching carousel.

He's 24, and has shown both high competitiveness and grit in his trajectory towards the NHL.

I've got little doubt he's a prime candidate for a big turnaround in a better environment. The struggles the past 2 years (injuries and the ducks dumpster fire) seem to have humbled him and he's been very good since he came back from his latest injury.

I'd bet on him being a great fit in our top 9, and quickly cementing a top 6 spot.

 

[Hannibal]

Meh.
The "soft" label is exaggerated.

Statistically, per game he hits more than Suzuki, Dvo, CC, Laine. Blocks more shots than CC, Newhook & same as Armia. Has more takeaways than Evans, Dach, Newhook & Slaf.

He's played in a losing environment with a brutal coaching carousel.

He's 24, and has shown both high competitiveness and grit in his trajectory towards the NHL.

I've got little doubt he's a prime candidate for a big turnaround in a better environment. The struggles the past 2 years (injuries and the ducks dumpster fire) seem to have humbled him and he's been very good since he came back from his latest injury.

I'd bet on him being a great fit in our top 9, and quickly cementing a top 6 spot.

We are past the reclamation project time.

We need proven, quality center.

 

[Captain Mountain]

I'd stay away from UFA Cs

The Habs have the assets to acquire one via trade.

You're mostly signing washed played to overpriced contracts in free agency

There's no John Tavares or Artemin Panarin in free agency this year.

As of now, there literally is John Tavares in free agency this year

And Marner is just as good as Panarin was when he hit free agency.

On a serious note, I would argue that it makes sense to try to sign a veteran C to a high AAV/short term contract. No chance Tavares leaves Toronto for Montreal, but Duchene or Nelson make a lot of sense for a couple of seasons.

 

[TomKosto]

f*** off with zegras

Hes the type of players whos gonna be available for what we have to trade (mid first rounders, b lvl prospect). People needs to forget about the Horvat/Thomas/Crosby. I’m not his biggest fan but he has some potential, we got a lot of snipers to make him look good.

Hughes gonna find someone with untapped potential or gonna go for a vet like Granlund. No teams trade their young top6 for mid assets. We gonna get a player with flawns or an old timer. Nobody wanted PLD last summer, turned out pretty good for Wsh. Sometimes a player needs a change a scenery to bounce back.

 

[SpeedyPotato]

This is the fan base that kept " believing " Vinnie might land in Montreal eve
n though he passed on multiple occasions.

Well he did end up here…

 

[yianik]

Well he did end up here…

Thats a point.