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

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I, like most outside of Montreal, don't think Montreal will be improved enough to not struggle for 8th place in the conference. In part because the competition will get better and Montreal can't rely on the luck they've had health-wise and in tight games.

The bigger issue though is that Montreal will have around 20 mil in cap flexibility this offseason, with no real significant contracts to sign and a mostly full roster. They currently have almost 50 mil in cap space for the offseason after with half a roster signed. The season after that Anderson is a UFA. How on earth is saving 2 mil a season anything close to a priority? At best it would need to be 3rd or 4th on the list, and that's assuming Montreal spends like crazy on multiple players.
You don't think replacing Savard (4D), Dvorak (3C), Armia (3W) and acquiring an actually serviceable 2C will cost almost all of that 20m cap space? You can forget the "luxury" upgrade of getting a 2D (or upgrading on Matheson)...

My point with Anderson is that he's had a good year and Hughes messed up not selling him before so he should sell him as soon as he can and get rid of this inconsistent and unreliable player. If we didn't also have Gallagher I'd be less pressed to cut him loose but we can't have 12m of cap space wasted on 5m of output.
 
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Doesn’t really matter. He’s not a strong 5v5 player, so they use his down the lineup and on PP1. They need more pace in the top 6.

They need talents on the second line. Laine has talent, he belong on the second line. The 3rd -4th line can bring the pace
 
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I, like most outside of Montreal, don't think Montreal will be improved enough to not struggle for 8th place in the conference. In part because the competition will get better and Montreal can't rely on the luck they've had health-wise and in tight games.

The bigger issue though is that Montreal will have around 20 mil in cap flexibility this offseason, with no real significant contracts to sign and a mostly full roster. They currently have almost 50 mil in cap space for the offseason after with half a roster signed. The season after that Anderson is a UFA. How on earth is saving 2 mil a season anything close to a priority? At best it would need to be 3rd or 4th on the list, and that's assuming Montreal spends like crazy on multiple players.

Not sure that I'd describe this season as "lucky" on the injury front.

From our preseason roster, we lost two key top 6 players for 25 (Dach) & 30 (Laine) games, and out #1 dman for ~30.

For comparison sake, neither of the top 2 teams in our division lost any top 6 or top pair contributors for more than 15 games.


With no external additions in the offseason, we'd be better positioned next fall than we were last fall, even without re-signing any of our vet UFAs... And it's highly likely that we will make at least 1-2 net talent upgrades to our top 9 & top 4, on top of Demidov & RB.

Future is bright 😎
 
Doesn’t really matter. He’s not a strong 5v5 player, so they use his down the lineup and on PP1. They need more pace in the top 6.
I think the key to Laine on the 2nd line is who will play with him. Newhook and Roy where not what he need. But let say you have Crosby and Slaf/Demidov with him, suddenly he can be seen as a decent complementary player.
 
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You don't think replacing Savard (4D), Dvorak (3C), Armia (3W) and acquiring an actually serviceable 2C will cost almost all of that 20m cap space? You can forget the "luxury" upgrade of getting a 2D (or upgrading on Matheson)...

My point with Anderson is that he's had a good year and Hughes messed up not selling him before so he should sell him as soon as he can and get rid of this inconsistent and unreliable player. If we didn't also have Gallagher I'd be less pressed to cut him loose but we can't have 12m of cap space wasted on 5m of output.

Why are you looking at Montreal's situation that way?

Like if the question is would it cost Montreal more than 20 mil to sign a 4D, 2C, 3C, 3W and 2D, then sure. But its also not even close to being what Montreal should be doing. Nor is it accurate, as replacing Savard (6D), Dvorak (3/4C), Armia (3/4W) and adding a 2C wont cost 20 mil.

For positions, Carrier replaced Savard as 4D in December and bottom pair D aren't expensive (assuming Montreal wants to add a veteran bottom pair guy), Dvorak has been consistently bad except for the last month or so and can be replaced internally, Armia can be replaced internally or cheaply.

My point is that if someone takes the position that Montreal needs a 4D, 2C, 3C and 3W (and maybe a 2D), Then there's no way saving 2 mil is a priority. And Montreal isn't limited to just signing guys or trading pure futures. If you're adding those pieces from outside, it will also be necessary to move at least one of Newhook and Dach to create space. Montreal is also in the middle of a rebuild and their farm team currently leads the AHL in points and is among the younger AHL teams. We should assume that there will be graduations to the NHL (or at least tryouts) beyond Demidov. The money is already there.

Not sure that I'd describe this season as "lucky" on the injury front.

From our preseason roster, we lost two key top 6 players for 25 (Dach) & 30 (Laine) games, and out #1 dman for ~30.

For comparison sake, neither of the top 2 teams in our division lost any top 6 or top pair contributors for more than 15 games.


With no external additions in the offseason, we'd be better positioned next fall than we were last fall, even without re-signing any of our vet UFAs... And it's highly likely that we will make at least 1-2 net talent upgrades to our top 9 & top 4, on top of Demidov & RB.

Future is bright 😎

I'd say they've been fortunate.


Tampa has been healthiest team in the NHL. I don't think Dach and Laine missing more games than Matthews evens things out, and Toronto also had both goalies miss time and have had key D out for long stretches.

Future remains very bright, but I remain a committed Debbie Downer.
 
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I find myself very intrigued by Elmer Soderblom of the Dead Things as an acquisition target for Habs…

Not sure if Det is even interested, but I really like his game enormous size + power combined w pace + soft hands
 
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I find myself very intrigued by Elmer Soderblom of the Dead Things as an acquisition target for Habs…

Not sure if Det is even interested, but I really like his game enormous size + power combined w pace + soft hands
He’s not even good in the AHL. I didn’t notice him once last game. He’s just big and that’s it.
 
Crosby to the Habs would be crazy.

Last time Kent pulled a sneaky move like that was … 2 days ago.
If Crosby would waive, Montreal offers him the most of any team in league. Habs are his boyhood team. Montreal is top hockey market in league. We have a great players coach. He can play on a line with projected Calder winner next year. Montreal is the second youngest team in league with the top farm system in league. Habs have the caproom with 20+ million coming off the books in 2026. They will be cup contender next season and forseeable future.
 
If HuGo think our window is officially open, Bo Horvat would be the perfect complimentary 2nd line center - and he wouldn't cost a lot of assets given the remaining dollars owed on his contract.

If HuGo doesn't think it's quite opened, they will target a younger player but it will cost more assets.
 
I don’t think a Crosby deal would be a huge package.

If he moves, I think it would be him requesting the move - “I’d like one more Cup run, can you work something out with Col or Mtl.” Something like that. It would be up to him, they’d grant his request, and would take a reasonable return.

I could see a 1st, roster player, decent prospect.

Anyway, Crosby + Demidov would be crazy.
 
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If Crosby would waive, Montreal offers him the most of any team in league. Habs are his boyhood team. Montreal is top hockey market in league. We have a great players coach. He can play on a line with projected Calder winner next year. Montreal is the second youngest team in league with the top farm system in league. Habs have the caproom with 20+ million coming off the books in 2026. They will be cup contender next season and forseeable future.
Hutson, Crosby and Demidov wheeling around the o-zone while Laine lies in wait, like …
1744309411065.jpeg
 
I don’t think a Crosby deal would be a huge package.

If he moves, I think it would be him requesting the move - “I’d like one more Cup run, can you work something out with Col or Mtl.” Something like that. It would be up to him, they’d grant his request, and would take a reasonable return.

I could see a 1st, roster player, decent prospect.

Anyway, Crosby + Demidov would be crazy.

Crosby
Letang (with 50% retention)

For

1st 2025 (CGY)
1st 2025 (MTL)
Dach
Anderson
Mailloux

Letang is to add RD depth and keep Crosby comfy after leaving the only team he's ever played with. The overpayment is to get Crosby to feel okay about leaving Penguins in good place still.

Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Caufield
Demidov - Crosby - Laine

Imagine Laine getting back to his early career mojo too.


I'd flip Matheson for Pageau but that's a different story.
 
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Zegras is averaging ever so slightly more hits per game than PLD this season and the exact same work ethic questions surrounded Dubois.

I'm not saying they play a similar style whatsoever, just pointing out that PLD was viewed as a complete dud by most here despite the upside he's previously shown. And now with a change of scenery he's flourishing.
PLD showed he can be dominant player, Zegras is pure finesse guy, he loses like 90% of board battles, he is below average on speed...
We are trying to build Cup wining team, you can only have few of those guys and we already have Caufield.
 
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PLD showed he can be dominant player, Zegras is pure finesse guy, he loses like 90% of board battles, he is below average on speed...
We are trying to build Cup wining team, you can only have few of those guys and we already have Caufield.
Don't get me wrong, he's not my #1 target to go after to address our need at center, but every target will have their respective warts.

Zegras isn't a physical guy and has a history of injuries, but he fits the age of our core perfectly and has shown he has elite offensive potential.

Other guys might have that desired physicality, but lack the offensive upside and are considerably older than our current core. There's not going to be a perfect fit either way, we just need to hope Hughes gets his hands on the best available one out there.
 
Don't get me wrong, he's not my #1 target to go after to address our need at center, but every target will have their respective warts.

Zegras isn't a physical guy and has a history of injuries, but he fits the age of our core perfectly and has shown he has elite offensive potential.

Other guys might have that desired physicality, but lack the offensive upside and are considerably older than our current core. There's not going to be a perfect fit either way, we just need to hope Hughes gets his hands on the best available one out there.
Would add the “known factor” HuGo have not been shy about drafting, or trading for players they know:

Former Hughes client: Matheson, Newhook, Colin White

Coached by MSL / Hughes at some point or played in Northeast US youth program: Struble, Hutson, Fowler
 
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He’s not even good in the AHL. I didn’t notice him once last game. He’s just big and that’s it.
He's like 9 foot 8 i don't think it matters much what he does in the AHL. Byfuglien and Protas struggled in the AHL too. Considering his size his chances to success at the NHL level are low but his AHL stats don't mean much in that regard.
 
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