HF Habs: Trade Proposal Thread #93: Y'all got any more of those 2nd line centers out there?

[Captain97]

Anyone interested in Toews for a center option?

I'll take him as the Dvorak replacement, still need a legit No 2

 

[JadedRandom]

Watched the M. Darche presser. I don't think Horvat is moving. Hi praise of him.

It could be nothing more than deception for other teams; press conferences are as much strategic posturing by management as they are PR stunts and answering press questions.

For New York, it would be the definition of insanity to try something again and again without change and expecting different results. They've run for years with their current core, it hasn't worked, and now they need to either rebuild or retool on the fly to try and fix their current team trajectory.

I think the Islanders will likely opt to retool instead of rebuilding from the ground up, but even then it is inevitable that the Islanders WILL trade some of their players.

If not Horvat, Dobson, Barzal, and their main core pieces, then definitely the JG Pageau, Mayfield, perhaps Pulock, and other older depth players of their team.

What it ultimately means for us though is that we should enquire about certain players that could be available on the Islanders and try to make offers if the prices that New York's GM sets aren't too much (and they may very well be).

Aside from that, we have many other teams to trade with and were I in Hughes' shoes I'd actually try and get something done with Buffalo.

They have a surplus of skilled forwards and could do with some more defensive depth that we could trade them. That or Buffalo implodes again and we go to acquire some of their good players for futures, or "change of scenery" trades.

Long story short we have options and the assets/means to explore those options so this Summer should be a fun and exciting one for Canadiens fans.

 

[Miller Time]

Are they going to blow it up?

If they do, Tuch would be a great target...

& Krebs would/could be a sneaky-good target to replace Dvorak as bottom 6 C. LH, good speed, work ethic and versatility. Kind of player who may well have some solid positive progression in him thriugh his mid-20s

 

[WeThreeKings]

So here is the offer put forward by Arpon Basu:
IN MONTREAL: Bo Horvat

IN NEW YORK: Owen Beck , Logan Mailloux and the 16th overall pick this year​

One asset too many.

 

[salbutera]

this tweet is a lie. Wild are asking for win now players and it's been debunked. the only true part of it is the Rossi part

2. Marco Rossi​

Team: Minnesota Wild
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
2024-25 stats: 24 goals, 60 points, 82 games
Age: 23
Contract: RFA coming off three-year, $2.59 million deal

Enormously skilled but on the lighter side at 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds, there is still some debate about what Rossi can be as an NHL player. It’s pretty clear where the Wild are leaning after they gave him just 11 minutes of ice time per game in the playoffs following a 60-point regular season. Now it’s decision time with Rossi hitting restricted free agency and seeking a long-term contract. Minnesota has shopped Rossi before and appears unlikely to give him the kind of money a second-line center typically commands, so he’s available to be had.

“Unlikely to give him the kind of money a second-line center typically commands” = Wild don’t believe Rossi’s a 2C and he’s too small to play bottom-6

This coming from the very well respected & connected Wild beat writer …

 

[HabzSauce]

If he’s healthy
If he doesn’t give up on the season
If he “plays within his role”

Lots of ifs with Anderson

I’m willing to bet the arc of his career with the Habs won’t change. He’s been far more bad/unavailable than good overall.

And you know what? A good GM would sell high. Eyes on the prize: Anderson will not be a part of any winning Habs lineup.

I would bet Anderson has changed for the better. Had to reinvent himself a little bit & adjust to new role, which can be tough for most guys. He was supposedly playing injured last year too & I could barely notice with the way he was skating and banging around.

He is now a very useful player for us. We need more guys like him, personally I'd want to keep him

 

[salbutera]

Small? Yes
Lacks speed? Its average
Doesn't like to play in hard areas? Come on. Rossi's whole play is being relentless on the puck. One of the scouts for Elite Prospects even describes Rossi as having a "Gallagher-like" mentality and wiling to play in the dirty areas.

The reason Evason nailed him to the bench in the playoffs w 11TOi was due to unwillingness & inability to win puck battles and go to into tough parts of the ice

 

[Sorinth]

For New York, it would be the definition of insanity to try something again and again without change and expecting different results. They've run for years with their current core, it hasn't worked, and now they need to either rebuild or retool on the fly to try and fix their current team trajectory.

Well they are getting a pretty significant addition to their core thanks to the lottery luck so no matter what they aren't trying to win with the same core. So you could argue they've already done a retool without doing anything, though as retools go it will need to be deeper since guys like Lee, Pageau, Cizikas are quickly aging out, they've got enough of a foundation that a retool makes sense compared to a rebuild, the 26m in cap space also gives them an opportunity to add to their core quickly.

 

[sampollock]

I know people say we'd be too small for Rossi, but for a late first? I'd do it in a heartbeat.

I'd easily do Beck + one of our 2025 picks and sign Rossi 7x7. Super cheap for a 2C and it's a similar price we paid for Newhook, but Rossi is way better (even if small).

If we eventually need to get bigger at C, he can easily be an elite 3C.


Small? Yes
Lacks speed? Its average
Doesn't like to play in hard areas? Come on. Rossi's whole play is being relentless on the puck. One of the scouts for Elite Prospects even describes Rossi as having a "Gallagher-like" mentality and wiling to play in the dirty areas.

a Gally but with way more talent?

 

[G0bias]

Tuch would've been the perfect top 6 forward with size and sandpaper to add to our 2nd line if we were just a bit further along the rebuild.

Otherwise McLeod could be an interesting 2C option, unless Thompson is somehow available.

 

[le_sean]

Tuch would've been the perfect top 6 forward with size and sandpaper to add to our 2nd line if we were just a bit further along the rebuild.

Otherwise McLeod could be an interesting 2C option, unless Thompson is somehow available.

Ryan McLeod would be a great player to add. But he’s arbitration eligible and the Sabres have lots of cap space.

Would love to swap Laine for Tuch however. Talk about a perfect fit for Demidov and our Top-6. Could see the Leafs going hard after Tuch as well. That’s the type of player they need

 

[TT1]

One asset too many.

i'd do Beck or Mailloux (ideally Mailloux) + 2 of Mesar/Roy/Farrell, that's the type of deal i'd start with

keeping the picks and moving prospects buys us development years, gotta move a lot of these prospects before moving the picks

 

[Team_Spirit]

Watched the M. Darche presser. I don't think Horvat is moving. Hi praise of him.

So Conroy & Darche refuse to see the writing on the wall ( their bubble team is old and should tank for McKenna, Dupont )

Hmmm

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

both Mailloux and Beck are easily worth midd 1st rounds now value-wise, so we're giving up 3 midd 1sts for Horvat, how desperate are you for a center (especially with Hage on the way)? just gutting the prospect pool for like 3 good seasons of Horvat

and this is coming from someone who really likes Horvat and was saying he's our most realistic target, obviously the price matters tho

"with Hage on the way"

Has shown nothing to be close of a nhler at this time but somehow he's already a sureshot as a #2 center

Horvat is what the team needs a good center 2way in his prime who can bounce in the thirdline on couple of years if Hage becomes a nhler.

Yall have 0 vision and thinks all prospects are sureshot

 

[Habnot]

So Conroy & Darche refuse to see the writing on the wall ( their bubble team is old and should tank for McKenna, Dupont )

Hmmm

I think you will see less teams tanking in the next couple of years given the amount cap is going up. In the dead cap era we just came of - tanking became a no brainer. Now with all the cap flexibility, teams will most likely opt for a reset - 1 to 2 years and spend to the cap.

Also, Islanders were never a good candidate for rebuild. They are in a saturated sports market with a new arena that needs to generate revenue.

 

[sampollock]

fat tony show says Ehlers for 9.5 that is a steal they say in the next couple years

 

[WeThreeKings]

fat tony show says Ehlers for 9.5 that is a steal they say in the next couple years

Like Ehlers but too much of the same. Need someone with size and grit who can score.

 

[nhlfan9191]

"with Hage on the way"

Has shown nothing to be close of a nhler at this time but somehow he's already a sureshot as a #2 center

Horvat is what the team needs a good center 2way in his prime who can bounce in the thirdline on couple of years if Hage becomes a nhler.

Yall have 0 vision and thinks all prospects are sureshot

Hage is not a guarantee but he’s a very decorated and respected prospect when compared to guys still outside the league.

 

[le_sean]

Hage is not a guarantee but he’s a very decorated and respected prospect when compared to guys still outside the league.

We don’t even know if he’s a fit at centre at the next level. Might be better off on the wing. Look at Newhook.

I want to keep Hage and I like his potential, but this idea of only targeting stopgaps is shortsighted.

 

[WeThreeKings]

We don’t even know if he’s a fit at centre at the next level. Might be better off on the wing. Look at Newhook.

I want to keep Hage and I like his potential, but this idea of only targeting stopgaps is shortsighted.

I'm of the mind we also don't need to just find the long term solution ASAP. If its not the right acquisition cost or the right Fit, then don't do it out of desperation.

We weren't expecting to make the playoffs this year. Just cause we hit a milestone early doesnt mean we accelerate everything a year earlier. Id hate to blow big assets on Horvat and then Eichel be available next year or something.

 

[vokiel]

I'll take him as the Dvorak replacement, still need a legit No 2

No thanks, bet he's more cooked than an overdone steak.

 

[Hockeyfan200]

“Unlikely to give him the kind of money a second-line center typically commands” = Wild don’t believe Rossi’s a 2C and he’s too small to play bottom-6

This coming from the very well respected & connected Wild beat writer …

I am talking about the ask in terms of what wild what. A large part of making Rossi available is to get young top 4 player. They also traded their picks in this draft mostly because they hate it. No one is saying Rossi wont get traded

 

[sampollock]

Like Ehlers but too much of the same. Need someone with size and grit who can score.

that is the key
but who is out there? need grit that is a darn yes

 

[CzarDemidov]

"with Hage on the way"

Has shown nothing to be close of a nhler at this time but somehow he's already a sureshot as a #2 center

Horvat is what the team needs a good center 2way in his prime who can bounce in the thirdline on couple of years if Hage becomes a nhler.

Yall have 0 vision and thinks all prospects are sureshot

Not sold on Horvat but the prospect overrating and austerity culture is going to make the board unreadable when the time for buying actually comes along

 

[salbutera]

I am talking about the ask in terms of what wild what. A large part of making Rossi available is to get young top 4 player. They also traded their picks in this draft mostly because they hate it. No one is saying Rossi wont get traded

No … “a large part of making Rossi available” is the Wild don't believe he’s a top-6 player / 2C, but is asking for that type of $$$, and they don’t believe he has what it takes to be a bottom-6 player

Their beat writer even wrote it - Russo is very close to Bill Guerin.

The Wild are also clearing roster space to add hometown boy Brock Nelson as 2C via UFA