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Bigphil

Member Since
Jul. 12, 2018
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Montreal Canadiens
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Forum: Armchair-GMWed. at 5:00 p.m.
Thread: The case for trading Guhle
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>F50marco</b></div><div>I wouldn't move Guhle just because Habs have depth on LHD. Guhle could be arguably the best of all of them. Until we know what we have, there is no point moving him IMO. Not to mention that <strong>Guhle is not worth a top 10 pick in the draft</strong>, especially this year, at least not yet. So we'd likely have to move him for another young roster player from another team whose a forward if anything.

Guhle can also play RHD pretty decently so putting him on the right side, at least for 1 year, makes others who are more reasonable, expendable. Harris IMO has no future on this team if Hutson makes the club.
Savard and Kovacevic are likely gone by TDL, freeing up more spots. Barron needs to step up or he may be waiver claimed. Xhekaj can play the right side if need be. Struble is not waiver eligible so he can be sent down. Mailloux also. etc etc

There isn't as much of a rush to move a dmen as many think. Depth is a good thing, especially with how many injuries the team has every year. Also, It'll be nice for Laval to not have to rely on ECHL players for once.</div></div>

I know you said, "at least not yet", but even now there would be teams in the top 10 that would jump at the opportunity to acquire Guhle. It depends on teams situation for sure. NJD almost 100%, OTT, UTA and SEA would most certainly be interested (even if MTL would have to add maybe a secondary asset but Guhle would still be the key piece),

But let's play the hypothetical game. let's say CGY did indeed offer the 9th pick for Guhle, would Hughes accept the deal? We can all debate how close or not in terms of value in a vacuum and whatnot, but realistically, MTL is probably the team turning down the deal.
Gorton and Hughes have made it very clear they want to speed up the rebuild. Moving Guhle for a future asset (of equal or close to similar value) does the exact opposite. And Guhle hasn't reached his full potential yet, everyone agrees with this. He's already showing strong metrics as a top pairing D (playing on his off side no less). And we haven't touched on a key component of Guhle's game either; going back to his draft selection, the whole point and Bergevin's sales pitch for selecting him was... the "InTaNgIbLes"... He's a leader, he's a playoff type performer, he plays "the right way", etc. etc. There hasn't really been a true opportunity for Guhle to showcase those skills with MTL being a bottom feeding team.


It is kind of telling now with Guhle finally playing in a competitive environment, that he's thriving and has been one of team Canada's best defenders in a squad that includes Powers, Byram, Parayko, Severson, and Oleksiak...
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 29, 2023 at 7:17 a.m.
Thread: Spite Goals for 2023 season
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Bigphil</b></div><div>The real problem is the taxation rate in Canada. Out of 4 teams in the last dance were states that had no provincial income taxes. Vegas, Dallas and Florida. Players don't negociate salary but in the pocket revenu. A player will accept a contract for 20% less to play for Vegas. It is the same with Dallas and Florida. And I don't talk about weather and other things... 20 % least and you've got $16 millions more to spend for a good 2nd pair Dmen and a better goalie and a top 6 winger. It is not fair but the NHL like it this way. The only way to win a cup in Canada is a pandemy or a extremely good group of younters that build chemistry together or a magnificiant goalie like in 1993 series. Sorry to have shrink your bubble.</div></div>

All fair points. I agree that it is harder to win in a High taxation state/province.

That being said: Players who play in major hockey markets get opportunities that others don't. Any star player that signs with the Habs for example, will have access to McDonald's &amp; Tim's advertising dollars that are usually reserved for the Crosbys and McDavids of the league, because the commercials air in French.

Suzuki &amp; Caufield for example will make more money off ad-revenue than off their salaries over the course of their careers and I'm fairly sure they can do that through corporations that can use tax deferral strategies that negate any of the disadvantages you are referring to.

Other than business considerations, players like to sign where they think they have a chance to win. I believe the Leafs would have won the cup if it had not been for the pandemic and the flat cap. They "should" have had money/cap to fix their Blueline, but all the money was spent on the forward group with a stagnant cap.