As a general surprise the Habs defeated the Pens in the tournament before losing in 6 to Philadelphia, but they the games were close. With that experience the Habs might be ready to take the next step in their retool, but before that they have some questions marks. Their 1st line for much of the season (Tatar, Danault, Gallagher) all become UFA at the end of next season and will ask for important raises. Petry who was the best all around defenseman also becomes a ufa next season. So who stays, who goes?
First of from the three mentionned above Tatar is most likely the one who goes. His value has Fallen a little bit but dues to his performance in the series, but I think he can still get a decent value. To me that decent value would be to Colorado. He could be a good Partner on their second line with Kadri and Burakovsky. In exchange Habs gets their 1st round selection. Avs could probably add a little more, but the main exchange will revolve around these two.
Then to me Domi is likely done in Montréal. KK and Suzuki pass him in the depth chart, Danault in the perfect 3th line shutdown forward and Domi isn't suit to be a 4th liner. They could look for a team who need a 2nd line center. The target would be Winnipeg. We saw what happened when Scheifele went down and how much they lack depth at middle. The Jets are contenders and could be agressive for a 2nd line center. I would then trade them Domi, plus the first round in the Colorado exchange (around 25th overall) for their 1st round selection (1oth overall). The Habs also have good defenseman, but the best offensive option they got is Petry who's 33 and will become ufa. The Habs could target a offensive defenseman and preferably who plays on the leftside. My choices would be Gostisbehere or Leddy. Both of them fall in their respective depth chart, wouldn't cost that much to acquire and need a change of scenary. My choice would be Ghost because he's younger and his caphit is lower. A 2nd round selection should be enough and I would also add Mete, because with Ghost, Chiarot and Romanov ahead of him he would be a healthy scratch on most nights. Then the Habs also need a backup to relieve Price somethimes. There's plenty of choices so I won't bother trying to find the perfect one, as long as they sign one good backup. I also think they like the Kovalchuk experience and could be interested in bringing him back again. I think they could get him at Something +/-2M for one year is reasonable. Finally one last trade they could make would be to get Puljujarvi from Edmonton. A big power forward, but it just didn't work out in Edmonton. On a previous agm they told me a second round would be enough to get him. So Mtl exchange one they could to get him.
Then it's time the Habs start spending many people would like them bringing the big fish in Hall, but I think he's not really interested in playing here so I would go with Hoffman. A proven scorer who's on his way out of Florida. He could be costly, but Habs have to money to pay him and he fill a big need which is to score.
One other thing would be to let some capspace for next season and not be to close to the salary cap, because if they want to resign Petry, Danault and Gallagher they will all ask for a raise (Petry not that much) and also KK, Lekhonen will ask for more.
Would colorado protect Tatar in expansion, I’m not up on Colorado’s situation, if not protected they maybe limited on what’s offered for what may turn into a rental