NHL Offseason Post Lottery (MTL)

Team: 2017-18 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: May 3, 2017

Published: May 12, 2017

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Not a fan of all teams but will give it my best shot. I'm going to try to stay as realistic as possible but you know how that goes. Ill remember each move so teams don't get the same players. Wish me luck. Thank you.

Welcome back UFA's Radulov, Markov, and Flynn. All have mutual interest in returning to MTL, especially Markov and Radulov. As for Ott, King, Farnham, and Martinsen Montreal has made it known they will most likely not be resigning them.

Now Montreal is overloaded with DMen since Markov is coming back and the signing of Jerabek. There are 2 defensemen I see not returning to Montreal. That is Brandon Davidson and Nathan Beaullieu. Brandon will be exposed and selected in the expansion draft. Nathan on the other hand will be traded prior to the expansion draft. Maybe in a package with Galchenyuk for a natural Center that can play enough of a two way game that Claude requires. Now if there's someone on the market that will fit into Claudes system, is the question.

In my version they do trade for Kuznetsov. This is based on circumstances like Washingtons cap and needing some defensive help. Not only do they get a cheap, controllable, solid young defenseman they also get a someone who could possibly produce close to the same output Kuznetsov was giving you. Now the money the Caps would pay 1 Kuznetsov can be split into a young Center with high potential and a young solid defenseman that fills a need. A lot of people have Duchene coming over but I don't think he'd work in Claudes system. Kuznetsovs game keeps on growing as amazing playmaker with a good enough two-way game to please Claude. The two-way game is also growing. As far as Montreals cap situation this is definitely a guy they can afford too. Especially with Plekanec coming off the books after next season. Check the Long-Term Outlook. They have close to 29M to play with next offseason. Plenty to sign Price and whoever else they want to keep. So all in all this seems like a trade that would help solve problems on both teams. Washington doesn't have to spend top dollar on one player and Montreal has their number 1 Center that fits.

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