What if

Team: 2022-23 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 9, 2022

Published: Jul. 10, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

TML was one of a handfull of teams in on Anderson before the draft
Things didnt work out then but obviously there was interest for a reason
Anderson is a great fit in MTL beside Suzuki-Caufield protecting them
But with Slapkovsky here his role is kinda obsorbed here with Caufield,Gally, and Armia on RW
Which is why Hughes has been trying to move him it appears as he knew he wasnt taking Wright

TML move cap and gains a tough Power Forward with Speed
He's first in the OZ battling along the boards and Checking
He's also tough to play against infront of the Net

Why would Tavares do it ?
He's been in TML awhile and under the current cap situation they've been limited.
Thats never been more apparent as they'd have to sign the remaining 6 spots
At the Minimum required for the 5 skaters and pay a good goalie
It can be done but its a tight fit and the odds of them all siging minimums
Ontop of landing a good Starting Goalie are not high and dont make them better
Then the previous years with Tavares wearing the Maple Leafs Sweater

Moving on to MTL there is Cap to sign him and improve on top of that.
They need a Center for 1A/1B situation and he'll be a UFA as MTL's center Prospects are ready
This gives him a clear cut role with Defensive Support behind him
With Price the only Question is will he play or Retire?
He already said if he's not playing well or doesnt feel he can
That he wont want to play anymore so its either IR or Price plays well
Either Scenario is ideal and clears more cap for MTL to fine tune its roster.
I expect he'll likely go to camp re-injure himself and Retire next Summer

Slapkvosky-Suzuki-Caufield
Dadanov-Tavares-Gallagher
Drouin-Dvorak-Armia
Hoffman-Dach-Byron
Evans

Play the lines like that until TDL and they should all succeed
Drouin should Rebound or it will likely be his last season as he's a pending UFA
Either way we move on from him part way through this year

Byron and Dadanov i expect to play well have their Salaries Retain and go to a top team.
Dadanov i think will end up in COL likely to fill the hole Nichuskin will leave
They only have enough cap to sign maybe 1/3 of their 2nd line players if they take Kadri
If not they can afford a Burakovsky and a half lol
For that reason i think COL will be very active at this years TDL
Maybe they dont take him but someone will. Its just the team i predict will

After the TDL the forward core will look like this

Slafkvosky-Suzuki-Caufield
Armia-Tavares-Gallager
Hoffman-Dvorak-Evans
Pezzetta-Dach-Ylonen
Poehling

Give MTL's young Dcore a year to grow and i think we're a strong team again.
That said i expect a lot of mistakes given we're skating 6 Rookies in this scenario

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