Habs Offseason

Team: 2022-23 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 12, 2022

Published: Jul. 12, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

MTL - LA Trade Explanation
Dadanov with 1yr left probably has the most value over any of the bottom tier wingers on the roster (Hoffman, Armia, Drouin, Byron). Habs deal from a position of excess (NHL wingers) for a position in need (RHD).
LA has 5 NHL-ready RHD plus at least another 4 prospects coming up. This is their position of strength. LA like Dadanov because of the term and the added offence to their top-six... which would look something like Kempe/Kopitar/Fiala, Dadanov/Danault/Arvidsson.
Pick exchange is a bit of a shot in the dark but Walker is coming off a season long knee injury + has 2yrs of term so I see the value as a bit skewed in MTL's favour.


MTL - DAL Trade Explanation
It's pretty well documented that Dallas is in on Petry. Let's assume Petry is okay with the trade and his NMC isn't a factor. Khudobin+Faska contracts = same AAV as Petry so money in equals money out. MTL buries Khubdoin in the minors so saves $1mil. Faksa is a serviceable 4th liner who is making way too much money and battles it out with Evans in camp. This also gives the Habs flexibility of trying Dach out on the wing and moving one of the 4th liners up. If Faksa doesn't work out he becomes a buy-out candidate in year 2 or 3 for very little.
From Dallas' perspective... Petry replaces losing Klingberg. Poehling replaces Faksa. They are only taking on an extra $3mil for 2 more seasons (i.e. Petry +3mil over Faska's contract in years 2 and 3) and are essentially adding Petry+Poehling to the roster for 3mil. They would have about $18mil in cap space to sign Robertson, Oettinger so no worries there. This all costs them a 1st rd prospect (Bourque) and a 3rd (maybe) but gives them a lot of flexibility while remaining competitive and still with a solid forward pipeline.


Lineups Explanation
Slotting in Slaf on the top line would be pretty high pressure. Instead have him play with a reliable C in Dvo and another big body in Anderson. Slaf would essentially act as the skilled playmaker here.

Dach is a puck carrier and not known for his board play despite his size. He should be placed with two wingers who are puck retrievers. We have two elite options for him in Armia and Gallagher. This wouldn't be a flashy line, instead they'd rely on dump & cycle to generate chances. We saw how good Armia was with Perry down low in the playoffs.

I really don't see much room for Drouin but it's important that he gets his chances if only to slightly increase his value at the TDL.

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