2024-25 Building for Michkov to join a Contender on a ELC

Team: 2024-25 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Mar. 20, 2023

Published: Mar. 20, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

5th - Michkov
16th - Yager(if he or Cristall falls out of top 15 MTL will grab him quick. If Not ASP or Reinbacker
37th- Harabal (he's NCAA bound allowing him to adjust to small ice with limited pressure compared to CHL)
69th - Bonk (Josh Gorges type Defensive D who allows Offensive D room to jump up in the play safely


Im signing the RFA's to contracts they would have signed.
The term will be 2 years off in some cases like Caufield who will only have 7 years left at this point.
Its just easier this way and doesnt seem that confusing to grasp.


Michkov is the guy we're after, Why?
Head to Head with Bedard he squashed him for 3rd place for tournament records with 12 goals.
Who were the other two ahead of him ? Oveckin and Caufield tied at 14 goals.
He'll be Joining MTL on an ELC when we'll be ready to contended with a mature young core.
Cap wise this helps us and contract wise it helps Michkov produce for a bigger contract via arbitration if needed.
Point is during a rebuild we dont need him next year
Outside Bedard its just everyone else who's not on his level , except Michkov.
Who i might add is playing some dominate hockey in the KHL as the rookie leader before his NHL Draft.
20 points in 27 KHL games as someone who just turned 18 three months ago going to a draft in 3 more

If you can think of a better top 6 addition in that draft on his level in the top 10 , we'll talk.
But as much as i love watching Fantilli he's at low end a Beck , High end a Dach.
Thats great and all but we have a lot of those guys so unless its Elite level like Bedard or Michkov , we wont go that way.

Now in the 2024 Draft we skipped over MTL i think MTL is looking at 8th-12thOA depending on injuries and who they're to maybe later.
While new guys from the Michkov Draft and the one in 2024 are sure to Emerge, My focus is on this crop.
MTL clears roster space at the TDL as they will be a fringe playoff team like BUF or OTT for a bit once everyones here

After all's said and done you're probably asking how Michkov fits in ?
Well Gallagher's in his final 2 years when he shows up and based on his rate of injuries since the SCF increasing each year.
Im going out on a limb saying after the next 2 seasons he'll be on LTIR retired.
IF not with 2 years remaining and the capital from previous TDL deals we'll pay to move him.
Dach will move to 2nd C with all the Centers moving down a line to make room for Michkov on top line.
With staggered expiry status's and plenty of Cap MTL also enjoys 2 more years of 10m cap relief from Price on LTIR.
We'll be in a prime position to Contend as Hutson and Michkov join the fray in 2024-25 and 2025-26 .
It gives us cap flexibility and an upgrade in offense while doing it .

I know people will complain about Anderson on 4th line making what he is , i dont care.
Its got that Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck feel like it could be a top producing 4th line for 5-6 years and running .
Plus we got Condotta Matt Martins little Cousin who plays a Hybrid style of All Cizikas and Clutterbuck.
You can only notice he's Martin's couisin when he drops the gloves and finishes people with Authority.


There's pieces i left Unsigned i plan on using in the rest of the Durzi Deal.
I just hate Edit, re-editing over and over so i start simple and add as a concensus becomes clear

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