Just adding to the Build

Team: 2023-24 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: May 9, 2023

Published: May 9, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

With Knights new Contract , him being out parts of 2 seasons and over a year combined with his performance .
I feel a 2nd, 3rd ,Myak and Armia is a generous offer that gives them an out without buying him out.

For MTL the risk is worth the reward even if we have to be patient.
Worst case scenario he comes back and sucks we can always buy him out at 750k a year.
Not Ideal but like i said it doesnt Handcuff us either the same way Allen does by taking on this kinda risk .
Sure Armia is a bit overpaid but he shows up and plays hard with no contention he's a NHL level player.
In FLA system i think he would actually be a valuable player even if he's still overpaid.
Still cheaper then paying 3 goalies after finally getting rid of Luongo and Darlings Buyout cap hit.
FLA is finally starting to get some breathing room with 9m next year to spend
Moving out Knight gives them the ability to sign the roster bodies they need and one 6m ish player if they want.

If Knight could get a 1st given his situation ill eat my hat.
but given how hard Traditionally it is for Non Starting and Established goalies to get 1st round picks
I highly doubt it will ever be in the Cards for Knight.

Moving on to Barron going to the AHL as i figure its the next controversial move.
2/3 RD are UFA's after the next 2 seasons and IMO 1/2 by this TDL will be gone .
Barron will either be up at the end of this year or to start next season if we wait to trade at the draft.
He's only playing 16 minutes vs 22-23 in the AHL and production isnt bad
But Offense was never his weak point , turnovers in the OZ was and still is .
I just think in Laval in Houle's Defense and Special teams built system i think he and Mailloux will thrive.

Durzi is not Replacing him but instead MTL is making sure that both Barron and Mailloux are ready.
Otherwise moving out 2/3 of our RD before they turn UFA for a Profit might be unwise
We might have to keep 1/2 if we think either Mailloux or Barron cant take their place.

The hope though it Durzi, Barron, Mailloux long term beside Guhle, Harris(til Hutsons ready) and Xhekaj





For Prospect Concerns we'll still have a lot of depth.
These would just be our Quality 1st and 2nd round prospects.
W.Smith
TBD(FLA pick im thinking Rithchie or Bonk in the mid 20s this year)
O.Beck
R.Kidney
F.Mesar
O.Kappanen
E. Heineman
J.Mysak
J.Struble
L.Tuch
L.Mailloux
L. Hutson
N.Beaudin

Then there's still our overachievers from later rounds
J. Roy
J. Davidson
A.Engstrom
Rhett Pitlick
P.Nurmi
J.Dobes

Even if Half them fail we're still sitting in a position where we have an Embarassment or Riches.
Yes we gave up the FLA pick , two 2nds , 3rd and Ylonen but got Turcotte,Durzi and Knight.
While also moving out Hoffman a few months early and Armia a year early to make room.

We're still on pace with our Rebuild we're just filling in the weak spots during the transition period. IMO Turcotte will grow with the core here, Durzi will be the missing piece on D and Knight gives MTL a Tandem today while challenging Monty,Primeau and Dobes to take his spot.
For Knight this serves as a Transitional Period where he's put in a position with the Goalie he bumped from the depth charts in FLA.
Odds are in time he'll evolve the Tandem to favor him Starting more
It puts Knight in a prime position before he goes UFA to pick his spot not just chase money
Think of him like this era's Huet and Monty like our Theodore.
Great options to give our guys in the AHL/Junior players time to develop

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