Here's the thing - if Patches was 3 years younger I think we'd take the deal and start working out an extension. But with the bulk of our core aged 25-28, and plenty of young players arriving very soon, adding Patches should be nothing more than a rental move, and I wouldn't fork over a top prospect for a rental. If Evander Kane got 7x7 I don't want to think about what Pacioretty will get, especially considering he'll want to strike a big deal at his age, so we'd be paying him 7+m for his age 30-36 years... not part of our plan.

-signed, brown bear

I mean, that's what the asking price is honestly. Frankly I think Pacioretty WONT decline until he's 33~, simply because of the way he plays his game. He's not a powerful skater, or a crazy dangler. He scores goals. That's it. His game is right top of the circle, or between the hashmarks. We don't have the center for him to thrive, but St Louis (And namely all of our trade proposals) has a top center to carry the offence so he can finish.

Asking price for his extension next year is probably around 7.5-8+ for a min of 4 years, unless he wants to get back with MTL...Would a conditional 2019 first be in the talks? If Patches doesn't resign, we fork over a first. That pill easier to swallow?

Calgary laughs in your face

Gallagher is the jelly to your peanutbutter. Mathew Tkachuk and his punchable face seems to be plateauing at 50 points, which is pretty solid, but I figure you guys need RWs and could use some picks, plus with Ferland who can step up the top 6, this wouldn't be half bad. Seems anything that isn't an overpayment is a no from fans.

yeah calary isn't doing that deal. Gallagher is a nice little nasty player but your really over doing in with shaw. Hes just another guy.

Seems to be plateauing? He's 20 and had 49 points while missing 14 games.

Hard no from Calgary. Why give up a 20 year old rising star for a guy who plays basically the same game, but is already 26, plus add in a top 4 D? Nah

Not even close from Calgary. I like Gallagher, but its not even close. Not a chance Flames trade Tkachuk either.

Yeah, Tkachuk is going to hit 30 goals and 70 points next year, he didn't get on the powerplay until the 59th game of the season and went on to score 10 ppg before missing the last 14 games. Give him a full year and a powerplay coach that can create some movement and lateral passing lanes and watch those point totals go way up. Add in his penalty differential (elite), possession numbers (elite) and the fact he drives so much of what the Flames do, he is untouchable. Monahan would be available before Tkachuk, and Monahan wouldn't get this trade done. I'm down for Gallagher, I think he is great, but not at this cost, of a player that is better than Gallagher and a top four defenceman. Shaw is not wanted, but the two draft picks are nice.

Kyrou is an over hyped prospect. St Louis fans seem to think he is an elite prospect but he isn’t. He is a second round pick who put up 100 points in the OHL this year playing as a 20 year old, something you should do when playing against 18 year olds. Him with a second for a proven 30 goal 60 point player is no where close to equal value.

I also don’t like the Ottawa trade, your trading a $2 million dollar 20 goal guy who can play anywhere in the line up for a $7.5 million winger who maybe gets you 15-20 goals. The first round pick helps but it’s still a hefty price for the next 4 years

idk man. I got people telling me Pacioretty is worth Thomas/Borgstrom/Vilardi and a first, others telling me he's not even worth a prospect alone. The Ryan trade I like though. It's a pretty cheap 1st rounder that we can pickup, even if Byron is the better player, I still would be mad with Ryan, even with his albatross. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

To keep it simple just look at trade values lately, Rick Nash should be the Habs starting point. Boston paid a price for what was basically 2 months of Nash. Pacioretty is better, younger and cheaper then Nash = worth a lot more.

That was a trade deadline trade in the middle of the season. I'm not sure this holds the same weight, but I still think I'm in the ballpark of what St Louis (Or any team really) would be hardpressed to turn down.

Kyrou just turned earlier 20 this month dude. He was voted by the coaches the most outstanding OHL player, and he wasn't the only guy playing his D+2 year in the O... not sure why you're so salty about him, or how you can say he's over-hyped. Stop focusing on his draft position and start looking at the qualities he has that will help him translate to the NHL. Or look at how the experts rank him and his improvement since being drafted. He's got enough potential that he shouldn't be involved in a trade for a rental winger like Pacioretty, who's only going to get worse from here.

Yes trade the proven 30 goal scorer who could easily walk into St Louis and put up 60+ points (which is what he has done the majority of his career) for a B prospect. I’m not saying Kyrou isn’t going to be good but he isn’t Borgstrom, Pettersson, Thomas, Heiskanen or elite class that is about to come into the NHL. He is still a couple years in the AHL away. I’m not salty on him but thinking that he is equal value for a proven asset that has been one of the top 5 goal scorers in the league over the past 6 years is just favoriting your prospects over quality NHL talent.

Do I think it makes sense for either team, no. Neither player is what each team needs or is looking for but thinking the value is in Montreal’s favour is wrong.

Ok, I'm with you there, neither team would be too excited to do this. I never said Kyrou was equal value, but my reservation is all about Patches' age and contract. He's gonna be 30 years old, his career numbers will earn him a huge raise from his current salary, and he'll likely want to go for as many years as he can on this next contract. All of those things make him a rental in my opinion - that means he's not gonna return some huge package involving the "elite class that is about to come into the NHL". Regardless of what you think of Kyrou, I'm pretty confident that he'll be more valuable on his ELC than when we're paying 30-something Patches 7+m for the back nine of his career. Not that Kyrou is (or will be) the better player, but I don't want to move promising prospects for aging stars, it just doesn't work. Btw if you think Kyrou is a B prospect that needs a couple years in the AHL, then I hope you think MTL has zero NHL-level prospects (until the draft).

There are far worst contracts out there, aka that Kane contract that was just signed, and because of that contract your lucky to get Pacioretty for under $7.5.......which is ya ridiculous. Ya I know we have no NHL prospects, that’s not a secret for that organization, only one close is Poehling and he will have another two seasons in college and then we still have to sign him after that.

Your all so challenging the whole basic system of NHL teams, eventually your going to want to win now, for that your trade guys like Kyrou for older talent. It’s a balance St Louis will have to deal with in the next few years.