habs aren't one of the 5 teams

says who??? reports are just that he's talking to 5 teams during the "interview" period.
nobody knows for sure who the five teams are? there are speculations - but nobody knows.
People have the Lightning and Leafs as one of those teams - these two teams can't offer Tavares anything close to what I'm proposing (10MIL maximum - and even that's a stretch).
Interview period doesn't mean that's the only teams the player will receive offers from - in fact, its more for the player to see what's out there (in one week), therefore he can't "interview" with all 32 teams.
This actually gives the NYI a bargaining advantage if they see a team that has courted JT.
If they feel they can't sign him, they can reach out to that team for some draft picks in order to get that extra year.
So, let's face it, you, me and nobody else knows who Tavares is speaking with.
My offer of 14.5MIL/season still stands - its doable for MTL and will keep them competitive for years to come with a solid core locked down. (Price, Weber, JT, Patches, Drouin)
You can then start to pencil in drafted prospects who are cheaper as they come through the ranks. (ie. Poehling, Kotkaniemi, Ylonen, Romanov, Olofsson, Josh Brook, Joni Ikonen, Bitten, Vejdemo, Addison, Jake Evans)
Guys like Gallagher, Byron, Danault, DLR, McCarron, Hudon, Lekhonen, Sherkbak, Lernout, Mete - won't have long term futures with this club - they'll be used and shipped out to make room

you're right that it works, but i think the teams are toronto, san jose, dallas, vegas, and a mystery team that most think is tampa. but if mtl is that fifth team than they obviously have a pretty solid shot

I think Vegas would match that also once Gally, Domi and Lehkonen become free agents do you intend to let them walk for nothing?

I highly doubt MTL is one of the teams. Why would anyone willingly put themselves through the s**t show that is MTL and it’s fans? Unless they are French-Canadian anyways...

We have what Tavares needs but we will have to overpay because of que taxes so 14.5 million is way more than what Toronto or Sj can afford and we have the best goalie of those teams plus weber so we should get an interview

It isn’t just about the goalie or Weber etc. It’s about how the fans treat their players. Look at Patches...the guy scores 30 goals a year but has a down year and you all want him shipped out of town. Why would Tavares put himself through that crap?

Ignoring everything else, why not just return Froese to Laval as captain?

He is being traded because his contract is coming up and in a cap world you have to decide if you want to pay him what he wants..... It is not personal.. plus he is the only valuable trade chip to try to get a center if you cant' get a center than i say re-sign him and sign Statsny or bozak and try to make the playoffs while we wait for our centers to mature.