Not trying to be mean but in what world is Andrew shaw worth a first round pick even if its protected. If your going to trade a first round pick you don't do it in a trade to lock up a bottom 6 forward for 4 years, that type of player can be locked up in the UFA market. Also letting Kotkaniemi play 9 this year would be an awful mistake. Put a 18 year old kid who clearly isn't ready into Montreal's media. Talk about tearing down a kids confidence before his career even start and at first line center too i mean..

No no no, you give Edmonton a 1st

Shaw was worth 2 2nds when Montreal grabbed him and that was several years and several concussions ago. I don’t think he’s gone up in value since being traded.

Was he worth two 2nds though? that trade always looked bad.

Shaw is still valuable. Not two 2nds valuable and not a 1st valuable either. But he would get a second on the trade market.
Same with Byron. He'll get the Habs a 2nd, or a pair of 3rds; but nothing in addition to a 2nd (unless he lights it up beyond a 20 G/season pace when he comes back which isn't likely).

I can't really argue this except to say it feels to me like Bryon is worth more than Shaw. Maybe a 2nd and like a 4th or 5th.

I think that Shaw would look a lot better if he had started with the Habs under Julian and not Therrien. Seems like Shaw needs to be in a disciplined situation to avoid the stupid penalties and to play his best style (grit, in corners, loves the pressure). Therrien couldn't bring out the best in him and that's going to taint the perception of his whole time in MTL.

Mine you, seeing what one of those seconds turned into is enough to taint the perception as well.

for one its a guaranteed late first round pick and its not like EDM has had any success with players outside the top 10 in the first round anyways.
if Ryan frigging Reaves a 4th line goon can fetch a 1st i have no doubt in my mind Shaw can .

Shaw is a spark plug player who can win Faceoffs and break in young centers
he's got 2 cups playing on CHI who is Structured Similarily with 2 Cap heavy forwards on tap .
Shaw at 2 million long term secure's their third line while adding a edge .


i get most of the fanboys on here ignore the value of any player who isnt a John Tavares but Shaw on a horrible team has been consistent and on a good team has won cups plural
we paid two second round picks for his rights for 2 months with no assurances so to be baffled that a proven possession player gets a 1st round pick at 2m cap on a team limited in choices due to its high cap totals is a bit naive

shaw took over half his penalties in 3 games of which he had just scored in the final minute of 2 .
the bulk of his penalties were at the end of the game in the final minute push in which he was the only one contributing
he had 1 game where he racked up a ton of penalties in the first and it was sketchy at best before he was ejected.
that game a pissed off pacioretty and radulov mounted a comeback win with the team scoring 3 goals in 1min 10 seconds in a final push to snuff the life out of the Rangers.

Shaw was a victim of MTL Media , had he been in CHI more people would have heard the same stats i did on TSN radio which sadly seems to be more objective then the local media in MTL.
Shaw's been nothing but a great player for us playing above his capability on top line vs teams like CHI because of his shutdown ability as a pest in combination with the fact outside Plekanec's he's our only consistent Possession player capable of 55% win rate

Shaw = 2m cap for 4 years
he produces points while winning 55-57% faceoffs
he adds grit with his spark plug style .

anyone thinking a 2 time stanley cup champion who just turned 27 a couple weeks ago isnt worth a protected mid-late pick
on a cap strapped team who needs to address consistency outside its top six is a bit naive.
why anyone is complaining about Shaw is beyond me when he's at a low Cap and address's EDM issues now

ryan reaves did not catch a first straight up. All it was, was a St.louis moving up in the draft 20 spots from 51 to 31. Still an overpayment for Reaves but its not nearly the same kind of trade.

big difference is Shaw got 2 picks for expiring rights
MTL is gift wrapping a Cup Champion who is one of the NHL's top Faceoff Wingers for 4 years a 2 m cap .
in the Cap world this matters for teams like CHI and EDM who invest 30% of their roster in 2 players.
this isnt like Shaw at full cap MTL is taking on a lot of risk to get that pick and given EDM's issues with their late picks this is a win for them .

CONTEXT is what you're ignoring here
not every team is like VAN and MTL with no cap issues
this gives EDM security on 3 lines for faceoffs again at a low cap.

Reaves got his first because a cup team though having the best fighting fourth liner in the NHL might help them win a cup .
Shaw unlike Reaves has had success winning cups because of his spark plug style

Yes i understand the context and i understand the value Shaw brings at that cap hit, but you don't trade a first round pick(even if its lottery protected) straight up for a player like Shaw. Second round pick and a decent prospect, sure.... I could maybe understand your trade for a team that is sure contender and they just need to solidify there bottom six, that makes more sense, but EDM is not there yet, based on last season and CHI is declining they need to get younger if anything.

Also take a look at the drafts. Good players are found from 20-31. Much more valuable then a bottom six grinder for a good cap hit.