Last year Gallagher scored 31. The year before he scored 10. His average, over 5 seasons, is about 20 goals and 40 points. About the same as Ryan Strome.

Where am I going with this, you ask? To prove that your proposed trade is a massive overpay. A first, Caguilla, and a mid-range forward prospect (say, Safin) should be enough to get it done. No need to trade a highly touted guy like Yamamoto, or a stout d-man like Jones.

If Gallagher can score on average 20 goals a year on a team with no valid 1C or 2C options, I'm pretty sure you'd love what he could do with McDavid or Draisatl to work with. He's only 26, signed under $4.0M for 3 more years, and the heart and soul of the Habs right now. You'd better go big if you want MTL to even consider a trade. Cagiula + Safin + 1st won't do it.

Yamo and 1st you might be getting warmer. But Bergevin doesn't know what he's doing so go for it, you might get lucky

Oh it's an overpay alright, although Mtl fans might not see it that way. First to get that Edmonton boy home and add him as a final piece on the right wing is worth it. BG has never played with the calibre of Centers Edmonton has, yet when not injured (blocking shots with fingers) he was shooting at a high rate and scoring goals at a high goals/60 rate. This is the fiesty goal scoring winner that blocks shots on an affordble contract that Edmonton desperately needs. Strome is not a shooter or goal scorer. Yams may or may not have success, let alone ever be as good as BG and if he finds his potential it might not be right away. Jones is Barried behind other LDef now.. these are things Edmonton could give up in an over payment. And look at the actual team going forward.. lots to like about the team with Bouchard filling the right side in the future.

Sam Pollock had a simple rule: you've won the trade if you got the best player in the deal. Gallagher is the best player in this deal. Those players from Edmonton, while all could be fine players someday, none are as good as Gallagher right now. Given that is what Chiarelli needs to play for -- the 'right now' -- this is a win for the Oilers. That said, the #1 pick is probably a bridge too far.

id actually be willing to bet that yamamoto has more points than gallagher this season

Game on. See you in April.