idk about the Pageau part. In terms of centers they have McCann, Blueger, Bjugstad already on the team right now. Not sure the last time ZAR has played center but he is more of a winger than the other three that you put all of them on the wings.

Also ZAR and Pettersson are probably gonna make more than 870k per year so that eats up into the cap space projected in this scenario. So that cap space that would otherwise go to Pageau might be necessary afterall. I would sign both to multi year contracts worth a bit more(still not a ton) and would still have a at least 2.5mil in space for other moves.

Seeing as MTLs draft history in the 2nd round is pretty good I think they pass on that trade. They need LHD but not at the price of futures, can interest you in a cheap Tatar or lightly used Armia?

Good gawd Habs fans and their love of 2nd round picks, you want a player who's entering his prime and can step in and play now or do you want to wait 2 to 3 years for that 2nd round pick to step in and contribute? lol
Tatar is worth more than Maata is imo.

if there is no extension on JFP than I'm not interested.
I'd rather takes picks and cap space in a trade.

I'd honestly rather wait, but I'm a patient person unlike the rest of the fan base. We like our second round picks because Bergevin used to trade all of them, got Subban in the second round then traded then away and the last draft we got 2 really good prospects.

I also agree Tatar is more valuable, just think he will be the trade chip used to bring in a LHD

I hear ya and I do think the long road is the way to go for most if not all teams but having said that there's no team that's solely built through the draft and with the Habs trending in the right direction parting with a couple 2nds to fill a needed position doesn't seem like that much to part with. If you wait for the 2nd round picks to develop some other key guys have gotten older and aren't the contributors they once were and maybe you've missed a chance to go on a run, do you think the Caps regret trading two 2nds for Eller?
I doubt they do...

The caps are at a different stage when they traded for Eller, as they just won the Presidents Trophy and were 2 years from winning the Cup, that's not the Habs.

Sure but Weber is 33 and Price is 31, those guys aren't getting any younger and those contracts aren't going anywhere, if you want to wait 2-3 seasons when those 2nd round picks might be ready to contribute when Weber is 35 and Price is 33 then knock yourself out.
Like I said in an earlier comment, there's not a single team that's built solely through the draft.

Are the habs consistent top of the league, President's trophy winners? No. Bad example.

Yeah they're not that so don't bother making any moves then.. Lol

Pageau is a very useful player, better to have multiple centers who can move to wing, than not enough centers.

These are good moves for all teams involved.

FYI, Nic Dowd resigned with Washington a few weeks ago.

This doesn't make sense. The point is, the key players are old so trading for NHL players makes more sense than stockpiling for picks that have a 30% or less chance of being an NHL player in at least 2 years later.

If Montreal is to become a top team or even a President's Trophy winner in the next 3 yrs, these are the types of moves they will have to make.