Not without MTL eating some salary

manageable.

It's harder than you think, since Blues don't really have bad contracts to include to a trade...

I'm going to say I'd rather the Habs look elsewhere if they have to retain salary if that's the case. I'd be more interested in a chance at a team with a higher pick. St Louis is poised to have a very late pick this year IMO. I'm perfectly fine retaining up to 50% if necessary but the team needs to be someone I feel confident won't make it past the 1st-2nd round of the playoffs if they are making the playoffs guaranteed. Teams like St Louis, Washington, Boston, etc I'd rather not take their offers unless the piece coming with their 1st is too good to decline.

Agree. although I suggested a 2021 1st instead of a 2020. We never know what next year reserve us. Who would have said that the 1st SJ gave to OTT in the Karlsson would ended up being a top-10 ? Cuz it's likely going to.

I think MTL can get more than this. I also think Pitts & Philly have better D prospects that I'd go after (Marino, PO Joseph, Addison, Zamula).
I actually saw Addison play last week and he's good, but small, like Perunovich.
And I for one am sick of having a small habs team.

if only MTL was in a position to retain cap .... o wait :P

if they can get Tatar at 3-3.5m cap they'd take it
but we'd want more then a player who's just as likely to go UFA after NCAA next season.
even if he doesnt he's no where near NHL ready

MTL counters with
Tatar at 3m cap
for
Kostin
conditional 2nd round pick that becomes a 1st if STL makes SCF with Tatar playing 50% or more games.
3rd round pick

It doesn't matter whether they can retain salary, STL has 0 money left when Tarasenko returns, they can't take salary basically at all.

Most teams won't trade unprotected 1st rounders anymore because of San Jose and Ottawa learning the hard way. 2020 Draft is suppose to be special, Montreal should get a 2020 pick because not every team is going to fall off a cliff after trading an unprotected pick 2 years out.

Oh yeah I missed that. thought it was 2020. Although I think getting the 2020 pick is paramount. This year is an incredible year according to many so that should be the priority for a team in need of a makeover. The uncertainty of 2021 is intriguing but I think banking on getting lucky isn't what you should do with your prized assets.

you think they wont move someone in a seperate deal to upgrade to a top line winger for their 2nd playoff run ?
thats how MTL usually does it regardless of cap because we are always just around the NHL contract limit with 3-5 players possibly needing contracts in 6 months .