Yess for MTL

Umm, no. His market value is set to a 2020 1st + with the recent trades.

We could do a comparable Zucker deal: 2020 1st, Puljujarvi, Manning or Russell (whichever you're willing to part with the most and if Russell waives).

As much as JP and Lavoie are enticing, they got get a 1st rounder more. If it has to be a 2021, so be it, but its got to be a 1st + other good assets.

Yes sure, I'm good with that

The Zucker deal doesn't necessarily reflect the market value for Tatar, it simply sets the expectations of Habs fans, and perhaps influences Bergevin's asking price. At the end of the day, what establishes the market value is the willingness of a buyer to offer a package that Bergevin is willing to accept. With respect to the Oilers, they probably have a few trade targets, based on a number of considerations. Tatar, Hoffman, Dadonov, Athanasiou, Anderson, and Palmieri are among the various players who might fit Holland's needs, so he has at least as many purchase options as Bergevin has sale options. Holland also has to weight the relative benefit of adding now, vs waiting for the summer. His team looks pretty certain to make the playoffs, and in the Pacific the odds are pretty good that the team could make it through to the second round. Does he want to push for a conference final this year? Is doing so worth the price down the road? With this in mind, realise it may turn out Tatar doesn't move because Bergevin sets a price that is not as attractive as the price asked for one, or more, of those other players.

I actually kinda disagree, I think if anything the recent trades have showed that you maybe wont get a first for Tatar. Zucker is signed to twice the length and Coleman has 1/5th the cap hit.

Quoting: F50marco

As much as JP and Lavoie are enticing, they got get a 1st rounder more. If it has to be a 2021, so be it, but its got to be a 1st + other good assets.

How much higher do they value a 2021 first (with the way the Oilers are trending it would be a late one) vs a 2020 2nd in probably the deepest draft since 2015? I get that the first is prettier on paper but you might be getting a pretty similar quality player and youre getting it a year earlier.

2021 1st with top 3 protection, Puljujarvi, Manning, and somewhere around a million retained for Tatar?

Instead of Russell, who I have a suspicion wouldnt waive for Montreal, Manning is used as the single season dump and Edmonton still finds a little bit of extra cap space for next season? Cheaper for the Habs over both seasons than Russell would be.

Possibly. Although from what I've gathered about analysts saying "this is the deepest drafts in years". they generally are speaking to the top 20 in the first round and while the difference between the 25th pick and the 40th may not even be that big, the idea of a 1st carries more weight. I could get more bang for my buck if came to you and offered a non lottery protected 1st in 2021 as compared to a 2020 2nd rounder of a team that is currently in the playoffs, right? I know I would be more interested in the 1st.

I think that would be pretty close. Although I would expect there would need to be some additional conditional picks included to get'r done. Also if Russell was willing to waive, I think the Habs would prefer that offer more as it would offset even more cap for EDM and the Habs could use another D with experience next year. With that though the Habs would want extra coming back. Could even keep Manning in regardless. Habs have tons of cap anyway.

3rd in 2022 that becomes a 2nd if Tatar extends in Edmonton before July 1st 2021?

I think Russell has a similar eastern bias - especially towards Quebec - as a lot of pro-oil Albertans do. He's from a small town that lives and dies via farming and natural gas production, so he's very much been exposed to that mindset. I think he's fine playing in western Canada and in the States, but I think eastern Canada and New York are for sure on his NTC. It's a silly, useless political reason to block a trade, but knowing people from those areas, it wouldnt surprise me.

It you want extra to take back into next season, Khaira can be had for scraps.

Fair enough, honestly if the Habs would do it for Jesse+2021 first and we get to keep Lavoie I think that might be preferable for us anyway.

I would absolutely shocked if his political opinions (which we aren't even sure exist) come into play on where he does and doesn't want to play hockey for 6 months of the year.

I think the only reason he would block trades to the east or USA is because his wife and kids live in Alberta and he wants to be close to them. I highly doubt politics are in play.

I would be too, but the amount of anti-East sentiment in a place like Caroline is quite literally through the roof. It's less him directly than it would be his family.

If that's the case for Russell than yeah scrap that idea.

Its definitely getting there overall. Habs have to cover themselves against the possibility that JP just isn't that good and it wasn't just EDMs doing that made him that way plus the whole playing in Finland factor.

I think the conditions would be based on a couple factors. Similar to the Hall to Coyotes trade.

To Edm:
Tatar @ 50% (Habs are cash rich and EDM could use the extra savings for other rentals so this is an opportune time for both to maximize the offer)

To MTL:
Puljujarvi
Manning or Gagner or Khiara or all of them - (Doesn't really matter for the Habs so might as well take advantage of this if you are EDM)
2021 1st EDM - Top 3 protected.
*Conditional 3rd round pick 2020
*Conditional 3rd round pick 2021
*Conditional 3rd round pick 2022

*Conditional 3rd round pick 2020:
If Tatar scores X amount in playoffs - Habs get 2020 3rd rounder. If not, they get nothing.

*Conditional 3rd round pick 2021:
If JP scores above x amount in 20-21 - Conditional 3rd stays as a 3rd. If he scores less, the 3rd turns into a 2nd 2021.

*Conditional 3rd round pick 2022:
If Tatar resigns 3rd rounder becomes a 1st rounder in 2022 (Top 3 protected). If he doesn't they get a 3rd rounder 2022.

Have to scrap the 3rd in 2020 due to it being tied to the Neal trade.

I'd take one of the conditions on the 21 and 22 3rds, not both, and I have a preference to the 2022 pick being the one to move forward with.