Timmins won't get $6m right out of the gate like that even if he has a good season in 20/21 because it'll just be too little sample size in the NHL. It's an interesting idea though. Perhaps he'd be keen to do something like Girard and secure his financial future early rather than betting on himself, especially given his concussion history.

Montreal can't justify retaining that much on Price, but it's really the only way that it could be feasible for Colorado.

$4.5m retention AND paying Johnson $6m for 3 more years would probably be too much for Montreal (they'd effectively be paying Johnson $10.5m for the next 3 years after all).

Maybe Price ($4.5m retained) for a similar package to that but without Johnson being included would work.

don't happens

How many times foes it have to be said! MB doesn't WANT to move Price! IF the Avs want him they will need to pony up a kings ransom, an offer MB cannot refuse! This doesn't even come close to what MB will want

timmins is actually getting $5m but you're right the idea is pay him the money up front and get a long term contract this ensure the avs can keep 3 really good defenseman with good caphits for all of mackinnons prime. if things work out right they might be able to keep all 4 defensemen and the big line together.



this is a 2021-22 roster so ej would only have 2 years on his deal then montreal is free and clear of that $6m. the habs have almost no rd prospects either so johnson could actually fill a role for that period too. montreal's dammed if they do, dammed if they don't. can they really afford to pay almost $11m for 5 more seasons or are they better off getting that $6m free for the last 3 seasons.



he may not now but he will in the future. with premeau in the system why would the habs want to pay price almost $11m for another 5 years at that point. it would be a shame to see price retire without getting a cup. this is a pretty fair deal considering the avs still have to deal with the last year or two of price.

FWIW Both Colorado and Montreal decline.

Ah yes, $5m not $6m, my bad. I guess signing him to a Girard-esque contract could pay off nicely long-term. But on the flipside it could also backfire spectacularly if he has recurring concussion issues, so I'd lean the way of a bridge deal with him.

Good point about EJ only having 2 years, that makes a significant difference. Getting out of $6m when Price is 36-39 would be important for Montreal. I think Sakic is a bit too risk-averse to make a trade like that though. He seems more likely to go with short-term calculated moves with a volatile position like goaltender, like the moves he's done so far with Grubauer and Francouz.

those 3 years would be important. suzuki, kotkaniemi, caufield, romanov, and potentially 2020 1st rounders would be coming off elc during that period. not to mention raises for gallagher, tatar, danault.

i agree sakic would need to take a big risk here and i'm not sure he would. that said i think the organisation might be souring on grubauer. with colorado's defense price wouldn't need to be lights out like he had to in montreal. he's also further out of the reach of canadian hockey media too which could only mean good things for him.

Totally agree. Montreal are going to have some big contracts coming up from 2021 onwards, and Price's $10.5m could be a real back-breaker for them. 2020 might be a year too early for them to move him though. Perhaps something in 2021 could be worked out though. At that stage we're going to need to make a decision on Grubauer who will likely cost $5.5m+ to resign as an UFA, and presents a natural opportunity for a transition in net. We'll also have a better idea what Makar/Landeskog/Timmins will want to resign for too. And we'll also have a clearer picture of what we can expect going forwards from the likes of Byram, Jost, Timmins, Newhook, Kaut, and Graves. Graves will also probably carry much more value after another season as Makar's partner too.

Curious to hear what it is you think has the organisation souring on Grubauer? Is it simply from character things like the fact that he seems incapable of assuming responsibility whenever he makes errors? Or is there something more going on?

i think they have serious concerns about his durability. he's never played over 30 some games a season even as a starter and he was out performed by francouz this year. i think the avs would want their starter solved long term after the expansion draft so there is time for grubauer to make his case. no need to be messing with goalies when the avs offence and defense finally start clicking.

Good points. I could totally see Sakic's plan being to ride with Grubauer until 2021 and then let him walk in free agency. That would mean that we protect Francouz in the ED, and should Seattle sign Grubauer that would also mean that we keep the rest of our roster intact.

Making a goalie change in 2020 would likely mean that we'd have to expose Francouz in 2021 which wouldn't be ideal. Conversely 2021 would be the ideal time to reassess our goalie situation as we'll also have a much better idea of what Francouz can do, as well as how Annunen is projecting.

MTL ain’t looking to move Price right now. He’s better than what the stats show and he’s a key part of the team. If we were to trade him:
1) It would probably be an overpayment for the other team involved.
2) MTL wouldn’t retain salary on a long-term deal like this, since they will need to re-sign their young core within the next 5 years.
3) MTL would consider a deal like this if they’re still a bottom feeder within the next two years (I personally think we will be a middle of the road team until our prospects are established).


Sidenote: Colorado would be an amazing fit for Price. Of course we would have to take Johnson off their hands, but if Price were to be traded, I would like to see him go there.

Edit: I’m not saying that Price is worth the moon either, but from a MTL perspective, they don’t really need to deal him unless the offer is amazing. Price and Weber are our only big deals at the moments and by the time we need to pay the kids, the cap ceiling will be up a bit and we will have made more cap room by parting ways with Alzner, maybe Danault, Tatar, Chiarot, maybe Petry, Byron and some depth guys.

Kings decline. We don't have anyone for quality RD in our prospect pool other than Durzi and Spence.

what about ld. doesn't have to be durzi.

They can't move him even if they wanted. He's bad and the contract is even worse.

I dont think they are interested in Zadorov tbh