I feel like this isn’t a bad idea but you’re gonna get some push back based on personal opinions. I kinda like it for both sides outside looking in. Just looks bad for Montreal if KK goes off in the next year or two

He really only (helps) solve the cap problem in Tampa for about 365 days. He'll be in line for a raise after next season, and they'll be looking to shed more contracts again, at which time they'll also be struggling to protect the proper players because of all of the NMC's that they've got.

I'd rather keep KK, much more upside imo. And we already have Danault as a defensive 2C

unless he shoots the lights out next season he will be on a bridge deal probably less than $3M

i also think KK still has lots of upside even though Cirelli will be a perennial Selke candidate

I mean, he'd have offensive players to play with, so the likelihood would be pretty high.

Not. A. Chance.

they have 3 NMCs... Hedman, stamkos, kucherov. everyone else can be exposed if they choose. that means, johnson, palat, and gourde can all be exposed.

Valuewise it's close. More certainty and higher floor in Cirelli but higher ceiling for KK. You just have to see more games from KK before thinking of trading him.

So short version is no.

The guy I see helping Tampa the most would be Jacob Olofsson. He has great potential to be a 2C and still has not signed his ELC so would be cost controlled for at least 3 years. However it would take a much better package than just a 1 for 1 in this case. Maybe they go Fleury + Olofsson + 2nd for Cirelli (not even sure if that would be enough) but then the Habs have to move a Center and not sure who that would be. Maybe Suzuki moves to the wing and you could line up

Tatar-Kotkaniemi-Gallagher
Domi-Cirelli-Suzuki
Drouin-Danault-Armia
Lehkonen-Evans-Byron

I wouldnt do it, yet. He just has to much potential and having him and Suzuki as your 1 and 2 C for the foreseeable future is the way to go. It would also mean more of a battle to earn your top 6 minutrs which will make a better player out of him and trading a center as a position of strength is something Bergevin has never gotten to do

I don’t think Tampa’s in the business of trading for players that won’t play in the NHL for 3+ years. And I doubt Olofsson ever ends up anything higher than a 3C. So certainly not the main piece in a trade for any top 6 forward.

Why trade KK for Cirelli when there is a serious option to OS him instead? Tampa can't possibly match any realistic offer without sacrificing other players like Sergachev and Cernak in the process. Not to mention finding trade partners for the NMC/s and NTC/s they need to trade out.

Trading KK now, would be quite simply the most irresponsible thing a Habs GM can do. Think Sergachev trade. Think Mcdonagh trade. Think Leclair trade. We need to stop making the same mistakes. KK is not going to be Galchenyuk. We just need to be patient with him.

I thought Olofsson's ceiling was higher and he was closer to being ready, perhaps either Ikonen or Yelonen then. My point was they would be looking for a young top 6 forward on an ELC for at least 2 or 3 years

Ikonen is even less of a sure thing than Olofsson. Ylönen would fit the kind of prospect you’re thinking of, but that wouldn’t make sense for the habs at all.

Yeah I was more just laying out examples of what Tampa would be interested in for young guys with longer ELC's not proposing a trade or anything

Hold on man...
1- Has I wrote; we can OS Cirelli but on a value perpetive... KK for Cirelli
2- I am not saying KK is a bust otherwise the value doesn't make no sense for Tampa... but getting a READY TOP2C in Cirelli instead of a longer devlopment time with a higher ceilling is it fair and doesn't it make sense for both team?

In theory, value wise it really depends on how you evaluate both players. It will be more or less depending on who you talk to. I still reiterate, trading KK now is a huge mistake. I think KK will be better than Cirelli in short time. I like Cirelli as much as the next guy but Tampa has a knack of inflating players abilities because they have a circus team of super talent. Cirelli will not produce as much as people are projecting him to if he goes to another team. I guarantee it.

KK has the ceiling for a Olli Jokinen/Mikko Koivu hybrid and that will be way more valuable to the Habs than Cirelli is now and will be IMO. We have to be patient with KK, he is still so young and developing. If Montreal wants star players they got to stop trading them away for ready now players.