- The goaltending situation seems OK : Primeau will likely take over Allen's role in 2021-2022, setting up a dynamic duo of CP31 and CP30 for years to come. Allen's 4,3M cap space will then be used to renew RFA/UFA forwards ; either by letting him walk as UFA, or, maybe by trading him to a western contender with goaltending issues at the 2020-2021 TDL if the circumstances are opportune. (If so, the Habs' likely get a much better haul than the 3rd round pick he costed.)
- The defense situation seems tricky however. Weber and Petry seem like locks to provide experience in the backend with an imminent influx of talented up-and-coming defensemen (Romanov, Norlinder, Struble, ie.). The third candidate for protection should either be Mete of Chiarot, but both are a underwhelming as D3... There is thus some room to acquire a better defensemen even with the expansion draft looming, ideally by including Mete in the trade, since he's most likely to be claimed than Chiarot, at least potential-wise.
- The forwards situation seems the more challenging, mainly because the Habs' evident lack of talent and size on the wings (the golden age of Montreal's infamous "donuts' lines is hopefully a thing of the past with Suzuki, Danault, Kotkaniemi and Evans as centers). The logical odd-man out seems to be Domi, whose spot in the protection list could be given to an acquired winger. Protecting both Lekhnonen and Armia, mainly defensive forwards, seems like a luxury ; one of them could be left unprotected, thus providing another spot, either for a more clutch Tatar, or a winger acquired through a trade. If left unprotected, Armia/Lekhonen could be targeted by Seattle, I would however be inclined to make sure the Kraken chooses a defenseman by offering a pick compensation, considering that the Habs D's cupboard is much more interesting than the wingers'.
3. Cap-crunch Exploitation Schemes :
With around 10M to spare after signing every players on the current roster besides Domi, there is also definitely a window to take advantage of the cap crunch of certain teams via trades.
- Anaheim (1,4M remaining) : Gudbranson (4M) + Comtois (820k) = Mete (1,2M) + 4th rounder in 2020 + 3rd rounder in 2021
- Tampa Bay (5,2M remaining) : Killorn (4,5M) = Poehling + 2nd rounder in 2020
- As for Domi, Minnesota or Winnipeg seem like a good dancing partners. For the purpose of this exercice, I traded Domi along with Lindgren and 4th rounder to Minnesota for Greenway and one of the Wild's first rounder next year. Alternatively, a trade with Jets for centered around Domi/Ehlers could be very interesting as well.
4. Final Observations
- 2,6M in cap space remaining for 2020-2021 (including Byron's 3,4M) ;
- 35,2M in cap space for 2021-2021 (Renewed UFAs : Danault, Gallagher, Petry and Armia / Renewed RFAs : Kotkaniemi, Lekhonen, Comtois)
- Expansion draft loss should be manageable, especially with plenty of mid-round picks to offer Seattle if the Kraken targets a specific, redundant player.
- Balanced offensive lines built around a set of good/great two-way centers (Suzuki, Danault, Kotkaniemi and Evans), with physical wingers (Killorn, Gallagher, Comtois, Greenway), defensively aware wingers (Armia, Lekhonen, Byron) and some good complementary offensive threat (Drouin and Tatar) to complete to picture.
- The defensive corps should be solid, but far from great since a real LD#1 is still lacking. This position could be eventually filled by one the promising prospects (Norlinder, Romanov), but a stop-gap should be targeted in the short term as soon as 2021-2022 or even at the 2021 TDL, if the Habs are in the running for a playoff run. If so, Byron('s 3,4M) should to be sacrificed to make room for this LD.
Easy no from the Ducks. They're not including Comtois to get rid of a player they frankly don't need to move. Also what's the point in acquiring Mete for them since they'd likely just lose him to Seattle anyway.
Also part of the players you're protecting are pending UFAs, which don't have to be protected.
Killorn is just a depth winger, he is a product of the stars in Tampa. Giving up that much isn't exploitation it's ripping yourself off.
You assume that, but he isn’t playing on the top line with guys like Point or Kucherov. Dude plays with Johnson and Cirelli. He’s always been a consistent player in his career in both the regular season and playoffs.
You assume that, but he isn’t playing on the top line with guys like Point or Kucherov. Dude plays with Johnson and Cirelli. He’s always been a consistent player in his career in both the regular season and playoffs.
Still, he isn’t worth an early 2nd +, forgot about a former 1st round pick who’s alright.
- I put Danault, Gallagher and Petry on the protected list on the assumption that their contracts are renewed before then, something in the range of 6M for Petry, 5M for Danault; 4M for Gallagher.
- The Anaheim trade idea is built around the idea that Anaheim has to pay 6,62M to Corey Perry in 2020-2021 and that Gudbranson's 4M won't be hidden in the injured reserve indefinitely, unlike maybe Kesler's 6,8M. Their "real" cap space for 2020-2021 should thus around 1,4M, with a 20/23 roster. But I don't pretend to know to intricacies of Anaheim's financial situation; if my assessment is off, then yes I can understand why they would not be interested. The argument that Mete would be exposed afterwards does indeed lower his appeal, but seeing as I think Comtois's size and style of play would be a great fit in Montreal, I'd be open to revisit and the offered package, or change the cap burden's identity at Anaheim's choosing.
- Killorn, like Comtois, would a perfect fit size and style-wise to complement and balance the existing lines - and he would also bring experience and leadership to a the offensive core.
- Very curious to see how the Domi conundrum will evolve.
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