Allow me to explain. What I mean for prepare for the worst is the possibility of losing key players in free agency at the end of the 2020-2021 season (Danault, Gallagher, Petry, etc.) Obviously Bergevin plans on keeping these players, but history has not been kind to Bergevin in free agency, specifically in re-signing his own UFAs. Radulov and Markov ringing any bells?
Hoping Bergevin has learned from his mistakes, I think there are moves to be made that can better prepare the Habs for a possible sour outcome where guys like Petry, Gallagher, or Danault GTFO of Montreal for more cash $$$ elsewhere.
These deals have in mind, specifically the NSH trade, to the possibility of the aforementioned guys skipping town next offseason, but still gives the flexibility to keep them.
ANA trade:
Target: Rickard Rakell
Obviously this trade accomplishes a need for this season, but moving forward, Rakell serves as a possible replacement for Gallagher, and with his affordable contract gives more flexibility to sign players next year. The acquisition of Comtois is to offset the move of Lehkonen while also a possible replacement for Tatar and also trying to lower the aav of players in the bottom 6. I tried moving Mete for him in a previous trade, but was pointed out the ANA have no need for LD, so I bumped up my offer to Poehling, but obviously this can be another prospect to fill a need for ANA (Fleury?).
NSH trade:
Target: Dante Fabbro
This deal is really a proactive move if Petry and Bergevin can't come to terms on an extension. Now Fabbro is not a replacement to Petry, but he would be better suited for that role compared to anyone else the Habs currently have. He's not necessarily available, and he won't come cheap, but there have been a handful of articles that Fabbro had an underwhelming season and that he clearly isn't ready for a top 4 role. That isn't an issue for MTL as I plan to play him on a 3rd pair, and hopefully pair him up with Romanov that can possibly grow into a legit pairing in 2 years.
This is where the "won't come cheap" comes in. Not in what the Habs have to give up, but what they have to take. Kyle Turris.... yeah I know, but hear me out fellow Hab fans. Turris can serve multiple purposes here. #1 Back up replacement for Danault as a 3rd line Center. #2 Back up replacement at RW if Gallagher goes. #3 Can serve as a 4th line Center if Evans regresses. #4 If Both Danault and Gallagher stay, Turris can always be flipped with a bit of salary retained, or maybe he stays as a solid 3rd liner if he finds his game back.
I'll add that there's no chance in hell anyone is taking his full cap hit at $6mil for the next 4 years, but at $4.5mil, this is much more digestible, although still overpaid for a 30pts C/RW.
All the same, you still gotta give something for Fabbro, and my sacrificial lamb here is Armia (or maybe Lehkonen?) and Juulsen to serve as his replacement for NSH on their 3rd pairing.
Not bad. Anaheim would probably want another prospect and/or higher pick ( think early 3rd and above).
The Nashville trade seems reasonable as they need capspace and they need to get better on the wings. Might take another pick there too to get it done.
Fair enough, Habs have picks to spare so I wouldn't be opposed to throwing a mid to late rd pick to get the ANA deal done. Anything better than a 3rd and I'd hesitate though. For the NSH deal, man imo NSH would be the ones adding a pick, that Turris contract is no joke...even at $4.5mil aav...He's already 31, has 4 more years left too...
Bergevin will try to extend Petry and Gallagher this summer, if he can’t, hopefully we have a bad 2020-2021 season so we can trade Gallagher Petry Tatar Danault Allen at the TDL
Ducks accept if you take out Comtois
Rakell > Domi
Comtois > Poehling
I think both comparisons are extremely close. But trying to be as unbiased as possible. I'll grant that Comtois > Poehling, not by much, but for sure there's an argument for it. Which is why I replied to the other comment that I would be ok adding a pick if needed. Gotta disagree with Rakell being greater than Domi. If anything it's the other way around. I wrote this in another thread but here it is:
"Domi and Rakell are about as close in value as it gets. If anything there's a very very slight edge to Domi. Career Rakell 283pts in 447games, Domi 251pts in 375games. Rakell's contract is great for two more years, yes, but then he's a UFA approaching 30. Domi is younger and still under team control for at least 2 more years. Domi has the option of actually playing Center. Rakell is more known for being a scoring winger, yet Domi has scored more goals than him for the past 2 seasons...."
Bergevin will try to extend Petry and Gallagher this summer, if he can’t, hopefully we have a bad 2020-2021 season so we can trade Gallagher Petry Tatar Danault Allen at the TDL
Exactly! That's what these deals are for. Whether you lose them for nothing or trade them at the deadline (which would only be for picks and prospects), you still need to be prepared to "replace" them as best you can for the following season. I think this does that. Bergevin can't go into next offseason without something in place already for those guys leaving. Bergevin did not have a backup for Markov and Radulov, and look how that turned out. Heck, Habs still haven't been able to replace them yet...
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