Mind explaining why you'd protect Danault over Shaw or Bryon? Do you think he has enough upside as a centre to hold down the 2nd or 3rd slot? Bryon's speed is so useful on the PK and breakaways generally I would have protected him. Honestly curious.

Who else can play center for the Habs in a somewhat offensive role? McCarron? Plekanec? What has been the biggest flaw with the Habs since forever now?

Danault is playing lights out good right now and is cheap. That is super attractive for LV and is looking like easy pickup when the time comes if he's available. I love Shaw and Byron and don't want to lose them either but we have depth on the wing already. Scherbak, McCarron, Lehkonen, Hudon, Andrighetto, etc. We don't at center. Plus getting a good center is so expensive. Look at what Duchene, Hanzal, Nugent-Hopkins, Johansen will/did cost. Look what it cost us to get Byron and Shaw.......

I'm picking the lesser of 2 evils. Losing Danault and striking out at center in free agency and trades means TOMAS PLEKANEC is the teams de-facto second line center yet again. OR EVEN WORSE DESHARNAIS IS RESIGNED...................

I see the upside in protecting Danault no doubt, he's definitely beginning to blossom and next year he could be a full time second line center, if he doesn't steal it this year. Is it possible that LV does lure Radulov away in the three day open window that they're given prior? (granted Radulov isn't extended in the meantime)

If I'm Radulov, I definitely want as much money as i can get but i also want to play for a good team that will make my stats look good for a future contract and all round general good confidence. LV can't give them that. MTL can, they might offer less than LV would but they would also be closer to a cup and would give him good players to play with.

If Radulov is smart and knows he wants to sign with MTL, I don't see why he wouldn't agree in principle to a contract before the expansion draft and then just sign it on July 1st. It doesn't change his life at all but also helps the team he's on to be better. Win-Win.

Good point, I just don't watch or hear what Radulov says much so I don't know what his mindset is, but he does seem to have great chemistry with Galchenyuk and what you said makes great sense.

Word was awhile back that Radulov gave up term and maybe cash to play in Montreal. That was before he found chemistry with Pacioretty and Galchenyuk, started playing lights out and became a fan favourite. I can't see him not resigning with the Habs.

F50Marco:

Fair point. I would just revisit this decision again between now and the deadline. He's playing lights out now, but how much longer can he sustain it? Hopefully forever and when Chucky comes back he settles in nicely on the 2nd or 3rd line centring. Thanks for the insight.

Well it comes down to who you want lose really? I did a 4-4-1 lineup but we could of easily done 7-3-1 and kept all of them but lose Beaulieu for nothing. That is another option. It could go either way and I could be okay with it. If the Habs lose one of Beaulieu, Danault, Shaw or Byron it won't be the end of the world but its a hard pill to swallow regardless. If I'm looking at the depth of this team. Habs are weak at center. Wings are fine and defense is solid too. As mentioned above, getting a decent top 4-5-6 dman isn't that hard to get and decent wingers are easily available on free agency and trade. A center man capable of playing good minutes on one of the top 2 lines? Not so easy. Example here is Hanzal who is a decent centerman playing on a bad team. Look what the asking price for him is and he's not even Duchene level of good.

If we could sign Hanzal in the off season then losing Danault won't hurt as much. That's a big if though.

I know you don't want to lose Shaw, but if he was exposed and taken, well at least there is another 4m free money to acquire...another Shaw or whoever.

Agreed. Was also the reason why I would keep Danault. Finding another good 900K centerman? Not easy. Finding another 3.9M good winger, much easier to do.