Why would Montreal do this? Klingberg is a rental and more likely than not, will walk from Montreal

You really think NMC Benn waives for Montreal? Really? Tampa, Florida maybe (who don't want his cap either)

There are not a ton of teams who can actually take this contract, so given the choice, yeah I don't think it's crazy to think he'd like to be a top line player and a leader for this young team (MTL is still a prime market).

GMs have been granted the right to talk to him now, so most likely if a trade occurs there's a contract behind it.

In general I don’t even have to look at the trade value I just have to use my common sense.

If you know Jim Nill well enough you know that he almost never does trades, plus you’re making him deal the captain and the franchise face of the team for the last decade, he’ll never trade Benn even if he gets a positive return, that’s just how he is.

Its pretty obvious Montreal doesn't have the cap space to re-sign Klingberg. And while Klingberg is much younger and will likely be better going forward, Petry has generally been the better D-man for the past few seasons. Montreal's also not in a position to spend money on a Klingberg-type.

Montreal would probably want nothing to do with Benn's NMC.

This just doesn't make any sense for Montreal.

Check my AGM from Montreal perspective, they actually do have the cap space and will need a good D-man to mentor the likes of Romanov and Guhle : https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/2992887

From my point of view, adding leadership to the team is fundamental to a successfull rebuild. And even tho Benn's not the dominant player he once was, he's still a leader and who would fit lovely on a line with Suzuki in my opinion.

Leadership is important, but it should cost 9.5 mil for 4 seasons, especially on just one guy who's on pace for just over 40 points this season, and has fallen off since signing the contract. As for klingberg, he has no reason to resign in Montreal other then a massive contract, which Montreal shouldn't be signing him to seeing that he's also been regressing since 2019, and are in no position to add a defenseman who turning 30 next season. The trade makes total sense for Dallas, moving a guy who doesn't wanna resign, and a massive contract, on of the worst in the league, for 2 guys around the same quality and age, but on significantly better contracts

You're overvaluing Armia and undervaluing Lehkonen. Byron is coming of LTIR pretty soon. Also, Montreal would (if they actually wanted to) make those cap clearing moves first, since otherwise their negotiating position would be terrible. So in order for Montreal to make this trade, they need to somehow move over 10 mil in cap.

Montreal doesn't need to add veteran leadership. They have veteran leadership. Its been a huge organizational priority for a decade. They need cap space and skill. And they're moving one of their major locker room leaders in the proposed trade.

Plus, Montreal is not even remotely in a position to give an up and down D-man who turns 30 in August a long-term, big money contract.

Sorry, it just doesn't make any sense for Montreal.

The last thing the Habs need is MORE cap. Next year would be a mess and they'd be locked into this exact type of roster for the foreseeable future. I would really caution against this.

This would set MTL back YEARS and would force them to have to compete again and again when they shouldn't. Its over guys, this team needs to be rebuilt. Wayyy too many bloated contracts on it as and even when everyone is healthy is not good enough to win a cup. So why force it?