There are Fiala's available every single year, in free agency no less which wouldn't cost any assets if you manage your cap properly. Also have you considered Joshua Roy, Sean Farrell, Heineman, and whoever else they might draft this year (and next year if they get another high pick)?

Romanov has averaged like 11 pts / 82 games so far in his career. He isn't eligible for arbitration or an offersheet (so even you bridge at $3M seems high) he has no leverage. Based on what comparable do you think Romanov would sign for more than $5M? Pesce signed for $4M x 6 yrs. I think Romanov could be signed for 6 - 8 years at $4M - $4.5M aav.

Hughes has already said he will not be giving up assets to get rid of contracts and I agree. Wait a year and these contracts are easier to move (because they are shorter) and the players might even increase their value (surely can't get any worse after last season). Also for what purpose would AZ take Weber right now? They already took on a LTIR contract and Weber wasn't it. ARZ would be doing MTL a favour by getting them out of LTIR not the other way around (see how we have > $1M in bonus overages from last year because of this?).

If you think this team is still a bottom 10 then why on earth are you trading for a $7M winger next season. You might as well finish bottom 5!

What? Who are the Fiala's available every year?

fiala is the type of player you DONT move unless he simply WONT sign. last year i think minny was nervous about the money fiala was asking for. i dont think its out of the question to see him asking for a kevin hayes type deal last year. that being said i think fiala will be asking more now. which gets dicey. you dont need to move dumba or fiala to be cap compliant you can 100% get inventive like moving zuccarello out. bringing in cheap elc esq guys.

Fiala is a trade target, but just looking at UFA's (and narrowing it down to ~ PPG wingers, not top C or D:
2022: Johnny Gaudreau, Filip Forsberg, Claude Giroux, Evander Kane
2020: Taylor Hall
2019: Artemi Panarin
2018: David Perron
2017: Alexander Radulov

That's just UFA's not even looking at RFA's or players that were traded, Marc Stone, Max Pacioretty, Anthony Mantha just 3 off the top of head in 10 seconds.

2023: Patrick Kane? Vladimir Taresenko? Max Pacioretty? Timmo Meier? David Pastrnak? Jonathan Huberdeau? JT Miller? Joe Pavelski? Tyler Bertuzzi?

Some of these UFA wingers will be available for sure and if you don't blow $7M and your 1st round pick maybe you'll have the money and an exciting up and coming group to add one.

The point is, there are high end players on the move every single season. Next season is not the time for MTL to be looking at this IMO, there cap situation is a mess right now.

Edit: Additionally MTL may have bigger needs at RD or defense than wing in a year, who knows. Sometimes things don't work out, but it's much less of a hot take than "there might never be another Kevin Fiala".

Edit 2.0: I'd rather keep CGY's 1st round pick, hope Dvorak has a good year and then sell him for assets and then sign JT Miller as he can play LW with Suzuki and Caufield or he could play C if Wright isn't ready for 2C. That would be a way better scenerio. If not Miller there is the Quebec native Huberdeau, former captain Pacioretty (would be great with Suzuki and Caufield), Meier is a beast and still young he'd be the ideal wing for Suzuki and Caufield likely. Tarasenko also a top winger. So many options, and those are just free agents not even trades.

How many of those UFA would really sign in MTL? Fiala would HAVE to sign here, as he is a RFA. We tried with Hall in 2020, Panarin in 2019, Perron in 2018 and Radulov in 2017.

I don't think trading Calgary's 1st would really hurt our prospect pool. Giving it to upgrade from Dvorak to Fiala would be worth it IMO. He's not only a winger, he's the perfect winger for Suzuki and Caufield.

It's not even about these UFA's, you're missing the point entirely... those are just the most obvious examples I can look at as to what could be available in response to @Caerii 's question. Once you factor in RFA's and any other winger that's name is out there in the trade market and it's clear there will be players available every year. The point is that your claim that "He's the perfect fit for Suzuki and Caufield, might not get a chance like that for another few years." is simply untrue. There is always the chance to add good player's ever single year.

They can easily get more than that. 1st + great prospect at least for him, not one or the other. So no Dvorak and 28th is not close.

I think you missed my point too. I know there's at least one available every years, but i don't think any top line UFA would sign in MTL.

When is the last time a bonafide first line 1 PPG UFA signed in MTL? They're gonna have to draft one or trade for one.