Dufour had a Career year in Junior but i dont think that changes his Projection of a Cal Clutterbuck or Joel Armia type Physical Checking Forward in the bottom 6.


That said a Quebec Born Big Winger who plays hard nosed hockey and parks himself infront of the Goalie will be sure to sell a Ton of Jersey's for MTL while playing competent Shutdown Hockey

His value is running high right now as a year ago he was just one of many Point Per Game players in the QMJHL. He found a line much like Dmitri Jaskin did when Moncton acuqired Ivan Barbashev and Phil Danault to play with him as he went from 3rd line behind Connor Garlands and Yannick Villeux's line's during a Rebuild.

Jaskin that year after a Horrible start during a rebuild in Which rookie Garland was brought up at 16 years old to play top line with the Twins ahead of Lalonde's line with Vieulleux and Penny. Jaskin and Barbashev were struggling until Phil Danault was acquired and injected in the 3rd line LW.

Jaskin finished the year 4th in QMJHL Scoring one of the most dominant finishers in the QMJHL that year. Something crazy like 60 pts in 25 games he was on fire. He entered the NHL as a regular bottom 6 forward alongside Barbashev in STL with his style never transitioning past that point despite being a standout that 1 year in junior

Dufour had 17 more pts in 15 more games but their styles and production are mimicing each other. Plus i watched both play live and its like Deja Vu

I give this Longwinded Example In Context because people on here always over value prospects after a Tournament. While Value's do rise people on here assume because they're in the media they're untouchable now. Reality is its more likely that NYI will Leverage that using it to win the Bidding War that's surrounding Josh Anderson

MTL wont give away Anderson
MTL doesnt need to with Multiple Offers
The Onus is on NYI to make a bid worth taking

I suspect if Lou's this Aggressive in getting Anderson then its only because he has an offer in waiting for another player maybe a JGP or Bailey who've both been in trade rumors with Varlamov.

Point is Lou must have a plan
So im not going to worry to much about How
Focus on the Who,What ,When and Where

1 for 1
Pending UFA who's struggling with a lower Value for someone's who's a Pending UFA next year at a nearly 2m dollar cheaper deal during a year CGY has to sign Key Pieces on a budget.

Both team today can get something ,sure
Both teams tomorrow could get a lot more if these players rebound their value's after a fresh start.

Its not impossible Bennett did it in FLA and Tatar did it in MTL. Why not Monahan and Hoffman?

MTL cash's in on Monahan,Drouin,Dadanov and Byron this year at the TDL.Not all will rebound their value or even get much return however with the ability to RS on 3/4 it does increase the odd's

I think this is a Win Win Deal myself

DAL has like 3 Right handed Shots but tons of Center who can take Faceoffs at 55% on average. To say they'd do this move in a heartbeat is an understatment

Both teams could use the other player equally and both are on similar deals with Similar value's. Plus with Klingberg gone this helps with RD

MTL gets a Big Physical Center with a solid Win rate who's probably one of the top 3 Defensive Zone Faceoff Center in the NHL. He's good at feeding long pass's which means more possession time for Armia.

Armia when given a Center who can win Faceoffs like Staal or Danault was a Wrecking Ball and a Short Handed Goal Leader in the NHL. Without he's not much of anything really.

The deal is 1 for 1 on NHL level
1 for 1 on AHL level
Its suppose to provide balance

MTL has a log jam at AHL and NHL for LD
Norlinder is the most likely person to move
Back is a LW prospect in DAL mid level where
They are also strong

Again both teams get Value and improve their AHL teams this time

I think Drouin's odd man out and might get a late pick but is more likely to end up on IR then in a deal

The other 3 will get a decent return
Primary focus is on getting youth minutes
Dvorak,Gally & Armia will stay as VET FW leaders

MTL takes on Kassian's cap letting so they can re-sign Kane. EDM is in a Cap Crunch and has been linked to MTL among others offering their 1st round pick in 2022