NAS gets a 1C which they can sign long term afterwards and a top 6 W for quite cheap. Plus, they get rid of Johansen's contract.

VAN basically gets Fabbro for Boeser and some solid assets for Horvat while not taking any huge cap back.

MTL accept Johansen's rough contract and also gives a first and a top RHD prospect (need for VAN) for their future starter in Askarov (less needed by NAS who has a young Saros).

Also a heavy need for MTL, why rob Peter to pay Paul?

With Guhle, Harris and Xhjekaj who all played a bit at RHD this year and with guys like Mailloux, Hutson and Engstrom (+ probably a Dmen taken in the 1st rd this year), I feel like it hurts less to lose Barron if it means we get our future starter.

There is a LOT to unpack here.

We move out Fabbro, Askarov, Ryjo, a 2nd, and a 3rd

To get Horvat (who we aren't going to buy), and Boeser (a 6m player we don't need)

Even if we dump Ryjo, taking back Boeser just puts us in a similar position where we wouldn't be able to afford Horvat, and Poile isn't going to dump that many assets into a player we wouldn't be able to afford next season

heavy decline

Easy. Remove Boeser and Fabbro altogether. The trade is for Horvat (with an extension) and Dermott.

Askarov isn't on the block. But I see what you mean

You're right, Askarov is not on the block but he may be there best piece to negotiate with team to acquire good value back.


Nashville salary problem come with the fact they buyout Turris and will cost 2m for long time. Horvat would cost what in term of extension? 8 to 10 m ?? If it's near the 8m the contract of Johansson would cover that if it more then that Nashville still could have the opportunity to trade back guys like Lauzon or Niederreiter to make cap space.


For exemple mtl could take Johansson and Lauzon to take the salary but in exchange would send Struble back to Nashville to compensate for Lauzon.


And I don't know if the 2025 first round pick from Calgary would interest any of the team. They would probably want to have one of the two 2023 pick that MTL have which would be more ideal for Askarov value.

Yeah okay… but there’s one problem..

We aren’t throwing Askarov in a trade when we’re 7 points out of a wild card. Even if we manage to come closer to a wild card closer to the deadline, David Poile isn’t known to make absolute blockbusters where he gives up some of our best, young assets.

Even if he did, let’s say. Kemell or Svechkov would be players he’d probably move instead of Askarov.

This just isn’t a good trade.

I don't see why he would want to move kemell which he's a good prospect and could be really good on the top 6 .

What they would do in this kind of trade is upgrading is center by having someone better then Johansson, shredding the bad contract into a good one and be more competitive to be able to go into wild card.

Ryjo’s contract won’t be around for much longer, it’s not like a Miller situation where he just signed an 8x8.

Nashville isn’t going to trade our 11th overall goalie prospect for Horvat, it just isn’t happening. I know Montreal fans on capfriendly are scratching at the walls because of how bad they want Askarov, but he’s not being moved.

And we’re especially not making that trade just so we can “move into the wildcard”. Nashville isn’t in a comfortable enough position to be heavy buyers at this deadline. It’s also rumoured that Nashville might even be sellers, where Ekholm and Fabbro could be on the outs.

Acquiring Horvat long term would also take ice time away from developing center prospects like Svechkov, Afanasyev, L’Heureax. By the time these players will be getting shots in our lineup, Ryjo will be gone.