I don't get why you'd deal for Keller and PLD... going after those kinds of players is something contenders do and the habs aren't near that

That's one of the few good PLD trades on this site

I would say it's just a 2nd too much but since neither are in this draft it's fine for me

I try to be as objective as possible. Sometimes it works out better than others.

The reason I added the 2nd 2nd, was since the Florida pick is 31 or 32 in this draft. So a very late 1st, 2 x 2nds in different drafts, a very promising forward prospect and a replacement player. If Florida pick stayed in the 18ish range, the deal would of course have looked different.

Thoughts on the Keller trade? I think it would be quite interesting. That core (all under 8m a year) looks super good and fun to me.

Montreal isn't as far off as you think. Their defence and goaltending is still a work in progress but they have a TON of good prospects to make up for that. Adding PLD and Keller both to long term deals under 8m a year would make Montreal very dangerous.

Caufield, Suzuki, Keller, PLD, Slaf, Dach would be a very interesting core. All in the same age bracket (minus Slaf as he is a touch younger).

Wait until a Hoffman, Edmounston, Savard, Armia either get traded or expire and they will have a ton of flexibility to fill in any holes they may have.

I don't mind the Keller trade my only worry is the D, as constructed they will struggle badly our only hope is that Barron is capable of playing top 4, if he can we should be playing

Guhle-Savard
Matheson-Barron
Edmundson/Xhekaj-Harris

Monty is improving significantly and hopefully Allen will bounce back, so goaltending isn't a huge liability IMO.

Keller trade too expensive for MTL because it involves the #5 pick this loaded year.
PLD trade also. MTL has no interest in giving away so many picks including another 1st rounder.