Team: 2023-24 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Jun. 14, 2023

Published: Jun. 14, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

5th overall pick: Michkov
I really do believe that every team outside of whoever gets Bedard and Fantilli will look like a fool for passing up on Michkov. Montreal has been known to take these risks in the past, like when Caufield slipped to them at 15 a few years back. I do believe Michkov will find his way to the NHL at some point, even if it isn’t for a year or two. It is definitely a risk I would be willing to take.

Dubois trade:
I know, I know, Montreal could easily get him as a free agent in 2024. But why not acquire him now? It allows you to sign him to an 8-year deal, which in turn allows for the AAV on his contract to be lower. I know Montreal will still have a few more years left to go on the rebuild, but we have the assets now to trade for Dubois, I don’t feel like they should wait until he’s an unrestricted free agent.

Armia buyout:
Though this team should have a lot of cap space left, this move isn’t entirely for the cap space. It also has to do with not really having a place in the organization for Armia anymore. There are other players that should be on the 4th line and press box, and burying him in the AHL takes valuable ice time away from younger prospects. I still feel Armia is a good 4th liner, but at $3.4M, he isn’t worth it.

Edmundson trade:
If Dallas uses a buyout on Suter, and they struggle to find a replacement in free agency, they can get a good, cheap asset in Edmundson. If Montreal is willing to retain on him, they can get good value. As for Dallas, it is a potential upgrade to their blueline and doesn’t take up a lot of cap space.

Hoffman/Norlinder trade:
I know what you’re thinking… “why would we trade Norlinder???” Well, Hoffman is obsolete to Montreal now, and possibly has negative value. As for Norlinder, with Harris, Guhle, and Matheson ahead of him, and not to mention Hutson also being a great prospect, it could be the time to trade away Norlinder before he loses value. Anaheim makes a lot of sense, he will get the chance to battle for a lineup spot and be a good young piece to their blueline. And if he reaches his potential, at least he won’t be in the East where we’d have to play against him 3 or 4 times a year.

Hart trade:
Though the organization may view Montembeault as the goalie of the future, it’s hard for me to imagine him as a full-time starter that can lead us to the cup in a few years. I think opportunities to get guys like Carter Hart don’t come too often, and they shouldn’t pass it up. Trading some picks in a deep draft and a prospect is tough, but it’s a move that I feel a team like Montreal can afford to take with all of the prospects and young talent they have in the organization.

Other signings:
Guys like Belzile and Richard were re-signed to play for Laval. Other players were signed to fill roles with the Rocket.

Wideman trade:
This trade would most likely happen after pre-season. If there is a team that is hampered with a few injuries, or wants Wideman as depth, they can acquire him for nothing, as he is of no use to Montreal anymore, even in Laval. It wouldn’t be the most surprising thing for him to just be waived and play for the Rocket, so I won’t rule that out either.

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