Theathletic mock draft had an interesting idea to trade the 5th and 31st pick for the Wings 9thOA and 17thOA picks. Not sure what Hughes will do but he is unorthodox after last years draft chaos

Yzerman loves his enigmatic Russians after drafting Kucherov and trading for Sergachev. He goes with Michkov at 5.

Please just do it, already. I, no longer care but know it's inevitable and Pat Brisson floating these mystery teams is just leverage for PLD contract negotiations. 9million lol that also is a tactic. He's not going anywhere but Mtl. If you believe that other teams are in the race, you probably also believe he will be paid that 9M AAV. I remember too when I thought fairy tales could come true then I turned 8 years old. Habs arent giving better than the 17th overall pick and the Jets wont get better at the TDL so don't say his rental price is better than this cause a late pick in a later draft is not close to better. We all know the same ppl that go into every thread just to say 'not competitive' as other mystery offers are out there BUT dont exist.

Dvo no trade list is only effective in July. Trade is done before the draft. The salary dump matches up with PLD money. Dvo isnt negative value in this market where centers are at a premium as Lars Eller and JT Compher are the prizes in free agency.
Armia is definitely negative value but he's an option for Winnipeg they can hopefully build back up but it doesnt matter cause they are clinging to this compete narrative. This helps Chevy sell it, unironically. Winnipeg gets players they can use and another pick to draft another big body center like a Danielson or Calum Ritchie or one of the many very good prospects available at 17 on the wing like a But, Perreault or Wood. Having the 17th and 18th picks b2b is very appealing to the Jets and I don’t see how they resist here. Done. Now lets move on already and stop the whining from Habs/Jets fans whom think PLD will be free of charge w/o leverage or he's worth a number 1 elite center price.

Granlund dead cap taken is worth paying at least a 2nd. 3 2nds including an early 2nd is well worth the draft value chart price.

Harris is worth at least a 2nd rnd pick with a great contract

https://twitter.com/glefrancoisLP/status/
1391942385425387525

Trade Yamo instead of making the Pool Party mistake or the buyout. Evans is cheap depth for a team that needs to shed cap and go bargain hunting. Evans speed and past playoff performance will be interesting to Holland. Oilers already like Jake after the 2021 season where he skated against Mcdavid on a line with Lehkonen and shut him down. Connor calls Jake Big Head and they have mutual friends since they played against each other in the OHL Cups around 2012-13. Foegele-Evans should be a good pair

Draft Nate Danielson at 9OA. Projections all over the place but seems like a Hughes pick. Yes, they have Beck. Not a guarantee that Owen is legit and either can be moved to the wing just like Dach. One of the oldest player in the draft which is ironic with my next pick in Mikhail Gulyayev who's one of the youngest.

Draft Mikhail Gulyayev. Bobrov pick. High upside LHD. Is it too early? Don't matter. You guarantee the player. Whether he's available at 14 or 31OA. Same as Dtown guaranteeing Michkov. You cant be a GM with timid feelings at the draft otherwise the Wings never draft Seider 'too early' Teams have their own lists and Mikhail's upside is the highest among the D. Simashev is a bottom pair D with size that can skate a bit at best. Pellikka isnt close to this Russian's ceiling as a puck mover. Mikhail did put up historic production as a 16 year old. I think the Russian factor with Michkov is overblown by Habs pundits. They want size at forward. Michkov i don't think is a player they covet unlike the Wings. Nothing to do with his birth place. If Willander is available. they could go there for a RHD with the hype surrounding him if the Habs think Mikhail could be had later but i dont think they'll wait unlike last year with Lane Hutson. You dont always get that lucky. Habs got a lot of promise on D but they need to hit it BIG like they did with Guhle and perhaps Hutson. Keep swinging.

What is the market for Mike Matheson now?
Gavrikov 5.9M AAV... Severson 6.3M.
Provorov AAV with the retained money is @ 4.75M. And, he received a 1st and 2nd in trade. Matheson is at 4.875M signed a year longer term when the cap is suposed to go up significantly. Only 29 years old and fared a hell of a lot better than Provorov with top PP and top pair mins going PPG in his last 25 games to finish with a career high in points after so much promise in Florida as an elite skating defenceman with physicality. It certainly is higher than a struggling Provorov with an extra year of bargain term.

Draft Daniil But. Nobody knows where he goes in this draft. Mid 1st, 2nd round. He's a project. You cant teach size. And, the Habs should know the kid with Bobrov's connections in Russia.

Draft Andrew Cristall at 29th OA. Keeps falling in mock drafts. I know some of you hate his skating but he has elite hands that matches anyone in the draft class. Easy risk pick as Habs have a ton of draft capital. This is how they make up for passing on Michkov. Taking another smallish player with warts BUT puts up huge numbers. Last year, it was Beck at 33rd overall who mimics Shane Wright’s game after passing on Wright at 1 OA.