Avs aren't moving a top 4 D to get a backup goalie. If they want to trade for a healthy backup they can get one for a late round pick (or free from waivers) and keep their D core intact

No interest from the Avs. Retain on Smith and maybe they take him for a pick, but there is no reason to have Girard in here.

G will be playing behind Toews & Bow... so he is expendable and saving 5M worth a lot in the Toews signature next season

He can play both sides and plays over 21 mins per night so hes getting top 4 minutes. They may have to move him or Manson (probably Manson) next offseason to make room for Toews but it doesnt make sense to move him now when they have the cap space for him

I wouldn't if I am the Avs... but simply sending DeSmith for a 4round pick was not funny without adding players... but My value is OK

Ok so the Avs are going to give you a young top 4 defenseman that you immediately put on your top pairing because their backup goalie is hurt before training camp? Come on now.

It is not

Being honest here, Girard is obviously the best player in the deal but i would not do this if Im the Habs. Where's he going to play exactly?

Matheson
Guhle
Xhekaj
Hutson
Barron
Reinbacher
Mailloux
Savard


Not even including Kovacevic and Lindblom who'd have to be moved to make space this year. I see a spot for Girard this year only but starting next year there is no space.

My goodness, just moving Desmith to the Avs alone for a pick would be fine. No need to make a mountain out of a mole hill in any Desmith trade.

Even thinking optimistically from the Habs POV where everyone develops reasonably well, Girard is easily better than at least 5-6 of those guys both today and in 5 years.

Huh? I count maybe 3 or 4 that he is going to be better than in 5 years and even then he wouldn't be worth taking on because he would be a bottom pair player on this team by then

That’s a wild take. In 5 years, you’d probably hope that Reinbacher and Guhle develop into better players than Girard (although no prospect is a sure fire thing, those guys should have a pretty good chance given their pedigrees).

If guys like Barron, Hutson, and Mailloux become as good as Girard is today (20+ minute top 4 defensemen putting up 30-35 pts on a contending team), you should be thrilled.

Hell, several of the guys on that list might not even be in the NHL in 5 years.

Right now, for sure but in 5 years, we have no idea. Based on where the Habs project to be in 5 years and how well some of the D prospects have matured, I'm more than willing to take my chances with those kids. Matheson, Savard are likely gone which is fine but the rest of those guys are 22 or younger and Im high on some of them developing into what Girard is now, if not more . Maybe not so much Xhekaj but Im fine with him being a depth guy more than anything.

I mean, all of them might be Norris vote getters. Who knows. But realistically: Hutson and Mailloux both have absolute ceilings around what Girard is at today. Your best case scenario for Hutson is that he turns into Girard: undersized guy that can skate well, play high IQ hockey, and QB a PP2 if needed. Maybe a more likely outcome is that he never fully puts it together and carves out an NHL role. Obviously, who knows. But the chances of Girard being a top 4 guy in 5 years are much higher then Hutson/Mailloux.

Similarly: I really like Justin Barron. I think he’s a smart defenseman that can be a versatile asset for any D group. But realistically he is probably capped out at a 4D on a good team. Maybe a 3D if everything goes well for him in his development.

Fair enough. I disagree with some that assessment though. IMO I think Girard may be slightly overrated in that sense. Either way I believe at some point in the future, 3-4 of Guhle, Reinbacher, Mailloux, Barron and Huston will be what Girard is right now, if not better. Add those prospects to Matheson who was an absolute revelation last year and is still young enough to keep it going for 3-5 years, I could see Girard being the 5-6 dman with Montreal by that time. If the goal was to better next year, than there's some merit there but the Habs are destined for a bottom 10 pick again this year and may only start trying to make the playoffs the following year. By that time the Habs will be flush with defenseman ready to make the NHL with high ceilings.

This is why I think Girard could a great addition to the MTL team..leaving time to half of them become Top pair D... and Savard will fall bottom pair slowly followed by Mathy...