Quoting: patnaisnyquil
Like you said he has a 8 year contract so it wouldnt be for a short playoff run. Like I said, the playoff run would be a nice build up for next year (when Hutson, Reinbacher, Roy, maybe Farrell get a spot) and the year after. And like Hughes said, "we have to believe we're closer", which is exactly what a playoff spot in the atlantic division after 2 years of rebuild would be.
Maybe we should just go after reclamation projects like Dach and Newhook, but for now Dach is injury prone and Newhook doesnt look like he'll be a ppg player, which you need to be a contender. Huberdeau was literally a Hart nominee a year and a half ago. If its nonsense, you really think sticking with this core without taking risks is the way to go? What would you do instead, if we actually are in a playoff spot in march?
I can't stand such a shortsighted analysis after 9 games. Habs won't be making the playoffs this year, Dach can have a great career even if he's injured right now and there is no way to predict Newhook's best production when he's only 22 years old.
Rebuilding is simple:
1. Tank and acquire high potential prospects (3-5 years)
2. Develop talent (5-8 years including step 1) ---- HABS ARE HERE
3. Sign UFAs to plug holes and and make a playoff push ---- DET, OTT and BUF are here
4. Trade away futures at TDL to become a contender
By trading for Huberdeau, you are trying to push the rebuild from step 2 to step 3, but it doesnt work that way since the core still needs time to develop. Even the captain isn't 25 years old yet! We need to wait 2-3 years that Dach, newhook, Reinbacher, Hutson, Ghule, Roy, etc, etc get closer to their prime. And by that time, Huberdeau will be an overpaid 33 years old on the way down. That's what KH is explaining over and over again.
What if,by some miracle, Habs are in a playoff spot in 5 months? You stick to the plan without trading away high potential assets. They would get eliminated in the 1st round anyway, with or without adding players.