A 1st and a 3rd for Tarasenko because that's what he went for last February.

A 5th for Kubalik because that's what Tatar went for.

Im down with the idea of Hughes trying to find value in other team’s underperforming players, but I’d prefer if they were 25 or under.

This would be only as a rental player because we were in a playoff spot at the TDL

That's reasonable but what about something like Beck or Mesar + 2nd? Both are really good young players trending upwards

Same thing.

Maybe my big target that Kent Hughes should study and that I really want is Zegras. He didn't have a good season (and he is injured), but I belive the coaching staff and the management doesn't really considering him anymore since McTavish and Carlsson did the job now.

I'm ready to give our 2024 1st round pick + a additional 1st round pick (with protection) as a minimal price.

Yeah even if we’re in a playoff spot by the TDL I doubt we’re in a spot to look at rentals quite yet.

Montreal better keep Mesar and Beck. Montreal is also in no position to buy, even if they were in a playoff spot (which is unlikely). They should actually sell, even in that scenario.

Monahan will get Montreal a nice little score at the deadline.

I don't think Zegras will be on the market tbh, his situation is similar to that of Dach's with the Habs, in that even if he doesn't work out as a top 6 C he is still able to play a top 6 winger role with his skill and fill in at C when injuries occur

That would get it done.

Yes.

Hughes has already said publicly the if the Habs players can put them in a playoff spot by the deadline he will look at buying. This is just a what if that plays out

Zegras is young talented and under team control for years to come. If Habs want him it’s gonna hurt and it won’t just cost draft capital either. Think top prospect, roster player and a pick… not saying he wouldn’t be worth it though just that the cost would hurt.

Yes he did but I really don’t think he meant rentals. I think he meant if we’re in a playoff spot it means we’re further ahead in the rebuild than expected and it’s time to use our bank of defensive prospects and draft capital to bring in some young NHL ready offensive talent to help put the puck in the net for years to come.

Value to the Canadiens. Zero.
Why would they be buyers?

Maybe, but if we can get good rentals without giving up 1sts or prospects like Hutson or Reinbacher, I think he may just make those moves

I know that. If the price is way too much, just don't do that.

But personally, we need a RW and a LW to complete our top 6 (because I see a 3rd line with Newhook - Monahan - Anderson and a 4th line with RHP - Evans/Beck-Gallagher).

For the LW spot, I have a big feeling that we will gonna target a veteran like Stamkos to take the spot, because he is a great leader and he already have a good historic relation with St-Louis and Lecavalier. That can make our 2nd line with Stamkos - Dach - Slafkovsky.

But for the RW spot, I really don't know what we can target. I don't want to overpay for a players like Nylander or Reinhart, but I can also be open about that.

Cause we are currently 4 points out of a wildcard spot and it is not super unreasonable that we can't make up those points over the next 50 games.

He said that he will buy, but he also said that he will not gonna trade somes high-level prospects / high picks to grown up his team curently.

Barrie with retention may be able to get a 2nd in the right market, otherwise he’s probably looking at a 3rd— maybe with a C prospect attached.

Hey if we’re in a playoff spot come then I’m all for weaponizing cap space and grabbing an overpaid rental for minimal assets. I was just reading an article yesterday about how the Caps are very interested in trading for Kuzmenko but in order to do so Mantha would have to be moved and Van wouldn’t want him because one of the biggest things they want by moving Kuzmenko is the cap space. Maybe Hughes could wedge his way into that deal and even profit from taking Mantha’s full cap hit…

Hence decent rental for free.