Anaheim declines, MTL declines LA trade

Yes sir!

Los Angeles doesn't need Monahan and wouldn't pick up Josh Anderson off waivers. See https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/4846841 by your estimable colleague @jonh514.

I see that we still haven't dinned into you Habs guys that Anaheim is looking for a top-6 RW player/prospect or a top-4 RhD player/prospect in return for Trevor Zegras.

…

Trade proposals aside, what do you think Barron is..?

1) Correct they wouldn’t pick up Anderson on waivers. They don’t have the cap space. This allows an upgrade on PLDs current production through Monahan, and brings in 5.5mill Anderson. This trade would also allow L.A. to have extra money for a Trade Deadline deal.

2) Justin Barron is a RHD. Drafted first round by Sakic. He’s an OFD with potential at top 4 minutes. Heineman second round pick, has potential as a middle 6 winger plus second PP player. Harris is a steady LHD d man who can play both sides. Not flashy at all. First round draft pick top 10 protected…. Does not seem like a far distance off. Substitute Heineman for Farrell or Mesar. Maybe?
1 First Round Drafted Player
1 Second Round Drafted Player
1 Third Round Drafted Player
And
A First round draft pick

Stay far away of Dubois. He's probably a cancer in any roster.

You caught me. Thanks for giving me the opportunity and the obligation to clean up a poorly-worded-to-the-point-of-erroneous post, because I do know who Justin Barron is, and he's a perfectly fine top-4 RhD prospect. I plead carelessness/hastiness/sleepiness.

What I should have said, and have said repeatedly in response to other most Zegras-to-Montreal proposals, is that we're looking for a top-line RW, top-pairing RhD, or a top-6 RW player/prospect or a top-4 RhD player/prospect plus a 2024 first in return for Trevor Zegras. Barron plus lesser prospects plus a 2025 first isn't a sufficient package for him, in my view.


Anderson and Monahan are non-starters, pure and simple. UFA Monahan might be an improvement on DuBois' production at the end of the season, but throwing away the seven-year (going forward) investment in DuBois would be both insanely stupid and suicidal for the GM. Los Angeles wouldn't pick up Anderson off waivers even if the Kings had $8 million in cap space.

Harris is a LhD, so he's not useful to Anaheim unless playing his offside, but he's the least significant element of this trade so I won't decline it based on any factor surrounding him -- the Ducks have played both Mintyukov and LaCombe at times on the right this season already. Heineman simply doesn't move the needle. Anaheim needs quality right-handed forwards, so Owen Beck or Filip Mesar would be far more appealing. And a 2025 pick with top-10 protection just doesn't get there.

Unsigned pure prospect Cutter Gauthier was traded for Jamie Drysdale, an offensive RhD drafted 6th overall, plus a 2025 second that is likely to be a top-40 pick. I don't think that it's unreasonable to ask for David Reinbacher and your 2025 second for a proven top-6 scoring forward under team control for at least 5 more seasons.