Habs say not but you already knew that

They've done it before when they traded Romanov for Dach. If the defensive prospects are as good as montreal fans claim they should have no problems with a long term D core of

Matheson-Reinbacher
Hutson-Mailloux
Xhekaj-Barron
Harris

What montreal doesn't have is the ability to score 5v5. No player on montreal has more than 7 goals 5v5. Holtz at 21 in bottom 6 minutes has 11

Matheson isn't a part of this teams future, Guhle is. Habs likely draft a better forward than Holtz this year, Demidov hopefully but that's managements most likely plan

bruins still aren't sellers.

This would be in conjunction with another move for boston based on discussions I've had with a number of Bs fans. Clearing up 8 mill in space.

the description option exists for this very reason!

still, it's too big of a move. i can't see the bruins moving a goaltender this year. they also wouldn't want a goalie in return.

I think the only way this happens is if it’s a three team trade with Hanifin coming to Boston. Its still more likely to happen on the offseason if it happens at all

Then
Hutson-Reinbacher
Struble-Mailloux
Xhekaj-Barron
Harris
or a vet in there to supplement.

You're more than welcome to keep Guhle and sell off the lesser pieces like Harris for what I expect would amount to 3rd round picks.

But Habs fans keep bothering us about holtz after spending years bothering us with stupid Josh anderson proposals.

and again, this isn't something the Habs haven't done before

You think they are that confident in Bussi right now? Even if they trade Ullmark next year, I see them picking up another goaltender even if it’s just competition.

That said, I still believe one of the more likely options is Ullmark playing through his contract and choosing where to go next

It was more off a cap filler way to show finishing off the rest of the roster with a Goalie and More expensive (cap wise) rental dman. I used the boston trade from previous ACGMs because I've already had the discussions as a potential baseline.

All of your points are more than fair

Good stuff. I’d probably skip the Boston deal and find a cheaper stopgap.

Still don't think it's something either team does though. NJ will have Hamilton, Hughes, Nemec as anchors the next 5 years +

I think they're better to keep Holtz for when Toffoli, Palat and Haula are gone. NJ should just be doing small priced rentals, they already have the horses to stay the course and have success

Rather get chase stillman. But I don’t think Turcotte is going anywhere right now.

At first glance, LA isn't doing that and Montreal can't make that trade right now.



I doubt that:
-Matheson is in Montreal's long-term D plans.
-Holtz is viewed as 5v5 raiser right now considering his first two seasons, his current 5v5 shooting percentage and IPP, and his relative 5v5 impacts.

Holtz definitely has a lot of value, but more for his upside than what he's doing right now (which is similar to Guhle).

Montreal is probably optimistic about their young D group, but until they get a better idea of how it will shake out or get an offer of a young player that actually raises play 5v5, will likely stick with what they have right now.

Idk if NJD would do it either. Guhle is definitely a piece of interest who would fit in well, and I think another LD to improve on bahl could be of interest. (It's the only position other than a superstar goalie that holtz would be on the market for). The biggest question mark surrounding Guhle is his underwhelming PK metrics. I'd like to see him improve on that.

I would not be actively shopping Holtz, and Montreal shouldn't be actively shopping guhle unless they are WAY higher on at least 3 of Xhekaj, Struble, Hutson, Harris, and Matheson than I am.

A top 6 of Hughes Hischier Meier Holtz Mercer Bratt long term is probably the answer, but maybe instead of holtz we find another guy. Maybe if Gritysuk comes over he can be that, or Lenni, or Palat/Haula for the short term. Who knows

Most cheaper stopgaps aren’t very good, I’d get why this would be a discussion if it was possible,

I'd be happy to swap in Stillman for Clarke. The main reason Clarke is in there is the brother aspect tbh rather than any well thought out understanding of LAK's needs. More than fair on turcotte. But if he's on the market NJD is happy to have him

I am a believer in Schmid long-term…and it may be a lost year for us. Nothing against Ullmark.

Holtz has always been a sniper. That's what he was drafted for. His shot is utterly ridiculous and so I expect his goals to always significantly exceed his expected metrics.

Stillman over Clarke?

Clarke can skate, has skill, is good in tight to net, gets high shot volume.

Stillman is just a bottom-six pest.

Are you really trying to compare Guhle with Romanov? The last time Montreal traded their top defensive prospect (that played a game with the team) they traded Sergachev for Drouin. And we all know what happened. Montreal should not move from Guhle and Matheson on the LD top 2 pairings. Only once if Hutson can play in the NHL I will rethink that opinion.

Also, the only reason they traded Romanov is because of Xhekaj was signed. Bottom pairing defense. It also filled a need at the time. Most people would agree it was a good chain of events of those trades.

Ooh thank you for finding another example of Montreal trading a top 4 dman for a forward.

Romanov was 22 years old, playing 20.5 minutes a night at 2LD for Montreal with decent enough metrics, nothing special tho
Guhle is 22 years old, playing 20.5 minutes a night at 2LD for Montreal with decent enough metrics, nothing special tho

I think it's a fantastic comp tbh

I like Holtz's shot, but he's got 16 goals in 78 SHL games (and 2 goals in 3 playoff games), 5 goals in 15 WJC games, 33 goals in 76 AHL games (and 1 in 11 playoff games) and 3 goals in 28 NHL games before this season. That's not elite goal scoring. Nor does a shot drive 5 on 5 play.

Its just not a trade Montreal would make right now. beyond everything else that's been covered, one thing you're missing from the Romanov comparison is that he was a RFA. Guhle is not. This would be something Montreal might consider in 2025.

I think it is people looking at draft position as opposed to production personally.



I’d take Daws instead if push came to shove. I’m looking for an internal alternative to Bussi,

I think the difference is Guhle is viewed as a top pairing defensemen. it was not the case anymore with romanov when they trade him