1. MONTREAL CORE
-I think at the only attackers that are untouchable are Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield and Kirby Dach.
At defense, I'll say that Kaiden Guhle, David Reinbacher and Lane Hutson are untradable.
In net, there is no big guy like Carey Price but I think that Jacob Fowler shouldn't be trade.
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2. THE NEEDS
-The first thing I see when I look to the lineup is that excluding Caufield that will put 40-45 goals in his prime, there is no real goal scorer. Suzuki, Slafkovsky and Roy have the potential to put 30 goals in a season but we need another goal scorer machine. A top 6 forward that could score 40 goals is a target for Montreal.
-A top 4 at the blue line is another thing that Montreal could look for. We have a lot of prospects at the blue line but I don't think any of them could play on the first pair with Guhle. Mailloux, Xhekaj, Struble, Engstrom and Barron are all good prospects but I think they are bottom pairing and can play top 4 when there are injuries.
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3. END OF 2024 SEASON
The player we absolutely have to trade:
-Jake Allen, the 3 goalies rotation has to stop.
-David Savard, younger defenseman want to play and deserve to play.
The players that we don't need:
-Tanner Pearson, free agent at the end of the season.
-Jonathan Kovacevic, better option at the blue line.
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4. 2024 TDL
-Montreal get Arthur Kaliyev, a young forward that need some fresh air. I see him being trade for Jake Allen. Kings need a goaltender, it's probably their weakness.
-David Savard for a 2nd round pick is fair in my opinion. Savard could be useful for Edmonton during their playoff run, he can be in their top 4.
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5. MONTREAL LINEUP FOR END OF 2024 SEASON
Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Roy-Newhook-Gallagher
Pearson-Evans-Anderson
Pezzetta-White-Ylonen
Matheson-Guhle
Struble-Kovacevic
Harris-Xhekaj
Montembeault
Primeau
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6. 2024 DRAFT
-With the 7th NHL pick, Montreal are proud to select, Cole Eiserman. This guy will fill a need. A pure goal scorer. Here is my top 3 prospects that I want Montreal to draft. 1. Celebrini, 2. Lindstrom, 3. Eiserman. I think Eiserman will be the only one still available.
-Montreal decide to trade their second first round pick.
Zegras for 22th overall, 60th overall, Barron and Heineman. This is pretty fair if you look the Eichel trade.
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7. 2024 FREE AGENCY
Montreal RFA:
Arber Xhekaj, bridge contract, 3x1 500 000$
Jesse Ylonen, bridge contract 3x1 000 000$
Arthur Kaliyev, bridge contract 2x975 000$
Tuch, Hutson, Engstrom, Fowler- Entry level contract
Montreal UFA:
Mitchell Stephens, 2 way, 3x950 000$
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8. MONTREAL 2024-25 LINEUP
Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Dach
Eiserman-Zegras-Caufield
Krebs -Newhook-Roy
Harvey-Pinard-Evans-Kaliyev
Guhle-Reinbacher
Matheson-Mailloux
Struble-Xhejak
Montembeault
Primeau
Harris, Kovacevic, Pezzetta, Armia, Gallagher
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9. SUMMER 2024 MOVES
Dvorak and Anderson out. Buyout if nobody want them.
Convince Luke Tuch to sign a contract and trade him immediately after for Krebs.
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10. 2025 TDL
Matheson is not in the same age window as the core. He has to go. I think it will be good to trade him one for one for Lundell if they are interested.
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11. 2025 OFFSEASON
-Sign Guhle 7 500 000$ for 8 years
-Sign Slafkovsky 7 850 000$ for 8 years
Love the depth of this breakdown, you put a lot of thought into it!
From an Oilers perspective, Savard wouldn't be my favourite option but he is someone I could see us trading for if we can get money in money out. I don't mean we have to be trading money back to the Habs, I think the value you said is fair.
For the other trades:
- I don't know what the value of Allen will be, it is highly dependent on other goalies getting traded. I could see this happening if he is the only goalie available, it would be nitpicking to say oh it's not a good enough pick, I just assume Kings fans will want more. Kaliyev has been a killer every time I've seen him play.
- I don't think the value is terrible. I just think you're going to have to look at a Zegras deal almost as an Eichel-like trade. I'm not saying they're comparable but his ceiling is close to Eichel's. But I like the idea of MTL trading for him given how poorly they have drafted. I just think that will have to be the MTL pick (between 4-10) and not a pick between 26-32.
- I don't think it's enough value on Krebs. This one is worse than the Kaliyev one imo, should at the minimum be a 2nd.
- The Lundell trade has no shot of happening, especially considering Matheson has been in Florida before and they shipped him out.
- The last one is unrealistic (you basically said as much) but the value is pretty far off imo. Imagine if you had Seider and were to even consider trading him, you'd want way more. I'm talking 3+ 1sts and a player in the NHL producing like Caufield. I think Caufield and 3 1sts is closer to fair for Seider than what you proposed.
All and all, appreciate the thought and effort.
But my thoughts:
1. Kaliyev and Krebs probably both cost a 2nd and prospect (at least that range).
2. Savard trade is semi-fair, I like the thought of Allen to LAK.
3. Zegras would net the 7th overall pick you mentioned and other stuff. I still think the Habs should do that.
4. Lundell trade is not the right spot or player, but you should trade Matheson.
5. Seider trade is unrealistic and undervalued.
: You're totally delusional if you honestly think that's a fair offer for Moritz Seider, Without any high end pieces coming back from Montreal. We'll give you Veleno and Fabbri for Slafkovsky and Reinbacher. Yeah both deal are pure rubbish.
LOL we don't need LHD we already have about 17 within our pipeline plus two smallish wingers for a future Norris guy just isn't going to cut it.
Love the depth of this breakdown, you put a lot of thought into it!
From an Oilers perspective, Savard wouldn't be my favourite option but he is someone I could see us trading for if we can get money in money out. I don't mean we have to be trading money back to the Habs, I think the value you said is fair.
For the other trades:
- I don't know what the value of Allen will be, it is highly dependent on other goalies getting traded. I could see this happening if he is the only goalie available, it would be nitpicking to say oh it's not a good enough pick, I just assume Kings fans will want more. Kaliyev has been a killer every time I've seen him play.
- I don't think the value is terrible. I just think you're going to have to look at a Zegras deal almost as an Eichel-like trade. I'm not saying they're comparable but his ceiling is close to Eichel's. But I like the idea of MTL trading for him given how poorly they have drafted. I just think that will have to be the MTL pick (between 4-10) and not a pick between 26-32.
- I don't think it's enough value on Krebs. This one is worse than the Kaliyev one imo, should at the minimum be a 2nd.
- The Lundell trade has no shot of happening, especially considering Matheson has been in Florida before and they shipped him out.
- The last one is unrealistic (you basically said as much) but the value is pretty far off imo. Imagine if you had Seider and were to even consider trading him, you'd want way more. I'm talking 3+ 1sts and a player in the NHL producing like Caufield. I think Caufield and 3 1sts is closer to fair for Seider than what you proposed.
All and all, appreciate the thought and effort.
But my thoughts:
1. Kaliyev and Krebs probably both cost a 2nd and prospect (at least that range).
2. Savard trade is semi-fair, I like the thought of Allen to LAK.
3. Zegras would net the 7th overall pick you mentioned and other stuff. I still think the Habs should do that.
4. Lundell trade is not the right spot or player, but you should trade Matheson.
5. Seider trade is unrealistic and undervalued.
thanks man for your return, it's appreciated! I agree with your opinions.
Of course you think we'll draft a guy in 2024 and that he'll be a second liner two months later. Eiserman had already committed to go to BU next year and he should stick to it to complete his game off the puck.
Of course you think we'll draft a guy in 2024 and that he'll be a second liner two months later. Eiserman had already committed to go to BU next year and he should stick to it to complete his game off the puck.
Well you can't predict what happen, if he has a good training camp and he is nhl ready, why not?
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Slafkovsky,
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