The difference between Caufield and Tkachuk is not that big

Def not worth it

I wouldn't expect to get that much for Suzuki, no way I am paying that much for Tkachuk

The difference between Cole caufield and Victor olofsson is closer than Cole caufield and Brady tkachuk

But Tkachuk is better than Suzuki, by alot

Does Montreal not like average sized forwards? It’s all bigs and littles.

We love character and courage.

Not really, same age basically same ppg (Brady 0.78, Zuke 0.76) both great leaders both ppg players basically this year, both 24. Basically the only difference is size

Plus Suzuki plays the more valuable position and is quite a bit better defensively

Definitely not. Tkachuk is good but he’s overrated because of his last name. People think he’s as good as Matthew but he’s really just a good 1st liner

And caufield is just a mini mike hoffman

Rather have Pager, 1 less year

Hey siri block this number immediately 🙂

check the PIM's and fighting majors.... There is about 100 minutes in difference. If Brady plays those minutes the point totals aren't even close. You get the game's premiere power forward, a guy who can protect your best players from anyone who triers anything dirty.

C. Caufield, K. Guhle, MTL 2024 1ST, 2025 2nd in my opinion would be close to getting it done.

Gaa all

LMAO, we have Xhekaj, Anderson and Pezzetta to protect our players, no need to add Brady just for his fighting.

Ok don't like those stats how about P/60? Brady 2.8, Suzuki 2.7 again almost identical, so penalty minutes added in don't even make a difference, and seeing as Zuke doesn't get penalized as much, he adds value by being available to change the outcome of the game instead of causing his team to be shorthanded and hurting them. So once again, value of Tkachuk is basically Suzuki and even then Ottawa adds since Zuke players the more valuable position

Has Anderson even been in a fight this season? He doesn't generally fight because of his concussion history. Pazetta and Xhejak will likely be in the AHL for large stints, Tkachuk is a 35 goal guy that can actually play in your top 6 and can both score big goals, scare the hell out of the other team, and throws big checks. Brady is the guy you want in the playoffs. Big, mean, net front presense, and shows up for every game. Tkachuk has never had a 20 game goal scoring slump like Suzuki has. 70 point centers? Geez Ottawa has like 3 of those in Stutzle, Norris, and Pinto.... I'd trade Norris for Suzuki straight up anything nore than that and you can keep him lol

LMAO, try 80+ point center, also I wasn't putting down Tkachuk just saying that He 1. Isn't worth more than Suzuki and 2 is definitely not worth the OP's package or yours for that matter 3 1sts is about a 1st too much. Congrats on sucking for like 10 consecutive years and it's finally paying dividends in terms of having good center depth. BTW, you only have 1 70+ point center on the roster (Stutzle) the other two have never hit 40 points yet, maybe they will one day when they grow up but that us still TBD.

That's funny because Norris had 35 goals just 2 seasons ago.... 55pts in 64GP... When did Suzuki hit 80 points? He hasn't even hit 70 yet.... Plus unlike the Habs, Ottawa's rebuild was from complete scratch unlike the Habs. Now that Ottawa FINALLY got rid of the coach, who was the true bottleneck in the organization, Ottawa will be climbing up the standings starting next season. The Habs still have another 2-3 seasons before they are even considered for the playoffs and the Habs rebuild wasn't anything remotely close to as severe as Ottawa's was.

35 goals and 55 points is still not 70, that still only makes him a 55 point center. You are right though, Suzuki hasn't hit 80 points yet but is at least on pace to hit it this year, where as Norris and Pinto aren't even gonna be close to 70 and have to wait at until at least next year to maybe do it. News flash, Habs goal next year, according to their GM is to be a playoff team and armed with a ton of picks and prospects Hughes is likely to try to make some big moves this TDL and summer. Also Habs had to start from scratch as well, in one summer they lost Webber, Price, Danault and Kotkaniemi, they had no true 1C, no top 6 wingers to speak of, 2 top 4 D men and a bunch of mostly unproven prospects to try to build a team out of. CC was a rookie, NS was a sophomore thrown into the 1C role out of necessity our best proven players were Petry, Chiarot, Edmundson, Anderson, Hoffman, Lehkonen, Romanov, Toffoli and Allen was our best goalie, of those only Anderson and Allen remain 2 years later. Sure NS, CC and KG hit their marks but that was never a guarantee and we didn't add Dach, Newhook, Slaf, Reinbacher, Hutson, Xhekaj, Savard, Matheson, Montembeault, Beck, Mesar, Engstrom, F. Xhekaj, Konyushkov, Fowler or Miller until after we lost those 4 players in the 2021 offseason. So we basically rebuilt from scratch in 2 years. Next year with a healthy line up (hopefully) and no trades/signings, we will have

Suzuki-Caufield-Slafkovsky
Newhook-Dach-Roy
Anderson, Dvorak-Gallagher
RHP-Evans-Armia
Ylonen and Pezzetta

for the top 14 spots (probably in that order)

Guhle-Barron
Matheson-Savard
Xhekaj-Struble
Kovacevic

Montembeault
Allen/Primeau

Which is much better than what we have iced at any point this season. I suspect though Hughes will be looking to make some big trades for younger players like Zegras, Lundell, PLD ect. And Hutson, Mailloux and Reinbacher will all push hard for a spot, so playoffs aren't as much of a reach as they were this season.

Okay the Habs messed up taking KK over Tkachuk... Suzuki is not a 70 point player either..... never has been. Pinto has 13 points in 16 games as the 3rd line center... Pinto likely gets 2nd line minutes next year if Norris is on LTIR. Speaking of LTIR, You have benefitted from both Weber and Price being on LTIR so you didn't lose them per say you sure as hell used their cap space to the Habs advantage... Gallagher, Savard, Allen, etc.... Ottawa kept NO ONE not even the goaltender. Anderson is another player they could've moved and didn't.

Agree Montreal has some good young players and prospects. Still think they are fairly shallow in terms of talent. I mean Ottawa and Buffalo reallyu struggled. Ottawa got rid of the coach which was Ottawa's biggest problem. Not sure what is wrong with Buffalo but they could just as easily turn it around as well next season. I still think the Habs are 2-3 years away. Unless of course they really hit in trades and at the draft.

I like Ottawa's chances next season as well, Buffalo still need better goaltending, I think Tampa is gonna fall hard but who knows they still have some great players. Suzuki is gonna hit 70 for sure this season he is at 59 with 22 games to go, he would have to go the rest of the way under .5 ppg to not hit 70 and right now he is at .98 ppg, so seriously doubt he falls that hard down the stretch. Habs don't have too much elite talent as of yet Zuke, CC, Dach and Slaf are about as close as they have and Dach in my mind is still a huge question mark due to injuries, and CC hasn't been consistent enough to get there yet. Hutson and Reinbacher both have potential to be elite one day but only time will tell on them. The thing I like about the Habs chances is they have a lot of top 6/top 4 talented players. Guys like right now for top 6 forwards heading into next year Habs have Zuke, CC, Slaf, Dach, Newhook, Roy and Anderson but that's without considering prospects that could make the jump like Beck, Mesar, Kapenen, and Farrell, plus whoever we get from this draft. As far ad top 4 D we have Matheson, Savard, Guhle, Harris and Struble, with Reinbacher, Hutson, Mailoux, engstrom, Konyushkov and Barron all having the ability to push for a roster spot next year (with the exception of Konyushkov cause he can't come over until 2026 but his talent is as high). It's the shear depth of talent, not elite talent but still very high end talent that has Habs fans and management believing they can and will fight for a playoff spot if they can remain healthy for the full season.

Love reading your comments as you tend to be knowledgeable and even handed.
You support your POV with easily verifiable facts and not opinions.
Montreal and Buffalo could be scary good next year and beyond.
Good trades and drafting.
Both teams have solid young defensemen and forwards in the line up and in the prospect stream.
Your GM's (Bergevin and Hughes) are more willing to take risks trading for Suzuki, Newhook, Matheson all great deals and even Monahan (Anderson and Dvorak deals not so much almost forgot the Subban for Weber blockbuster), while Adams refuses to move any picks or prospects to fill obvious holes only making the obvious rebuilding moves trading away Reinhart, Ristolainen, Hall and Eichel.

As I watch the Sabres, and if you ever read my posts from last year, I could see the problem with Luukkonen was the defensemen not clearing rebounds nor the front of the net.
Clearing rebounds had improved but too often his vision is still blocked or the pucks are being tipped by his own players.
Since the first of the year he has the lowest GAA 1.84 and highest SV% 0.934 among all NHL GK who have played at least 10 games.
So save to say, he and Levi will be the net protectors in the future.

What is wrong with the Sabres?
Erik Johnson is a pylon, I cannot remember every game but his turnovers and poor play led to three goals in the last Ducks game which the Sabres lost 4-3.
This week he tipped a puck scoring another goal for Florida a game which the Sabres lost 3-2.
Since the first of the year his xGA 5v5 is 3.41/60, next worse Connor Clifton at 2.81 second worse among Sabre defensemen.
He has not provided the leadership that was expected and is over paid by at least $2,000,000.

The PP has not provided the scoring edge as it did last season (but they did get 2 goals to knock out Tampa so that is good).
Anyone even with an untrained eye can see that Thompson has not recovered from his wrist injury which in turn has impacted both Skinner and Tuch.
Quinn injuries obviously have impacted the scoring as he is replaced by Erik Robinson instead of Victor Olofsson (do not understand why he is not getting more ice time he has only played 5 games since the first of the year).
Cannot figure out Power as his shooting % is down from 14.7 to 8.2 this year but he is still creating scoring chances.

Well that is my take, Go Habs Go ... Let's Go Sabres!

EDIT: wow that was longer than I thought it would be.

Very good analysis, I thought it was shaky goal tending but if EJ is being trusted with top 4 minutes I can see how it would be the defense that is causing the issues. I think the Sabres can figure it out, they are a really good young team.