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Another bad year and then 2 options

Created by: KentMcNally
Team: 2023-24 Montreal Canadiens
Initial Creation Date: Mar. 15, 2024
Published: Mar. 15, 2024
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
Montreal will draft one of Lindstrom, Demidov, Eiserman or Catton this year.

Make no major additions this off-season and go into 2024-2025 with roughly the same team (with Kirby Dach back). That would likely lead to another bad year in 2025 (picking between 5 and 16 next year).

I would trade the 2024 Winnipeg first round pick and Montreal's 2025 second round pick for a first round pick in next year's draft to a middling team that likely would be OK with taking a first round pick this year and expects they will be near the playoffs next year, meaning that the 2025 pick won't be great. This would be a team like Minnesota, Calgary, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Buffalo, Ottawa, the Islanders, New Jersey, Detroit, Vancouver. Nashville or Seattle. I would throw in some 2nd round picks plus a Jordan Harris and/or Sean Farrell if necessary.

That would give Montreal 3 first round picks in 2025. This is where the options come in:

#1 Combine the 3 first round picks in a trade to move up the board as much as possible and hopefully get a McQueen, Martone, Misa or something very close (Montreal's own first round pick should be pretty good). That would give Montreal a possible future 2nd line of: Eiserman + Dach + McQueen.

#2 If there are any premium free agents that are actually going to make it to free agency, then use the Calgary 2025 first and the other first round pick that was acquired in trading the 2024 Winnipeg first round pick to dump Gallagher and Anderson in order to free up a lot of cap space. You could possibly even trade the Montreal first round pick if necessary in order to get rid of Gallagher and Anderson. Then go after a premium free agent in 2025 (I am aware that Montreal will have to overpay quite a bit to land a premium free agent) to play on one of the top 2 lines (Draisaitl, Marner, Rantanen, Konecny, Verhaege). This option is much riskier, as there is absolutely no way to be sure that a premium free agent would pick Montreal in July (after the June draft) is over and Montreal has traded those picks, but it would probably speed up the rebuild.
Trades
1.
MTL
  1. 2025 1st round pick (BUF)
BUF
  1. 2024 1st round pick (WPG)
  2. 2024 2nd round pick (COL)
  3. 2025 2nd round pick (MTL)
2.
MTL
  1. 2025 1st round pick (DET)
DET
    For the same return in the Buffalo trade
    3.
    MTL
    1. 2025 1st round pick (MIN)
    MIN
      For the same return in the Buffalo trade.
      4.
      MTL
      1. 2025 1st round pick (NSH)
      NSH
        For the same return in the Buffalo trade.
        5.
        MTL
        1. 2025 1st round pick (OTT)
        OTT
          For the same return in the Buffalo trade.
          6.
          MTL
          1. 2025 1st round pick (PIT)
          PIT
            For the same return in the Buffalo trade.
            7.
            MTL
            1. 2025 1st round pick (SEA)
            SEA
              For the same return in the Buffalo trade.
              8.
              MTL
              1. 2025 1st round pick (STL)
              STL
                For the same return in the Buffalo trade.
                9.
                MTL
                1. 2025 1st round pick (VAN)
                VAN
                  For the same return in the Buffalo trade.
                  Buyouts
                  Retained Salary Transactions
                  DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
                  2024
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the MIN
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the SJS
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the EDM
                  Logo of the WSH
                  2025
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the CGY
                  Logo of the BUF
                  Logo of the DET
                  Logo of the MIN
                  Logo of the NSH
                  Logo of the OTT
                  Logo of the PIT
                  Logo of the SEA
                  Logo of the STL
                  Logo of the VAN
                  Logo of the PIT
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the NJD
                  Logo of the VAN
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the DET
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the MTL
                  2026
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the MTL
                  Logo of the MTL
                  ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
                  23$83,500,000$75,810,416$1,170,000$4,035,000$7,689,584
                  Left WingCentreRight Wing
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $7,850,000$7,850,000
                  LW, RW
                  UFA - 8
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $7,875,000$7,875,000
                  C
                  UFA - 7
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $6,500,000$6,500,000
                  RW, LW
                  M-NTC, NMC
                  UFA - 4
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $3,250,000$3,250,000
                  LW
                  UFA - 1
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $2,900,000$2,900,000
                  C, LW
                  RFA - 4
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $5,500,000$5,500,000
                  RW, LW
                  M-NTC
                  UFA - 4
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $1,100,000$1,100,000
                  LW, RW
                  RFA - 2
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $1,700,000$1,700,000
                  C
                  UFA - 2
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $3,400,000$3,400,000
                  RW, LW
                  UFA - 2
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $835,000$835,000 (Performance Bonus$57,500$58K)
                  LW, RW
                  RFA - 3
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $775,000$775,000
                  C, RW
                  UFA - 1
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $950,000$950,000 (Performance Bonus$3,500,000$4M)
                  RW, LW
                  RFA - 2
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $812,500$812,500
                  LW, RW
                  UFA - 2
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $775,000$775,000
                  RW, LW
                  RFA - 1
                  Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $4,875,000$4,875,000
                  LD
                  M-NTC
                  UFA - 3
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $3,500,000$3,500,000
                  RD
                  UFA - 2
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $1,000,000$1,000,000
                  G
                  UFA - 1
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $1,400,000$1,400,000
                  LD/RD
                  RFA - 2
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $766,667$766,667
                  RD
                  UFA - 2
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $890,000$890,000
                  G
                  RFA - 2
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $867,500$867,500 (Performance Bonus$57,500$58K)
                  LD
                  RFA - 2
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $863,333$863,333 (Performance Bonus$420,000$420K)
                  LD/RD
                  RFA - 2
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $828,333$828,333
                  LD/RD
                  RFA - 1
                  ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $4,450,000$4,450,000
                  C
                  M-NTC
                  UFA - 2
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $10,500,000$10,500,000
                  G
                  NMC
                  UFA - 3
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $3,362,500$3,362,500
                  C, RW
                  RFA - 3
                  Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
                  $762,500$762,500
                  RD
                  UFA - 1

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                  Mar. 15 at 10:24 a.m.
                  #1
                  Shibbal18
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                  Don't see that Sabre trade making sense for anyone, including MTL
                  Mar. 15 at 10:26 a.m.
                  #2
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                  Joined: Apr. 2022
                  Posts: 2,615
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                  Heads up. If Pitt picks in the top 10 this year, their 2025 1st will belong to SJ.
                  KentMcNally liked this.
                  Mar. 15 at 10:30 a.m.
                  #3
                  Thread Starter
                  Fall River Habs
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                  Joined: Aug. 2021
                  Posts: 883
                  Likes: 335
                  Quoting: Shibbal18
                  Don't see that Sabre trade making sense for anyone, including MTL


                  Why?
                  It gets 3 draft prospects in Buffalo's system a year earlier than the 2025 pick so that those picks can help the Sabres sooner. Buffalo has to think that next year's team will be better than this year. so their pick next year would be at best in the teens (while still getting 3 draft picks plus possibly Harris and or Farrell from Montreal for a possible total of 5 players). There is some risk involved on both sides, but that is what GMs do in their jobs.
                  Mar. 15 at 10:43 a.m.
                  #4
                  Shibbal18
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                  Quoting: KentMcNally
                  Why?
                  It gets 3 draft prospects in Buffalo's system a year earlier than the 2025 pick so that those picks can help the Sabres sooner. Buffalo has to think that next year's team will be better than this year. so their pick next year would be at best in the teens (while still getting 3 draft picks plus possibly Harris and or Farrell from Montreal for a possible total of 5 players). There is some risk involved on both sides, but that is what GMs do in their jobs.


                  Sabres specifically don't need 3 more prospects in their system. And both teams are gambling on the 2025 pick. Rather just keep it and use it at the tdl
                  Mar. 15 at 10:47 a.m.
                  #5
                  Thread Starter
                  Fall River Habs
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                  Quoting: Shibbal18
                  Sabres specifically don't need 3 more prospects in their system. And both teams are gambling on the 2025 pick. Rather just keep it and use it at the tdl


                  Using it at the trade deadline is a reasonable alternative for Buffalo.
                  Mar. 15 at 11:21 a.m.
                  #6
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                  Joined: Dec. 2017
                  Posts: 21,686
                  Likes: 12,030
                  This is a draft day trade and for most GM's there would have to be someone they really like still available at Winnipeg's pick.
                  Mar. 15 at 11:23 a.m.
                  #7
                  Thread Starter
                  Fall River Habs
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                  Quoting: aedoran
                  This is a draft day trade and for most GM's there would have to be someone they really like still available at Winnipeg's pick.


                  Yeah, I agree.
                  aedoran liked this.
                  Mar. 15 at 11:31 a.m.
                  #8
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                  Joined: Jun. 2017
                  Posts: 1,109
                  Likes: 766
                  With the way this season went and having to forfeit a 1st (likely 2026) I can’t see the sens doing this in advance. Maybe at the deadline if things are looking good but definitely not in the summer!
                  Riddick19 liked this.
                  Mar. 15 at 12:04 p.m.
                  #9
                  Devo's 2nd Mock Draf
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                  Yeah Ottawa wouldn't be trading away their 2024 1st rounder... we'll take that package for the Boston/Det package though I'm sure.
                  Mar. 15 at 2:08 p.m.
                  #10
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                  Joined: Feb. 2017
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                  Yeah, I wouldn't. The Jets pick is looking like 26 or so this year. The Sabres have been playing better hockey, now that the pressure is off, unfortunately, I'm assuming the Sabres are picking top 10 until they show that they've figured stuff out. Because I do not trust the Sabres front office, I assume that we would be trading a top 10 pick next year for pick 26 and a couple seconds. If this was the nfl, that would make sense. In the NHL, the Sabres get crushed doing that, and it's not like the Sabres prospect pool is weak and shallow.
                  Mar. 15 at 2:18 p.m.
                  #11
                  Thread Starter
                  Fall River Habs
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                  Quoting: Riddick19
                  Yeah Ottawa wouldn't be trading away their 2024 1st rounder... we'll take that package for the Boston/Det package though I'm sure.


                  Well it is for the 2025 first round pick, not 2024. Maybe Ottawa is in the teens for a first round pick in 2025
                  Mar. 24 at 6:28 a.m.
                  #12
                  Devo's 2nd Mock Draf
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                  Quoting: KentMcNally
                  Well it is for the 2025 first round pick, not 2024. Maybe Ottawa is in the teens for a first round pick in 2025


                  Judging where Ottawa is in the standings? Why would they risk quality of quantity in a gamble they can push up 20 spots in the standings next year? For the same reasons why Montreal would want to make that deal? Is the main reason why Ottawa doesn't do it. Is tghis a trade you make with Vegas? Col, or Bos?
                   
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