"This will be a Top 10 pick as Flames are in a decline and will be worst off next year"

The pick is top 10 protected...

If he goes to 2026, he will not gonna be protected.

Montreal can have the 2025 or the 2026 1st round pick, depending of the Panthers pick

Rossi isn't my favorite, and I also think that's one of the most overhyped player in the league.

I mean, people see him as a futhermore top 20 player in the league, when I think that's far for being the case......

Florida is likely good next year and as you said CGY is likely bottom 10. That would mean the Flames picks belongs to Calgary and Montreal gets Florida's pick

It's not... If MTL keeps CGYs pick (they might get FLAs 1st instead), the only protection for 2025 is 1st overall. MTL could get the 2nd overall pick (best case scenario). There's also a slim chance MTL get CGYs unprotected 2026 1st (highly unlikely).

This pick is not TOP 10 protected. The HABS could take the 2024 1st RD pick from Calgary as long as it was 20th or lower which is not the case so they get the 2025 1st rd pick as long as it is not the #1 pick overall in which case they would get the 2026 1st rd pick with no conditions. Typical Hughes conditions when he trades

As clear as mud.

The most likely scenario for sure. Things only get interesting if FLA miss the playoffs next year... You never know, but it's highly unlikely.

No. If the Calgary 2025 first is in the top 10, as the OP predicts, then Montreal doesn't get it and gets the Florida 2025 first instead, which could be #32 overall.

i dont think anyone sees him as a top 20 player in the league. Top 6 centre though is a definite possibility

I said that the pick will gonna be in 2025 or a 2026 1st round pick, and I never mentionned that was especially the CGY pick. But the conditions (who are not propable) is that Motreal receive the unprotected 1st round pick if all the conditions lead to this one.

My Bad; this is the actual condition to that 1st rd pick

Here are the conditions associated with the first-round selection acquired by Montreal:
1. In the event Calgary’s own 2024 first (1st) round choice is selection 20-32 (inclusive) (following the determination of the 2024 NHL Draft lottery results), then Montreal shall have the option, exercisable until 48 hours prior to the start of the 2024 NHL draft, to exchange the conditional 2025 or 2026 first round choice to become Calgary’s own 2024 first (1st) round choice); or,
If Florida’s 2025 First (1st) Round Choice Transfers to Calgary (pursuant to the conditions on an earlier trade)
2. In the event the conditions to trigger Montreal’s option as noted in #1 above does not occur, or Montreal declines to exercise this option, the following conditions shall prevail:
A) If both Calgary’s own 2025 first (1st) round choice and Florida’s 2025 first (1st) round choice (previously acquired by Calgary) are not in the top-10 selections of the 2025 NHL Draft (following the determination of the 2025 NHL Draft lottery results), then Montreal shall receive the earlier of the two (2) stated choices; or,
B) If Calgary’s own 2025 first (1st) round choice is a top-10 selection and Florida’s 2025 first round selection (previously acquired by Calgary) is outside of the top-10 selections (following the determination of the 2025 NHL Draft lottery results), Montreal shall receive Florida’s 2025 first (1st) round choice).
If Florida’s 2025 First Round Choice DOES NOT Transfer to Calgary (pursuant to the conditions on an earlier trade)
3. In the event the conditions to trigger Montreal’s option as noted in #1 above does not occur, or Montreal declines to exercise this option, the following conditions shall prevail:
A. If Calgary’s own 2025 first (1st) round choice is not in the top-10 selections of the 2025 NHL Draft (following the determination of the 2025 NHL Draft lottery results), Montreal shall receive Calgary’s own 2025 first (1st) round choice, and additionally,
1) If Florida’s own 2025 first (1st) round choice is not in the top-10 selections of the 2025 NHL Draft (following the determination of the 2025 NHL Draft lottery results); and,
2) Florida’s 2025 first (1st) round choice has been transferred to another NHL Club; and,
3) Florida’s 2025 first round draft position is better than Calgary’s 2025 first round draft position; then Calgary will transfer their own 2025 fourth round choice to Montreal.
B. If Calgary’s own 2025 first (1st) round choice is a top-10 selection (following the determination of the 2025 NHL Draft lottery results), Montreal shall receive Calgary’s 2025 first (1st) round choice, subject to the following condition below:
1) In the event Calgary’s 2025 first (1st) round choice is the first (1st) selection overall in the 2025 NHL Draft (following the determination of the 2025 NHL Draft lottery results), Calgary will retain its own 2025 first (1st) round choice and Montreal shall instead receive Calgary’s own 2025 third (3rd) round choice and a conditional 2026 first (1st) round choice. Montreal shall receive the better of Calgary’s 2026 first (1st) round choice or Florida’s 2026 first (1st) round choice (following the determination of the 2026 NHL Draft lottery results) (previously conditionally acquired by Calgary).

Wrong. See the original posted trade and the actual conditions on the Calgary pick, in the OP's comment immediately following yours.

There is a scenario where MTL can get as high as 2nd overall from CGYs pick in 2025. But it's dependant on FLA missing the playoffs next year, which triggers other conditions.

So, let it play out and see where it goes?

Absolutely! If I were the Habs, I would consider the pick untouchable for the time being. See how the first half of next season plays out, and if FLA seem to be a lock for the playoffs, only then make the pick open for business. If FLA for whatever reason struggles or has injury problems and might miss the playoffs... Habs keep the pick and enjoy the chaos of CGYs potential top 10 pick being theirs! (With the exception of 1st overall of course)

Also, of all the most likely scenarios (With FLA making the playoffs next year, thus transferring their 2025 1st to CGY), MTL could still get the better of CGYs and FLAs 1st rd picks if the Flames don't have a top 10 pick LOL Which means MTL could get, at best, an 11th overall pick from CGY.


So, if you're a Habs fans just wanting to know what to cheer for with all the confusing conditions of the Monahan trade, do this:

#1 - Cheer for both CGY and FLA to have terrible seasons and miss the playoffs, and hope CGY doesn't get 1st overall. MTL probably ends up with a top 5-10 pick here.
#2 - If FLA are playing well, cheer for CGY to finish with the 11th overall pick after the 2025 draft lottery.


All this to say, Habs really shouldn't be trading the pick lol