You realize that the Dach & Newhook contracts will be over and Beck out of his ELC by the time Iginla or Sennecke sniff the NHL.

You realize that you can’t build an armchair GM for more than 2 years out right? 🤔

I hear you. I just think their "dream scenario" is to add two significant pieces to the forward core starting next season who are:

1) Between the ages of 20-25
2) Established top 6 players or players with top 6 upside
3) Complimentary to the group we've already assembled

and if they need to trade one, two, or even 3 first round picks and a few leftie defensemen to get it done, they will.

think youre missing the OP's point... he's saying that habs nab tij in top-10 and beckett with WPG's top-24 pick, which in all likelihood is probable

I don’t think they’re that stupid. I definitely think they want one of those type of guys but definitely believe they want the other future top 6 piece to be from our draft pick this year.

We dont Rush Prospects anymore
Slaf was ready and it was best he learned at this level
But overall we usually wait as we did with Suzuki,Guhle, Xhekaj in Junior an extra year
We waited on Hutson,Engstrom and Reinbacher this year, who all will be staying in either MTL or Laval
Caufield even we waited an extra year despite his Center Alex Turcotte turning pro after his rookie season in the NCAA
He ended up bonding with Dylan Holloway and winning the Hobey Baker that year

Overall the theme is we wait unless they're Really Massive even in comparison to NHL Heavyweights.
If we took Lindstrom then maybe i buy it but Iginla will grow quite a bit in the next 2 years and his game will become much more complete.
Until then its about patience.

Barron nor Arber are Arbitration eligible and both have Waiver Exempt games left
Only reason you'd give them over the 1-1.1m you would have to is if Arber signs a Alex Vlasic like 6 year deal at 4.5m
Barron i'd just give the 1.1m x 1 year and move him out if he cant crack the line up at camp

Reinbacher isnt ready for the NHL yet
Defensively he's fine but the Transition and offensive side of his game hasnt clicked yet.
Mailloux could play in the NHL on bottom pair but if you're serious about him being top 4 he needs to stay in Laval.
Struble only has 13 waiver exempt games left and i dont see us keeping him up to lose Harris instead or to send down Guhle or Xhekaj

Struble-Mailloux
Bisson-Reinbacher
Engstrom-Barron
Sobolev (Suzuki and Florian Xhekaj's version of a Junior Alexi Emelin)

NHL play the regulars boosting their value
Then sell Savard at the TDL with Harris and Kovacevic

Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Savard
Xhekaj-Kovacevic
Harris

I totally got that. I just doubt they use both picks. They may even use neither!

I don't think it would be stupid. I think if they can lay hands on a player who is "as good" as Iginla will be in 3-4 years starting next season and all they need to do is add a LHD or another late 1st, they would be crazy to not do it.

The Habs want to be good ASAP and not in 3-4 years when lots of players are going to be on new very expensive deals.

The stupid part isn’t getting those players but building an entire top 6 on the exact same age group whose contracts will always be up at (nearly) the same time for very similar cap hits. You need impactful elc players to be serious about contending especially if you don’t have that superstar. We need to stagger the contracts. I think it’s even risky to get one more 23 year old but won’t be surprised if they do it. Definitely don’t think they’ll go for two though.

The Habs don't have that issue. You get to bet on 11 players in this league.

7 forwards, 3 defensemen, and a goalie. You may have cap for other players, or have some kids coming up to bolster your team for a year or two, but that's more or less the model for your core.

The Habs only have 3 core forwards they are sure of and 3 they are "hoping work out" (Dach, Newhook, Roy).

They have all the defenders they will need, though I doubt they are "sure" of any of them at this point.

The Habs need 1-2 additional forwards they believe can be core pieces and then we will see a competitive team IMO.

We already have a ton of young players to come up over the next 3 years through the AHL ranks. We have a gap where there are not enough players who can help us now.

What a waste it would be to wait until Suzuki is 29 to start trying to compete. He's the best Center we've had in 30 years and he deserves better.

Look around the league, the habs don't want/should not want to be good asap... they are rebuilding the right way and playing the long game. Starting in 2026-27 once most of the powerhouses of the east are on the decline, they will be ready to start competing at the highest level for at least a decade

Yeah and to just add on they’ve *never* said that they want to contend immediately just that they want to *improve*. I think they’re well aware that their window opens when Gallagher and Anderson’s deals expire. Which is 3 more years.

agreed, unfortunately most habs fans are either way too impatient or near-sighted to realize that simple fact

Look at Buffalo & Ottawa... Is that the fate you want for our Habs? Doomed to an endless cycle of mediocrity?

Just because you draft and develop a lot of players, does not mean your players have what it takes to win. Being OK with losing warps your brain. No thanks guys. Playoffs ASAP!

comparing MTL's current management group with the likes of BUF and OTT tells me all i need to know... No thanks to you

How good they are at managing is determined by the actions they take and the consequences of those actions! If they just draft high and develop without significant improvements year to year... How are they different?