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Post by Willie Dog on Nov 29, 2018 18:55:01 GMT -5
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Post by blny on Nov 29, 2018 22:40:21 GMT -5
Pagnotta from the 4th period is also suggesting that teams have reached out to Berg about Alzner. Talks ranged from how much Montreal is willing to eat to what (bad) contract or struggling player they might be willing to take back.
Dallas could be a possibility. They've had significant injuries on the back end. With Hitch in Edmonton, there might be a spot there - though I've no interest in their bad contract. Hitch does like stay-at-home defenders and in a slower tempo system might be able to get something out of Karl at say $3 million a season.
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Post by Willie Dog on Nov 30, 2018 10:17:25 GMT -5
Pagnotta from the 4th period is also suggesting that teams have reached out to Berg about Alzner. Talks ranged from how much Montreal is willing to eat to what (bad) contract or struggling player they might be willing to take back. Dallas could be a possibility. They've had significant injuries on the back end. With Hitch in Edmonton, there might be a spot there - though I've no interest in their bad contract. Hitch does like stay-at-home defenders and in a slower tempo system might be able to get something out of Karl at say $3 million a season. Isn't Hitch in Edmonton? |
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Post by BadCompany on Dec 5, 2018 10:43:34 GMT -5
As much as I would like to acquire some of those guys, the cost would be extremely high. Didn't the Panthers say Matheson was off limits, even for a Nylander deal? Or did I dream that? Ditto for Jake Bean. Even though I think he might be on the market given the extreme blueline depth that the Hurricanes have, they're not going to give him away, and certainly not for Charlie Lindgren. I'm thinking a Gallagher for Bean-in-a-package deal is what the Canes would be looking for. Ditto for Klefbom, who is essentially the Oilers #1 defenseman. I know Chiarelli doesn't have a great reputation, but assuming you're going to get him cheap is a tad overly optimistic, if you ask me. The Islanders are currently sitting in a playoff spot and don't have a lot of depth to begin with, so I'm not sure why they're trading Leddy, a guy they have under contract for another three years after this one.
Which really only leaves Jake Muzzin as viable target. But even then you got to make it worth their while. There are probably 20 or so teams that would line up for Muzzin, so you're seriously going to have to pony up to get him. Are we at the stage where we want to be giving up first round picks for UFA-1 defensemen? There is no doubt he would be a great addition to the team, and I think he's still got 5-6 years left in him, but still...
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Post by seventeen on Dec 5, 2018 12:26:44 GMT -5
Unlike some fans, I have a lower opinion of the Habs odds of making an impact in the playoffs if they make the playoffs. If one is of that mindset, acquiring a guy like Muzzin, who is 29 years old seems counterproductive. That's especially so, since LA will want a prospect or draft picks, exactly what I think we should be aiming for.
Course if you think the Habs are one solid defenseman away from a Stanley Cup, then you go for it.
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Post by blny on Dec 5, 2018 13:14:36 GMT -5
Unlike some fans, I have a lower opinion of the Habs odds of making an impact in the playoffs if they make the playoffs. If one is of that mindset, acquiring a guy like Muzzin, who is 29 years old seems counterproductive. That's especially so, since LA will want a prospect or draft picks, exactly what I think we should be aiming for. Course if you think the Habs are one solid defenseman away from a Stanley Cup, then you go for it. The RFA/UFA market of lhd is so underwhelming for summer of 2019. Edmundson is 'biggest' name, and he's well down the list of guys whose contract expires after this season (so many that do are either rhd, signed extensions, or both). It's going to be difficult to address that lhd spot without going the trade route. |
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Post by BadCompany on Dec 5, 2018 14:01:12 GMT -5
The other option is to simply wait (and hope) for Mete to develop. He played with Weber last year and didn't look out of place, and he has all tools that you'd be looking for in a partner for the captain. Very fast and agile, likes to rush the puck, smart defensively, etc.. He's still only 20, and doesn't turn 21 until this year is finished. I know you don't want Mete playing 25 minutes a game, and he's probably never going to be a 25 minute a game player, but of those 25 minutes that Weber plays, 5-6 of them are on special teams. Can Mete play 18-20 minutes of five on five time? That's still a lot, but much more palpable in the grand scheme of things.
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Post by blny on Dec 5, 2018 14:11:28 GMT -5
The other option is to simply wait (and hope) for Mete to develop. He played with Weber last year and didn't look out of place, and he has all tools that you'd be looking for in a partner for the captain. Very fast and agile, likes to rush the puck, smart defensively, etc.. He's still only 20, and doesn't turn 21 until this year is finished. I know you don't want Mete playing 25 minutes a game, and he's probably never going to be a 25 minute a game player, but of those 25 minutes that Weber plays, 5-6 of them are on special teams. Can Mete play 18-20 minutes of five on five time? That's still a lot, but much more palpable in the grand scheme of things. That's my position. There's nothing on the market enticing enough to sacrifice what it would take. |
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Post by Willie Dog on Dec 5, 2018 16:18:24 GMT -5
The other option is to simply wait (and hope) for Mete to develop. He played with Weber last year and didn't look out of place, and he has all tools that you'd be looking for in a partner for the captain. Very fast and agile, likes to rush the puck, smart defensively, etc.. He's still only 20, and doesn't turn 21 until this year is finished. I know you don't want Mete playing 25 minutes a game, and he's probably never going to be a 25 minute a game player, but of those 25 minutes that Weber plays, 5-6 of them are on special teams. Can Mete play 18-20 minutes of five on five time? That's still a lot, but much more palpable in the grand scheme of things. That's my position. There's nothing on the market enticing enough to sacrifice what it would take. That's why sending Mete down when Weber was coming back made no sense to me... how much better is Schlemko going to get with 20 plus minutes a game and Webers guidance... I am pretty confidant Mete could be a great d man under Webers tutealage |
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Post by BadCompany on Dec 5, 2018 16:53:39 GMT -5
That's why sending Mete down when Weber was coming back made no sense to me... how much better is Schlemko going to get with 20 plus minutes a game and Webers guidance... I am pretty confidant Mete could be a great d man under Webers tutealage Leaving aside the fact that I don't think Schlemko is that bad (not elite of course, but not that bad), I think - I hope - that the plan is to deal him and/or Benn at the deadline for picks. And Anti Niemi too. If Joe Morrow and Al Montoya can bring back 4th rounders, surely those two can bring back something in the 4th-6th range? It's not a huge return of course, but it's still something. That's not going to happen if they don't play for the next 30 games, or if they get sent to the minors, or worse, if they are lost on waivers... I guess the logic is that it's not going to hurt Mete to play 20+ minutes a night for Joel Bouchard, and that if and when there are injuries they can bring him back up, while clinging to the hope that everybody else on the roster can still bring a little bit back in a trade. |
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Post by blny on Dec 5, 2018 17:40:59 GMT -5
That's why sending Mete down when Weber was coming back made no sense to me... how much better is Schlemko going to get with 20 plus minutes a game and Webers guidance... I am pretty confidant Mete could be a great d man under Webers tutealage Leaving aside the fact that I don't think Schlemko is that bad (not elite of course, but not that bad), I think - I hope - that the plan is to deal him and/or Benn at the deadline for picks. And Anti Niemi too. If Joe Morrow and Al Montoya can bring back 4th rounders, surely those two can bring back something in the 4th-6th range? It's not a huge return of course, but it's still something. That's not going to happen if they don't play for the next 30 games, or if they get sent to the minors, or worse, if they are lost on waivers... I guess the logic is that it's not going to hurt Mete to play 20+ minutes a night for Joel Bouchard, and that if and when there are injuries they can bring him back up, while clinging to the hope that everybody else on the roster can still bring a little bit back in a trade. This is likely the prevailing though. Let Mete play in Laval where he's going to get more prime minutes. Let him get some confidence and swagger back. FWIW, I think Schlemko and Niemi return more than Morrow and Montoya did. Maybe Schlemko takes a dip because he's got a year left on his deal. As a UFA, I think he's a 3rd round pick all day to a playoff team looking for depth and a guy that's a reasonable skater. Weber will make him look better than he is of course. With a year left, maybe it's a 4th. To the right team, I don't think it's an issue though. Niemi is a better goalie that Montoya. Capable goalies are hard to come by at the moment. There are a lot of guys struggling and getting paid big bucks. Some guys who got big contracts based on short samples, using the last iteration of equipment, are now going through waivers. Teams will be looking for insurance, for improvement, etc. Niemi could fit the bill. Should be a 3rd as well imo. I'd even take a contract with term back if it got us a haul. I know Lindgren's contract is one-way next year, but I see Primeau as the not-too-distant future. Not Lindgren. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 5, 2018 23:42:09 GMT -5
My big worry is that the dangle of possibly making the playoffs lures Berg into throwing out the current strategy of building through the draft, getting younger and faster, and building for the future. One bidding war for a high demand LHD like Muzzin could chuck that all out without really making us any closer to a true contender. The team has come back down to earth, but there is a nice buzz about the team and its direction. I also think his job is safe as a result of that. He may be less tempted to make a panic move...but he is Berg after all. If you want loyalty...expect the unexpected...the answer is in the room.
Talented LHD are hard to find. I am note sure any of our current young guys or prospects can or project to be able to play top minutes. BC’s approach to how to manage Mete seems reasonable. The 2019 draft is not a great draft for top end D. It is a forwards draft. So, I don’t see a saviour next June depending on where we end up drafting, although we could very well draft for need instead of BPA. Those drafts often don’t end well for Timmins.
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Post by folatre on Dec 7, 2018 19:24:22 GMT -5
Montreal is not a contender and there is basically no way to avoid Toronto or Tampa in the first round unless the Habs snag the first wildcard in which case the Capitals are probably standing in the way. Hopefully Molson and Bergevin are thinking strategically rather than unrealistically.
Someone is going to overpay for the privilege to have Muzzin for a little more than one season and someone, maybe the same club, will overpay for the privilege to buy a big chunk of his 30 something years at a very inflated rate. Giving up important building blocks for the future seems unwise and contradictory.
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