Mantha....

[Cranky]

Of course we need an LHD, but we could also use more non-Toffoli scoring from the left side.

Mantha is local, as big as Dubois and even though he has shown a sub 50 point ceiling, I got a hunch that it's going to be more like 30/60 plus playing with Anderson. I'm dreaming in Mantha-Kk-Anderson of uncontrollable beef.

So...to give in order to get....and balance the cap.

Caufield, Byron and our late 2nd for....Mantha.

Comments?

[Willie Dog]

Caufield is a no go for me, we've been screaming for a sniper and we'll trade him away for a sub 50 point guy.... I'd give this years 1st, byron &/or Armia and a 3rd

[Cranky]

The problem is that if Caufield isn't what we think he is, his value will evaporate faster the water in a hot Greek summers day.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

He'd be a hometown boy and that would affect the asking price ... this is only a starting point ... the salaries are a wash ... 

To Montreal		To Detroit
Anthony Mantha		Tomas Tatar
William Wallinder		Cole Caufield
		Victor Mete
		1st

[BadCompany]

Unless we're talking about an Eichel-like return, Caufield is a non-starter for me. Yeah, he may bust... but we said the same thing about Sergachev. If we're going to be giving up one of the best prospects in hockey then I want something more than a 25 goal, 55 point guy, no matter how physical he his.

At any rate, as capfriendly's trade machine indicates it's going to be extremely difficult to pull off any major trade without significant salary going back the other way. Throw in the 14 day quarantine and it becomes really dicey. Let's say they trade for Mantha on Deadline Day, which is April 12th, including Tatar for cap purposes. Mantha wouldn't be eligible to play until April 26th. I checked the schedule, and that's 7 games down the stretch where we would be playing without Tatar, Chiarot, Mantha, and whoever else happens to be injured or unavailable. Maybe more, if Mantha doesn't get out of Detroit on deadline day, and doesn't leave for another day or two (the Red Wings are in Carolina on the 12th). If things go bad during those 7 games we may not even make the playoffs, especially since 4 of our last 6 games are against the Leafs.

The speculation is that Canadian teams, if they are trading with US teams, will have to make a deal around the end of March to really avoid quarantine hassles. So in two weeks. But of course that just adds two weeks to the salary cap that you have to account for. Again, see capfriendly's trade machine. It may not be 100% accurate, but it's probably pretty close, moreso when you factor in possible bonuses for Kotkaniemi, Suzuki, and Romanov, and LTIR, which may come into play if Chiarot comes back before the end of the season.

It's complicated. Bergevin is obviously trying to clear some cap space, but I don't know if it's going to be as much as we hope it is.

[Boston_Habs]

Mar 17, 2021 8:19:20 GMT -5 BadCompany said:

It's complicated. Bergevin is obviously trying to clear some cap space, but I don't know if it's going to be as much as we hope it is.

It's a weird year. The schedule, no fans, Covid. Nobody's having fun and you see it in the NBA and the NHL. Both leagues have been forced to soldier through to protect the TV money and the overall health of the franchises so it's hard to use this year as a guide. Especially for teams like Montreal which underwent some big roster moves and a coaching change.

Far be it from me to make excuses for Bergevin, but I'm almost willing to throw this year out as a building experience leading into what will hopefully be a "normal" 2021-22 season.

That said, if there are smart moves to make then Berg should make them but not to maximize this year. I'd consider dealing any of Tatar, Danault, Armia because I'm not sure losing any of those guys will impact our playoff chances or prospects this year. Or I'd make a larger deal to lock up a young player for a longer term. I'd also see if we can get out from under the Weber or Price deals, but that would be too much of a white flag move by Berg. Only a successor GM would trade those guys, I'm afraid.

It's another reason why I like Bill Belichick. He cuts his losses and doesn't dwell on the past. The Patriots just signed a bunch of free agents including two tight ends a year after drafting 2 of them in the 3rd round. He also signed more receiver depth after drafting a WR in the 1st round a couple of years ago. An admission that those guys and previous drafts have been busts? Probably, but Bill doesn't care. He moves on from guys and mistakes quickly if it means making the team better. Obviously he's earned that right after 6 Super Bowls but you get the point. Berg spends so much time pumping up the Weber trade, "best trade I've ever made", etc. Like he has to constantly defend it. Bill would have probably flipped Weber a couple of years ago once it was apparent this was going to be a long-term rebuild. He'd just say he's making decisions in the best interests of the team and that would be the end of the discussion.

[seventeen]

It's definitely not easy cutting your losses. I dabble a bit with a brokerage account and if I buy a stock and it goes down, I give it a lot of rope before selling. Often, it's too much rope. But I keep telling myself, I'll sell it on a bounce, and when the bounce happens, I tell myself it's likely to keep going up. I have all kinds of excuses for not cutting my losses and putting a big exclamation mark over the mistake. But its better for my financial health if I admit it early and move on. One should never get too attached to a stock.

Bergevin is behaving just like that with Price and Weber (and Gallagher and everyone else he likes a lot). He has a connection with those guys and it would be incredibly hard for him to trade them. Weber, especially, would be difficult, because that is his defining trade. It describes him perfectly....safe, avoiding risk at all costs. The problem is that no one ever won anything playing it safe. There are always others willing to be bold and take chances and one of those guys inevitably ends up being right.