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Post by folatre on Aug 1, 2024 18:17:20 GMT -5
The problem with upgrading the bottom six this off-season is contract related. There were just so many immovable contracts that Hughes opted just to let things play out this season rather than saddling the Habs with frickin' long years of buyout dead money or giving up serious assets to try to entice another club to take a massively overpaid player. The churning effect will start to reshape the roster next spring/summer because Dvorak and Armia will be gone, Evans and Pezzetta could return or depart, and it would not be a shock if Hughes finds a way to trade one of Anderson or Gallagher when the term on those deals finally starts to be less problematic.
And basically I think Hughes sees homegrown kids (Beck, Xhekaj or Tuch, maybe Kapanen or Heineman) being well suited to occupy spots on the third and fourth lines in 2025-26.
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Post by Cranky on Aug 1, 2024 18:21:47 GMT -5
Part of managements job is to keep the faithful plied with copious amount of hopeium.
"Next year" always needs an ongoing narrative that is just vague enough that it doesn't become a rallying point.
Finally, we are not the fan base we use to be. You can sell us anything and we'll just swallow it.
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Post by franko on Aug 1, 2024 18:47:06 GMT -5
we are not the fan base we use to be. You can sell us anything and we'll just swallow it. are you saying that we've become Leaf fans? |
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Post by Tankdriver on Aug 1, 2024 18:53:02 GMT -5
I’m tempted to change my answer to no after these signings, but I won’t. Still disappointed on the trade front. Great draft and great housekeeping, but disappointed on the activity (that we know of, obviously) relating to trades and ufa signings. Especially after seeing what guys like Savoie, Holtz and Marino went for. However I do see I’m heavily in the minority, but I still worry that we won’t be taking a step forward next season. Put it this way: if I was MSL, I’d be wondering why the heck has management been putting it out there that the team wants to start competing for the playoffs next season when we haven’t done anything this summer to improve the club? No. You aren't alone. I have the same viewpoints as you. Draft: We did what we were supposed to do. Trades:None Free agents: Barree-Boulet a tweener between AHl and NHL So to me that's 33% of a successful off season. In the end, this is fine if we are wanting a bottom 10 pick but if we are looking to compete, we basically did nothing to get better. Demidov is not playing with us this year. |
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Post by seventeen on Aug 1, 2024 19:00:43 GMT -5
I’m tempted to change my answer to no after these signings, but I won’t. Still disappointed on the trade front. Great draft and great housekeeping, but disappointed on the activity (that we know of, obviously) relating to trades and ufa signings. Especially after seeing what guys like Savoie, Holtz and Marino went for. However I do see I’m heavily in the minority, but I still worry that we won’t be taking a step forward next season. Put it this way: if I was MSL, I’d be wondering why the heck has management been putting it out there that the team wants to start competing for the playoffs next season when we haven’t done anything this summer to improve the club? I may be in a minority as well, but I don't think either Savoie or Holtz is going to end up having any impact in the NHL, which might explain why the return was relatively little. Lucas Raymond and Alex Holtz were at the same potential level as 16 year olds. In their draft years, Raymond edged ahead slightly, but look at them now. |
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Post by seventeen on Aug 1, 2024 19:06:19 GMT -5
I’m tempted to change my answer to no after these signings, but I won’t. Still disappointed on the trade front. Great draft and great housekeeping, but disappointed on the activity (that we know of, obviously) relating to trades and ufa signings. Especially after seeing what guys like Savoie, Holtz and Marino went for. However I do see I’m heavily in the minority, but I still worry that we won’t be taking a step forward next season. Put it this way: if I was MSL, I’d be wondering why the heck has management been putting it out there that the team wants to start competing for the playoffs next season when we haven’t done anything this summer to improve the club? No. You aren't alone. I have the same viewpoints as you. Draft: We did what we were supposed to do. Trades:None Free agents: Barree-Boulet a tweener between AHl and NHL So to me that's 33% of a successful off season. In the end, this is fine if we are wanting a bottom 10 pick but if we are looking to compete, we basically did nothing to get better. Demidov is not playing with us this year. The summer isn't over yet. It seems whatever might have been possible from a trade perspective didn't carry sufficient value at the draft or shortly after. As training camp nears, there may be more pressure on GM's to get value for a contract headache, or an overabundance at one position, or a player who doesn't fit into the GM's plans, or simply a CAP issue that had become much more pressing close to the season opener. All those factors may open up something we don't know about yet or reduce the asking price for our guys. Patience, grasshoppers. The summer doesn't end till September 21. |
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Post by frozone on Aug 1, 2024 23:53:48 GMT -5
The problem with upgrading the bottom six this off-season is contract related. There were just so many immovable contracts that Hughes opted just to let things play out this season rather than saddling the Habs with frickin' long years of buyout dead money or giving up serious assets to try to entice another club to take a massively overpaid player. The churning effect will start to reshape the roster next spring/summer because Dvorak and Armia will be gone, Evans and Pezzetta could return or depart, and it would not be a shock if Hughes finds a way to trade one of Anderson or Gallagher when the term on those deals finally starts to be less problematic. And basically I think Hughes sees homegrown kids (Beck, Xhekaj or Tuch, maybe Kapanen or Heineman) being well suited to occupy spots on the third and fourth lines in 2025-26. Yea, that all makes sense. I certainly wouldn’t want to go down the buyout route, and I do think the dominoes will really start to fall once the vet contracts start expiring. However I’m not even expecting these expensive vet contracts to be traded right now. But the rebalancing of the roster and the roster continuity over the next couple of seasons definitely concerns me. Guhle, Xhekaj, Struble, Hutson, Harris… not only is that a logjam of LHD prospects, but they’re all knocking on the door within a VERY short timeframe. And that’s not counting the 62 point LHD already taking up a roster spot. Something has to give. And while we have too much internal competition on left D, we have virtually none on the wing aside from Demidov. Sure, I like Roy and I like Heineman, but I’ll bet that our expensive, underperforming vets aren’t exactly feeling the heat from prospects breathing down their necks. Maybe Hugo just needs more time to shuffle things around. I’ll be shocked if this goes unaddressed. |
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Post by seventeen on Aug 2, 2024 1:57:04 GMT -5
Yeah, I agree that the next weak spot requiring shoring is along the wings, specifically LW. Caufield is on the first line, we can assume Demigod will be on the 2nd or vice versa, leaving Newhook for the third. I think Alex will eventually end up on the wing. We have Beck, Kapinen and Hage coming as better established centres. That leaves the 4th line LW spot open and I can see Xhekaj perhaps ending up there or one of Kapinen or Dach (the loser of that other centre spot). RW is not that much better when we exclude guys who won't be there anymore, Anderson and Gallagher. Slaf, Roy, Armia is the line-up right now (again excluding Anderson and Gallagher. We'll have to find some wingers with all the draft picks we have, either via a trade or a very good pick. This is where McGroarty or Necas would come in handy.
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Post by Skilly on Aug 2, 2024 16:21:29 GMT -5
I'm disappointed because it's like Groundhog Day. I keep reading the same posts. We will shed this one and that one at the trade deadline, and get first and/or second round picks. Only time it happened was Sean Monahan. Then we read people saying I hope we get this one or that one in free agency, but it never happens. Then it's what if we get this one or that one via trade? Never happens. Then I read from the same people that this is not the year to go for it when those three ways to improve fail. Then the cycle continues ... I keep repeating myself too, and I'll say it again : when is the time to go for it? In my opinion, if the right player is available you don't wait because this is not the year to compete, you make it work. And I'm disappointed because I saw players out there that I felt would fit.
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Post by seventeen on Aug 2, 2024 18:33:20 GMT -5
Hugo haven't come out and said, "We're going to compete for a Cup on November 23rd, 2026, but they have inferred that they want to turn the corner, so to speak, this coming season, but only to shift up one gear. They don't feel the pieces are in place yet to go all out and they're right. There's no satisfaction in hoping they speed things up, only to upset the existing plan. The 2025/26 season is the one where they want to seriously contend for a playoff spot and the years after that to be the scary team they are constructing. Those Anderson and Gallagher contracts are anchors on the team, as is Price's. In 2 years max, Price's deal will be gone and Anderson's and Gally's contracts will only have 1 year remaining, making it easier to divest ourselves of them. By then, Caufield, Slaf, Suzuki, Guhle and a host of dmen will all have experience under their belts and will be in or entering their prime years. It's not easy to be patient, but we've seen what happens to management teams that turn up the oven temperature, hoping to bake the dough faster, instead of using a longer time at the right temp. (I'm hungry, how else to explain the cooking metaphors?)
They're doing it right, as much as it hurts to keep waiting.
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Post by frozone on Aug 2, 2024 22:57:24 GMT -5
Hugo haven't come out and said, "We're going to compete for a Cup on November 23rd, 2026, but they have inferred that they want to turn the corner, so to speak, this coming season, but only to shift up one gear. They don't feel the pieces are in place yet to go all out and they're right. There's no satisfaction in hoping they speed things up, only to upset the existing plan. The 2025/26 season is the one where they want to seriously contend for a playoff spot and the years after that to be the scary team they are constructing. Those Anderson and Gallagher contracts are anchors on the team, as is Price's. In 2 years max, Price's deal will be gone and Anderson's and Gally's contracts will only have 1 year remaining, making it easier to divest ourselves of them. By then, Caufield, Slaf, Suzuki, Guhle and a host of dmen will all have experience under their belts and will be in or entering their prime years. It's not easy to be patient, but we've seen what happens to management teams that turn up the oven temperature, hoping to bake the dough faster, instead of using a longer time at the right temp. (I'm hungry, how else to explain the cooking metaphors?) They're doing it right, as much as it hurts to keep waiting. Ok, so we have next season where we should take a good step forward, and then the following season 2025-26 where we should be making the playoffs. We can agree on that as the presumed timeline. Where we differ is that I don’t see how we will get there unless Hugo starts making moves now. - Our current roster should be better than last season’s so that we can take that step forward. I’m not convinced it is. I’m concerned that it’s worse. - Key prospects need to graduate to the big team now. If that doesn’t happen, then in 2025-26 we could have as rookies: Reinbacher, Mailloux, Hutson, Demidov, Beck… that’s a lot of rookies in key positions for a playoff team. - Our young recent graduates like Guhle, Xhekaj, Barron, Struble, Harris, Roy, also need significant playing time this upcoming season in order to keep developing. I suppose trading Kovacevic creates a vacancy (on the right, mind you… even though the surplus is on the left). - We have to figure out where we’re going to play Dach and Newhook so that they get some good experience under their belts in their proper positions. We don’t know if they’re our 2C and 3C or if they will both thrive as wingers. Maybe management wants to leave it up to MSL to figure out where he wants to use them, but the problem is that we won’t know where the holes in our lineup are until that gets sorted out. So we may have to address this topic also in a year or so. - For UFAs, we will have only one more crack at making UFA additions prior to the 2025-26 season. So for our playoff season, not only might we have an influx of several rookies, we may also have some key UFA signings joining the team. That’s a lot of roster turnover in a very short amount of time. This summer was/is an opportunity to spread out the succession. A near overhaul could await if Hugo takes too long to make some moves. |
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Post by franko on Aug 3, 2024 0:36:20 GMT -5
so trying to figure out which UFA the Habs missed out signing on a positive long term deal.
Marchessault 5x5per? perhaps
Tarasenko 2x4.75per? mmm
Monahan 5x5plus? DeBrusk 7x5.5? (7???) Skinner? uh . . .
I'm with Skilly . . . I want to see some improvement, this year. but I don't want to see moves made just to see moves made. and I want to see good moves made. 1 lifetime of MB is enough.
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Post by chicagohabs on Aug 3, 2024 0:48:16 GMT -5
Y'all are expecting a proper rebuild to look like a linear path to greatness when it is not. Dach playing what, 5 periods last season hurt their season a lot point wise, but not getting Demidov wise. The cupboard is overflowing with a lot of good prospects, they will mature like fine wine, some will be packaged up with draft picks to acquire quality rentals or veterans only when the time is right. That time is not now, it is nest season and thereafter. This year is the last of the young guns getting to play heavy minutes.
Patience kemesahbee,
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Post by Skilly on Aug 3, 2024 8:06:29 GMT -5
so trying to figure out which UFA the Habs missed out signing on a positive long term deal. Marchessault 5x5per? perhaps Tarasenko 2x4.75per? mmm Monahan 5x5plus? DeBrusk 7x5.5? (7???) Skinner? uh . . . I'm with Skilly . . . I want to see some improvement, this year. but I don't want to see moves made just to see moves made. and I want to see good moves made. 1 lifetime of MB is enough. There are the trade options as well that MTL keep being linked to. Now, every trade rumour could be hogwash, but some of them came from reliable sources. So, while we all debate the virtues of being patient and this is not the time. It sure feels like Hughes thinks it is the right time, but maybe it's not the right price. And that's what bothers me, I guess, cause I've lived through many many years of trades being hard and prices not being right, and I see the cupboard on this team, and it's overflowing to the point where THIS season is the time to decide who they are investing in. |
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Post by Skilly on Aug 3, 2024 8:12:35 GMT -5
Hugo haven't come out and said, "We're going to compete for a Cup on November 23rd, 2026, but they have inferred that they want to turn the corner, so to speak, this coming season, but only to shift up one gear. They don't feel the pieces are in place yet to go all out and they're right. There's no satisfaction in hoping they speed things up, only to upset the existing plan. The 2025/26 season is the one where they want to seriously contend for a playoff spot and the years after that to be the scary team they are constructing. Those Anderson and Gallagher contracts are anchors on the team, as is Price's. In 2 years max, Price's deal will be gone and Anderson's and Gally's contracts will only have 1 year remaining, making it easier to divest ourselves of them. By then, Caufield, Slaf, Suzuki, Guhle and a host of dmen will all have experience under their belts and will be in or entering their prime years. It's not easy to be patient, but we've seen what happens to management teams that turn up the oven temperature, hoping to bake the dough faster, instead of using a longer time at the right temp. (I'm hungry, how else to explain the cooking metaphors?) They're doing it right, as much as it hurts to keep waiting. Ok, so we have next season where we should take a good step forward, and then the following season 2025-26 where we should be making the playoffs. We can agree on that as the presumed timeline. Where we differ is that I don’t see how we will get there unless Hugo starts making moves now. - Our current roster should be better than last season’s so that we can take that step forward. I’m not convinced it is. I’m concerned that it’s worse. - Key prospects need to graduate to the big team now. If that doesn’t happen, then in 2025-26 we could have as rookies: Reinbacher, Mailloux, Hutson, Demidov, Beck… that’s a lot of rookies in key positions for a playoff team. - Our young recent graduates like Guhle, Xhekaj, Barron, Struble, Harris, Roy, also need significant playing time this upcoming season in order to keep developing. I suppose trading Kovacevic creates a vacancy (on the right, mind you… even though the surplus is on the left). - We have to figure out where we’re going to play Dach and Newhook so that they get some good experience under their belts in their proper positions. We don’t know if they’re our 2C and 3C or if they will both thrive as wingers. Maybe management wants to leave it up to MSL to figure out where he wants to use them, but the problem is that we won’t know where the holes in our lineup are until that gets sorted out. So we may have to address this topic also in a year or so. - For UFAs, we will have only one more crack at making UFA additions prior to the 2025-26 season. So for our playoff season, not only might we have an influx of several rookies, we may also have some key UFA signings joining the team. That’s a lot of roster turnover in a very short amount of time. This summer was/is an opportunity to spread out the succession. A near overhaul could await if Hugo takes too long to make some moves. Exactly. The only thing I'll add, is that you can't acquire someone and expect chemistry immediately. So, for instance, let's say Laine is available. Wouldn't you want him developing on this team with Dach in preparation for Demidov's arrival? Now it doesn't have to be Laine, it's just an example, but now we are getting precariously close to Dach having to get accustomed to TWO new linemates when it's our supposed playoff year. And if we are as bad this year (experts have us for dead last, some fans see no improvement) then it could be three new additions. Yes, too much talent is a good thing, but you want that talent developed not developing in 25-26. |
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Post by seventeen on Aug 3, 2024 11:24:21 GMT -5
so trying to figure out which UFA the Habs missed out signing on a positive long term deal. Marchessault 5x5per? perhaps Tarasenko 2x4.75per? mmm Monahan 5x5plus? DeBrusk 7x5.5? (7???) Skinner? uh . . . I'm with Skilly . . . I want to see some improvement, this year. but I don't want to see moves made just to see moves made. and I want to see good moves made. 1 lifetime of MB is enough. There are the trade options as well that MTL keep being linked to. Now, every trade rumour could be hogwash, but some of them came from reliable sources. So, while we all debate the virtues of being patient and this is not the time. It sure feels like Hughes thinks it is the right time, but maybe it's not the right price. And that's what bothers me, I guess, cause I've lived through many many years of trades being hard and prices not being right, and I see the cupboard on this team, and it's overflowing to the point where THIS season is the time to decide who they are investing in. I get your point, Skilly. I will mention that Hughes is nothing like the dipstick we had before. He worked a deal to move a good, defeloping defenseman for a 13th overall pick and then flip that for Dach. You wouldn't have been able to pry Romanov out of Berg's cold, dying hands. He then did a similar thing to get Newhook the following year. He's not shy about making those deals. They were fair deals, though, for both teams. We don't know the particulars of what Chevy or Verbeek or Tulsky are asking for McGroarty, Zegras or Necas. Probably too much, because that's what you start out with. Then, when the pressure increases, those asks and offers move closer together and a deal is possible. It's summer, vacation time. Deals are possible but slow in the making. The other factor I'm wondering about is just our own perceptions and expectations. I expect Guhle, Dach, Caufield, Slaf, Newhook, Roy, Reinbacher, Mailloux, Struble, Harris and Primeaui to all take another step up in their development this season. Others may not have as rosy an expectation. I think even if we add no one, we're going to be playing relevant games in Feb-March. That viewpoint is not shared by others. Aye, there's the rub, which is likely why I'm not as keen to add someone right now. |
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Post by franko on Aug 3, 2024 12:37:29 GMT -5
so trying to figure out which UFA the Habs missed out signing on a positive long term deal. Marchessault 5x5per? perhaps Tarasenko 2x4.75per? mmm Monahan 5x5plus? DeBrusk 7x5.5? (7???) Skinner? uh . . . I'm with Skilly . . . I want to see some improvement, this year. but I don't want to see moves made just to see moves made. and I want to see good moves made. 1 lifetime of MB is enough. There are the trade options as well that MTL keep being linked to. Now, every trade rumour could be hogwash, but some of them came from reliable sources. So, while we all debate the virtues of being patient and this is not the time. It sure feels like Hughes thinks it is the right time, but maybe it's not the right price. And that's what bothers me, I guess, cause I've lived through many many years of trades being hard and prices not being right, and I see the cupboard on this team, and it's overflowing to the point where THIS season is the time to decide who they are investing in. I get it too, Skilly. And I'm tired of waiting for the day that never seems to come (my patience is also wearing thin). But I've always thought that Hugo was taking small steps that lead to a leap into the big times. My time line was playoffs this year, contender next. If we are fighting for a spot until the last wee and don't make it in I'll be disappointed but (maybe) accept it. My point was that there was only one UFA that I might have thought was more than a filler, and that a trade would come by fall (it's the dog days of summer; a big trade by any team would surprise me). Come end August, though, I expect movement, a decision on the d-men that will go because of our over-abundance and a winger coming back. Agree: status quo will not do it. But that whole two to tango thing . . . maybe something is happening behind closed doors? We can . . . um . . . hope. |
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Post by seventeen on Aug 3, 2024 13:43:56 GMT -5
My guess is that there are calls ongoing regarding Laine. The contract has 2 years left on it, which is perfect. The CAP amount isn’t attractive and i think that’s what might be holding it up. Hughes probably wants out of either Anderson’s or Gallagher’s, but those are 3 year terms, so negate any benefit to Columbus. That might mean a sweetener on our behalf, which could be the sticking point.
A Laine with his head screwed on straight would be awesome on the 2nd line. Laine-Dach- Roy. Or Newhook in place of Roy. Deal me in.
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Post by Skilly on Aug 3, 2024 15:11:07 GMT -5
I haven’t been harping on the disappointment bus up to this point because I’m waiting for the start of the year. There are a few unknowns, especially with regards to Demidov, but if we start the season with TWO NHL capable defensemen in Laval, then I don’t know how we can say this off season was anything but a disappointment
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Post by folatre on Aug 3, 2024 19:33:27 GMT -5
Hughes may be on holiday for part of August, but that does not mean he is not continuing discussions with his peers. I do not think the door has closed on the forwards Montreal has been kicking tires on. It is simply the case that Hughes has no reason to put his best offer on the table when he is not facing any pressure point.
Regarding Laine, he is a depressed asset. Waddell can say hey we have no intention of retaining salary, but that is not reality. If Columbus wants to get anything even half-way respectable in return, then I see retaining at least $3 million per season as a prerequisite for Columbus getting back a couple of decent pieces. The only reason Montreal is talking to Columbus about a player whose career has gone off the rails is because there is not much term left and the high reward/low risk dynamic is attractive.
The other targets are less accessible because the asking price is very high. I think Verbeek is beyond sick of Zegras, but naturally he is signed for two more years so Anaheim responds to the inquiries about him as though the suitors were calling for Gretzky.
The McGroarty case could easily be frozen for another nine months because the kid is now packing his bags to return for his junior season at Michigan. And Chevaldayoff is not going to panic yet. Though unfortunately for the Jets, they are dealing with a situation where the kid has to basically approve the trade destination in order to get an equivalent asset back.
Who else could Hughes be really pressing hard on?
Necas? I doubt it because that expensive, two-year contract is problematic. Tulsky is asking the moon and if a club pays the king ransom to acquire him, they are exposed to risk because it not even possible to negotiate with Necas' camp until the summer of 2025, which is certainly not ideal when dealing with a guy who seems very intent on maximizing every dollar in free agency.
Farabee? I do not quite understand why the Flyers would be looking to trade him. Michkov signed. Okay, but for a team struggling to generate offense to light the lamp, why would getting one potentially elite goal scoring winger make them want to unload a young solid goal scorer who is not really on a bad contract? Who knows. After watching the draft this summer and the Konecny re-signing, it would not surprise me if Keith Jones and Briere do something stupid.
Ehlers? Obviously the Jets have to trade him at some point before the deadline if he wants nothing more to do with Winnipeg. But Hughes may see the guy as being outside the perfect age range. Ehlers will turn 29 this season, so would Montreal want to give a nice package (a first, a good prospect, and some secondary piece) for a guy who will be looking for at least 7 x 7?
Who else? I would throw out a name that has not been talked about in the rumor mill this summer. Dawson Mercer. He is an RFA, but hey he is not signed, which probably has not gone unnoticed by Hughes. Hughes knows this business from the inside and it would not shock me if he perceives Mercer may be feeling annoyed that New Jersey has binged on big money acquisitions over the last 24 months and are seemingly no longer in a cap position to give him a fair 6-8 year offer.
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Post by Willie Dog on Aug 3, 2024 19:50:15 GMT -5
If Hughes could pry Mercer from the Devils... Wow
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Post by folatre on Aug 3, 2024 22:30:26 GMT -5
I was at the rink this afternoon with a couple of other dads and the kids were breaking in brand new skates, so we were just having a summer hot stove session. The rolling topics eventually got onto the subject of a stealth trade target for the Habs and Mercer seemed like an interesting candidate.
We all agreed that there was no way New Jersey and Montreal are logical trade partners now because the Devils have a plenty of excellent young d-men and a nice balance with good well paid vets. So obviously they would not need the type of assets Montreal has in abundance given the riches the Habs have on the future blue line. That is when we started flipping the biscuit around and thinking about okay then it has to be a three team deal, so then what makes sense is triangulating in a three team deal.
I probably tossed out a Habs-friendly proposal or two and then backed off, and started to get realistic. Basically we finished a couple of cold pops and figured out the parameters of something that could satisfy all parties involved.
Montreal: Mercer, Salmononsson
Winnipeg: Reinbacher, Harris or Habs 2025 third
New Jersey: McGroarty
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Post by folatre on Aug 3, 2024 23:23:38 GMT -5
The way I see it Mercer is the most accomplished young piece in the trade, so Hughes shows everyone that he is committed to making Montreal better as soon as possible. Plus, the Habs have the cap space to give the kid something long term (maybe 6 x 6.5) that New Jersey does not have the space to accommodate.
Montreal also gives up the piece that, at least according to draft pedigree, is the top dog in the trade. So I think Winnipeg would have to toss in an nice RHD prospect (2022 2nd) who has a projectable frame and very good skating. Most will disagree with me about trading Reinbacher. But I think Mailloux is just starting to tap into his potential after having his development put on hold in the OHL. And if Hughes did trade Reinbacher he could always extend Savard for a year at a somewhat reduced AAV and then a kid like Salomonsson can marinate slowly.
For New Jersey, assuming they think McGroarty is either ready for top six wing duty or 3rd line center duty, they get the windfall of a talented young horse who is on an ECL instead of having to deal with Mercer's contractual situation so they would keep a lot of cap flexibility for going big game hunting at the start of camp (Laine with Columbus retaining half) or at the trade deadline.
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Post by Cranky on Aug 4, 2024 0:21:01 GMT -5
This place is killing me. So much hopium, only to find that it will never happen.
You want to get Mercer or another stud, are you willing to put Guhle or Rien on the line? Because that is what it will take.
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Post by folatre on Aug 4, 2024 0:58:36 GMT -5
Cranky, that is what I just laid out there. Reinbacher goes out the door in the three way trade and the Habs get Mercer.
Sure I am asking for an additional something since the Habs are filling a huge area of organizational need for Winnipeg and Reinbacher was the fifth overall last summer.
Hey obviously I get it that it is disconcerting for Habs fans to see the prospect apple cart upended where a kid like Reinbacher is suddenly traded. But that is the reality that it would take to acquire a young top six piece like Mercer.
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Post by seventeen on Aug 4, 2024 1:27:15 GMT -5
Laine was seen at a Montreal airport today or yesterday. Confirmed by Stu Cowan, a reputable source. Doesn't mean a trade’s in the works, as Cowan was quick to point out.
Gotta be interesting, though.
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Post by seventeen on Aug 4, 2024 1:34:36 GMT -5
Cranky, that is what I just laid out there. Reinbacher goes out the door in the three way trade and the Habs get Mercer. Sure I am asking for an additional something since the Habs are filling a huge area of organizational need for Winnipeg and Reinbacher was the fifth overall last summer. Hey obviously I get it that it is disconcerting for Habs fans to see the prospect apple cart upended where a kid like Reinbacher is suddenly traded. But that is the reality that it would take to acquire a young top six piece like Mercer. That’s a better scenario than most, folatre. Personally, I’d swap Reinbacher with Mailloux. I still can’t be persuaded that Mailloux’s game processing is going to improve. I have never seen that happen, so if he exhibits any deficiency in that area of the game, I don’t want him on my team. Nothing infuriates me more than dumb decisions. You should have heard me screaming at the tv as players on the Canadian women’s soccer team made poor decisions on the pitch today. I digress, but Reinbacher has no such processing weakness. I may be listening to too many critics of Mailloux, however. |
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Post by Cranky on Aug 4, 2024 2:08:51 GMT -5
Cranky, that is what I just laid out there. Reinbacher goes out the door in the three way trade and the Habs get Mercer. Sure I am asking for an additional something since the Habs are filling a huge area of organizational need for Winnipeg and Reinbacher was the fifth overall last summer. Hey obviously I get it that it is disconcerting for Habs fans to see the prospect apple cart upended where a kid like Reinbacher is suddenly traded. But that is the reality that it would take to acquire a young top six piece like Mercer. Why did Mercer drop to 33 pionts when he should of been closer to 50-60? That is not a trivial drop and in no way, shape or form that is acceptable. Exposure to full defensive responsibilities? Why? I'm not putting him on my wish list without a clear understanding as to why. Maybe aim lower and get Perfetti or Foerster? We're trying to get another top 6 and load up the lines, not McDavid or Crosby. |
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Post by frozone on Aug 4, 2024 10:48:35 GMT -5
I think Hugo are likely to sniff out stalled projects more so than anything. I think of Dylan Holloway or maybe even Kaapo Kakko if Gorton knows of a good reason why his development stalled. There’s Kent Johnson and Jonatan Berggren too.
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Post by IamCanadiens on Aug 4, 2024 10:54:51 GMT -5
I was at the rink this afternoon with a couple of other dads and the kids were breaking in brand new skates, so we were just having a summer hot stove session. The rolling topics eventually got onto the subject of a stealth trade target for the Habs and Mercer seemed like an interesting candidate. We all agreed that there was no way New Jersey and Montreal are logical trade partners now because the Devils have a plenty of excellent young d-men and a nice balance with good well paid vets. So obviously they would not need the type of assets Montreal has in abundance given the riches the Habs have on the future blue line. That is when we started flipping the biscuit around and thinking about okay then it has to be a three team deal, so then what makes sense is triangulating in a three team deal. I probably tossed out a Habs-friendly proposal or two and then backed off, and started to get realistic. Basically we finished a couple of cold pops and figured out the parameters of something that could satisfy all parties involved. Montreal: Mercer, Salmononsson Winnipeg: Reinbacher, Harris or Habs 2025 third New Jersey: McGroarty I get the concept of giving something to get something but I just can't see anything like this happening for 3 reasons beyond what has already been mentioned. First, we would be trading away a RHD which is not an area of strength. Trading a LHD would make more sense. Secondly, Reinbacher was drafted for his long term potential and he is our primary candidate for our future 1st pair RHD (dare to dream). He has only had a taste of North American hockey and his development is about to take off. He may never reach the ceiling that was projected but a high floor is a pretty safe bet. And finally he was drafted by this group whereas others were not. Regardless, a few of our young D will likely go but watching this glut of talent develop is pretty cool and the problem of diminishing prospect value is so much better than not having that problem. |
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