Speculation: Habs on Tradecentre Part 8 (Post-Deadline & Free Agency Talk: All proposals here)

[bsl]

I always saw Stalberg as a more offensive version of Jason Chimera. Ladd is more physical and has a better offensive upside imho and i prefer a guy like that who will use his size more often. That said that doesn't mean Stalberg wouldn't be a good fit for our bottom 9. Bergevin was with the Hawks when they got him so he probably know quite a bit about the guy. If he sign him this summer and think he would look good on the Habs then i will trust his judgement.

But give me 1 or 2 D first. I will be disappointed if he gets a forward but we start the season with the same D corps we have now.

You are correct. Forward next year looks...decent. We have Chucky and Gally, possibly Kristo makes the team, you never know, and Dumont, my future favorite Hab, might stick. Add a tough young hungry son of a ***** on the fourth to help Prust. Dump Moen if possible.

Maybe re sign Ryder, but not likely. I think the kids can provide enough scoring. Should be good until deadline. Go for the sniper at the deadline if we are top 6 in conference.

D? Not so good. This is where I agree with you. Markov will need to drop to no. 4-5 next year, PP specialist and depth. Tinordi needs another half year in AHL, same with Beaulieu. Ellis not ready I think, if ever. We will be short a top 4.

We need a top 4 cruncher, and we need to pay big money for him. I will have no probs with this, as we are entering cup window, and we need more depth on D.

This summer is the time for Bergy to go big time for a big tough top 4 D man X, no question. Sign 3-4 years, no probs. There are always D injuries, always, and with one more tough guy, that gives us Emelin, Tinordi and X as tough depth. One of them will always be hurt, but it always leaves us 2 tough D men healthy for 3 years, and we will need it.

 

[Habtchum*]

You are correct. Forward next year looks...decent. We have Chucky and Gally, possibly Kristo makes the team, you never know, and Dumont, my future favorite Hab, might stick. Add a tough son of a ***** on the fourth to help Prust. Maybe re sign Ryder, but not likely. Should be good until deadline. Go for the sniper at the deadline if we are top 6 in conference.

D? Not so good. This is where I agree with you. Markov will need to drop to no. 4-5 next year, PP specialist and depth. Tinordi needs another half year in AHL, same with Beaulieu. Ellis not ready I think, if ever. We will be short a top 4.

We need a top 4 cruncher, and we need to pay big for it. I will have no probs with this, as we are entering cup window, and we need more depth on D.

This summer is the time for Bergy to go big time for a big tough top 4 D man, no question.

I would like as much as anyone to get this guy, but with Subban, Markov, Gorges and Emelin (or Diaz) as our top four, I would settle for a very reliable, big, strong, gritty #5 d-man, which might be cheaper.

 

[Picaroon]

I think Vancouver would be our best bet to snatch a top 4 d-man. They are dishing out top 4 money to 5 guys right now. Edler's new contract kicks in next year and they have to re-sign Tanev who has emerged as a top 4 d-man as well according to their fans.

I would give Bieksa some serious consideration. He's looking like the odd man out there. He isn't huge but he's damn tough and has put up some solid numbers in his career and he is a righty. His contract is a little on the pricey side but he only has 3 years left after this season.

I haven't caught much of the Canucks this year so I'm not really sure how he's looked. Always liked his game in the past though. Maybe someone could enlighten me on his season so far.

 

[bsl]

I would like as much as anyone to get this guy, but with Subban, Markov, Gorges and Emelin (or Diaz) as our top four, I would settle for a very reliable, big, strong, gritty #5 d-man, which might be cheaper.

Sensible, but you missed my point: D men are ALWAYS hurt. One guy is ALWAYS out. Pay big time for a top 4, and he will play.

To reinforce: If Bergy goes cheap this summer, and we sign an 'OK' no. 5 guy, you will be crying yourself to sleep when Subby misses 20 games with a broken wrist.

Pay the money, get the top 4 cruncher. As Smith in the Matrix said: 'This is our time'.

 

[Habtchum*]

Sensible, but you missed my point: D men are ALWAYS hurt. One guy is ALWAYS out. Pay big time for a top 4, and he will play.

To reinforce: If Bergy goes cheap this summer, and we sign an 'OK' no. 5 guy, you will be crying yourself to sleep when Subby misses 20 games with a broken wrist.

Pay the money, get the top 4 cruncher. As Smith in the Matrix said: 'This is our time'.

Ottawa found one for not that much last Summer when they acquired Methot for Foligno. If we could get a steady, big guy like him, I would be happy. Tim Gleason or Jay Harrisson in Carolina could be interesting, as well as Michalek in Phoenix.

 

[bsl]

I think Vancouver would be our best bet to snatch a top 4 d-man. They are dishing out top 4 money to 5 guys right now. Edler's new contract kicks in next year and they have to re-sign Tanev who has emerged as a top 4 d-man as well according to their fans.

I would give Bieksa some serious consideration. He's looking like the odd man out there. He isn't huge but he's damn tough and has put up some solid numbers in his career and he is a righty. His contract is a little on the pricey side but he only has 3 years left after this season.

I haven't caught much of the Canucks this year so I'm not really sure how he's looked. Always liked his game in the past though. Maybe someone could enlighten me on his season so far.

Excellent. Very interesting. Thank you for doing the research I was too lazy to do. Bieksa, if there are no issues, is the level we should be gunning for, nothing less. And there must be a few others. Not many, but a few. And we will have to pay big time to get one of them. We will have to overpay. That is my point.

I think what helps is our season this year, and the chance for a good solid no 4 guy to play on a young contender, and to play with Subby, who may be the next monster D in the NHL.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

We need to go for a Marc Methot/Derek Morris/Mark Stuart type of defenseman and a younger version of Halpern like Thompson/Slater in the summer.

 

[bsl]

Ottawa found one for not that much last Summer when they acquired Methot for Foligno. If we could get a steady, big guy like him, I would be happy. Tim Gleason or Jay Harrisson in Carolina could be interesting, as well as Michalek in Phoenix.

Well done, that is why I enjoy this board, there are a lot of knowledgeable guys here. That's 4 suggestions already. We need to PAY, and we need to do it this summer.

 

[Fozz]

We need to go for a Marc Methot/Derek Morris/Mark Stuart type of defenseman and a younger version of Halpern like Thompson/Slater in the summer.

Methot is the only interesting comparative in your list. Morris & Stuart are just not that good anymore. Thompson just re-signed in Tampa and Slater is a dime-a-dozen player.

There's one UFA I'd target above all others and that's David Clarkson. He fits exactly what the Habs need.

 

[Picaroon]

Excellent. Very interesting. Thank you for doing the research I was too lazy to do. Bieksa, if there are no issues, is the level we should be gunning for, nothing less. And there must be a few others. Not many, but a few. And we will have to pay big time to get one of them. We will have to overpay. That is my point.

I think what helps is our season this year, and the chance for a good solid no 4 guy to play on a young contender, and to play with Subby, who may be the next monster D in the NHL.

Gorges-----Subban
Markov-----Bieksa
Emelin------Diaz

Would be a sick D I think. Nicely balanced. I'm not too sure what Vancouver would be interested in. They seem to be working on a bit of a youth movement and they'll definitely want to shed some salary. So maybe a prospect and a pick could work. I'd give Leblanc, a 2nd and throw in Moen for cap balance and to feed the "grit" identity crisis they seem to have going on. I'd try to squeeze a 5th out of them too

 

[Habtchum*]

Gorges-----Subban
Markov-----Bieksa
Emelin------Diaz

Would be a sick D I think. Nicely balanced. I'm not too sure what Vancouver would be interested in. They seem to be working on a bit of a youth movement and they'll definitely want to shed some salary. So maybe a prospect and a pick could work. I'd give Leblanc, a 2nd and throw in Moen for cap balance and to feed the "grit" identity crisis they seem to have going on. I'd try to squeeze a 5th out of them too

Canucks would ask for Tinordi.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

Methot is the only interesting comparative in your list. Morris & Stuart are just not that good anymore. Thompson just re-signed in Tampa and Slater is a dim-a-dozen player.

There's one UFA I'd target above all others and that's David Clarkson. He fits exactly what the Habs need.

Morris has been getting a lot of praise in Phoenix for his play this year and he's not that old (34 years old), Stuart is a solid bottom pairing defenseman (brings size and he's only 28).

And as for Thompson I know but I'm talking about players like him, I think you're underrating Slater, anyway if Moore is ready to play again I'd give him that spot on our 4th line.

 

[bsl]

We need to go for a Marc Methot/Derek Morris/Mark Stuart type of defenseman and a younger version of Halpern like Thompson/Slater in the summer.

Sorry don't know these guys, It is hard to follow as I am very far away. I was suggesting a young, hungry smashmouth guy to help Prust.

I think Eller and Chucky might cover us on faceoffs next year, but I could be wrong. It would be good to have an excellent PK center, but not sure we can afford it.

Tell me more about Thompson and Slater. Are they in fact available at reasonable cost? Or available at all? Because I think we should spend money on a top 4 D, not forwards.

 

[Picaroon]

Canucks would ask for Tinordi.

Which would end the deal immediately. And we would tell them to have fun looking for another team willing to give up a 6'7" former 1st rounder about to break in to the NHL for their overpaid d-man which they have in excess.

 

[bsl]

Methot is the only interesting comparative in your list. Morris & Stuart are just not that good anymore. Thompson just re-signed in Tampa and Slater is a dim-a-dozen player.

There's one UFA I'd target above all others and that's David Clarkson. He fits exactly what the Habs need.

But not a Dman. I know what you mean, but I think a no. 4 Dman is a higher priority. Can we do both?

 

[bsl]

Gorges-----Subban
Markov-----Bieksa
Emelin------Diaz

Would be a sick D I think. Nicely balanced. I'm not too sure what Vancouver would be interested in. They seem to be working on a bit of a youth movement and they'll definitely want to shed some salary. So maybe a prospect and a pick could work. I'd give Leblanc, a 2nd and throw in Moen for cap balance and to feed the "grit" identity crisis they seem to have going on. I'd try to squeeze a 5th out of them too

Nice D. Big depth. Toughness. Tinordi in the wings. That's what I'm talking about. The lower cap next year means that quality D men WILL be available from teams that are rich in D. Hope Bergy is in his Evil Lair, identifying the prospects as we speak.

 

[bsl]

Canucks would ask for Tinordi.

Which defeats the point. We need three tough D the next three years, minimum.

 

[bsl]

Which would end the deal immediately. And we would tell them to have fun looking for another team willing to give up a 6'7" former 1st rounder about to break in to the NHL for their overpaid d-man which they have in excess.

Whose father could punch nails into 2X4's with bare hands.

 

[Habsterix*]

I'd suggest staying away from Bieksa... he's not the player he used to be.

 

[Habtchum*]

Ryan O'Byrne will be UFA next July... A big RH shot. And possibly quite cheap to sign. Each pairing with some d-minded guys + an offensive puck carrier/shooter + Emelin back on his natural side.

Markov - O'Byrne

Gorges - Subban

Emelin - Diaz

Bouillon

Tinordi and Beaulieu (+ Weber or Drewiskie) ready for some action.

 

[Picaroon]

I'd suggest staying away from Bieksa... he's not the player he used to be.

Vancouver doesn't seem to be quite the team they used to be either. Why do you say that?

Another player I'd look at is Brooks Orpik. Pittsburgh is deep on D with lots of up and comers. Plus they have a lot of UFA's to consider signing.

 

[Draft]

You are correct. Forward next year looks...decent. We have Chucky and Gally, possibly Kristo makes the team, you never know, and Dumont, my future favorite Hab, might stick. Add a tough son of a ***** on the fourth to help Prust. Maybe re sign Ryder, but not likely. Should be good until deadline. Go for the sniper at the deadline if we are top 6 in conference.

D? Not so good. This is where I agree with you. Markov will need to drop to no. 4-5 next year, PP specialist and depth. Tinordi needs another half year in AHL, same with Beaulieu. Ellis not ready I think, if ever. We will be short a top 4.

We need a top 4 cruncher, and we need to pay big for it. I will have no probs with this, as we are entering cup window, and we need more depth on D.

This summer is the time for Bergy to go big time for a big tough top 4 D man, no question.

The Habs won't struggle under the cap this summer, unlike several teams with lots of defensive depth. From the sounds of it, Chicago fans have been quite unimpressed with Seabrook this year. Apparently he's been outperformed by Hjalmarsson, thus making Hjalmarsson a no-trade and Seabrook a possibility (to the fans at least). His contract is 5.8mil until 2016-2017. He's big, tough, offensively reliable, 27yrs old. He is one of the best defenceman in the league but, perhaps not this year from the sounds of things. What would it take to get him? Chicago needs a cheap #2 Center, likely a cheap defenceman in return and perhaps bottom 6 wingers. What can be made around the following? Is there interest for Montreal giving up real assets?

Desharnais (1mil retained) + Emelin/Diaz + xxx

or

Eller + Diaz/Emelin + xxx

or

Plekanec + xxx



On a slightly more realistic note, Boston will also need to make moves to stay be under the cap. Any interest in Jordan Caron? Tainted goods and Boston will likely try and retain him. What would we be willing to pay? He's big, could play 4th line if needed, projects to be 3rd line ~20+20.

Kyle Beach is another RFA from CHI. Very poor attitude, scored 52 goals in the WHL, tough enough. His stock has dropped considerably but may benefit from a change of scenery.

 

[Habtchum*]

Vancouver doesn't seem to be quite the team they used to be either. Why do you say that?

Another player I'd look at is Brooks Orpik. Pittsburgh is deep on D with lots of up and comers. Plus they have a lot of UFA's to consider signing.

Orpik is a mainstay on their blueline. Wouls had like the Habs to draft him instead of Komisarek few years ago.

 

[Habsterix*]

Vancouver doesn't seem to be quite the team they used to be either. Why do you say that?

Bieksa has always been prone to brain cramps but he has lost a lot of speed in the last couple of years and he can't make up for his mistakes anymore, while he seems to be making more and more mistakes. He's a tough player who has hard miles on his body.

 

[Picaroon]

Bieksa has always been prone to brain cramps but he has lost a lot of speed in the last couple of years and he can't make up for his mistakes anymore, while he seems to be making more and more mistakes. He's a tough player who has hard miles on his body.

Makes sense. I knew he was known for taking some bad penalties and that sort of thing. If he really is regressing I'd still look in to trying to get him cheap.