Would Buffalo fans agree to this trade?
To BUFFALO:
Arturri Lehkonen, 22 (839k for 1 more year then RFA)
Nikita Scherbak, 22 (863k for 1 more year then RFA)
Michael McCarron, 23 (currently RFA)
Charlie Lindgren, 24 (750k for 3 more years, then UFA)
Montreal's 2nd round pick 2018
Montreal's 3rd round pick 2019
To MONTREAL:
Ryan O'Reilly, 27 (7.5M for 5 more years, then UFA)
Jason Pominville, 35 (5,6M for 1 more year, then UFA)
The main piece coming back to Buffalo is obviously Lehkonen, a young goal scorer who plays a responsible 2-way game and has the potential to be a 30 goal scorer in this league. He already is a legit top-6 player. Buffalo gets 3 young forwards to add to their depth, as they try to surround Eichel, Reinhart, Mittelstadt, Nylander, Girgensons, Rodrigues, Asplund, Pu, etc. with quality players. They also get to ditch Pominville's contract; it creates a roster spot for a younger player. Scherbak holds the second most value in this deal, a talented winger who has improved slowly but steadily since being drafted. He projects as a top-9 winger who may be able to score 50 pts one day. The Sabres, rumoured to be ditching Lehner, also get an NHL-ready tender in Lindgren, whom paired with Ullmark, gives the Sabres an interesting young duo between the pipes that can grow together. With Dahlin and Ristolainen on the backend, this deal basically sets up the Sabres very well on the long-term, giving them young quality depth at every single position, leaving only a few minor tweaks here and there before they become real contenders. Montreal's 2nd in 2018 is also very early and could become a great asset for the Sabres down the road.
Montreal gives up a lot of depth, but acquire the best player in the deal. His cap hit is a bit high, but Montreal can easily absorb it right now, and the cap will rise in the coming years. The Habs have lacked a #1 C forever, and ROR can finally slot into that spot. Bergevin will love his attitude/character and competitiveness, and it will allow for Drouin to switch back to wing, given the Habs can make Bozak or Stastny sign a contract this summer, as a stopgap for Poehling. I have the Habs drafting a D like Bouchard/Hughes/Dobson with their 1st, which would leave Pacioretty/Drouin/Domi/ROR/Gallagher/Bozak as their top-6 up front, with Danault, Byron, Hudon on the 3rd and De La Rose, A.Shaw and Pominville on the 4th. It is respectable for the time being. On D, their new guy like Dobson with Mete and Juulsen gives them a future top-3 of high caliber, to go along with the veterans Weber and Petry. The Habs want to compete while still maintening a young roster, and they will be doing that even though they do get rid of some young depth in this trade. They will have a solid mix of veterans and kids, a talented lineup with potential. Of course the key is Price's play, and that's very much up in the air right now.
To BUFFALO:
Arturri Lehkonen, 22 (839k for 1 more year then RFA)
Nikita Scherbak, 22 (863k for 1 more year then RFA)
Michael McCarron, 23 (currently RFA)
Charlie Lindgren, 24 (750k for 3 more years, then UFA)
Montreal's 2nd round pick 2018
Montreal's 3rd round pick 2019
To MONTREAL:
Ryan O'Reilly, 27 (7.5M for 5 more years, then UFA)
Jason Pominville, 35 (5,6M for 1 more year, then UFA)
The main piece coming back to Buffalo is obviously Lehkonen, a young goal scorer who plays a responsible 2-way game and has the potential to be a 30 goal scorer in this league. He already is a legit top-6 player. Buffalo gets 3 young forwards to add to their depth, as they try to surround Eichel, Reinhart, Mittelstadt, Nylander, Girgensons, Rodrigues, Asplund, Pu, etc. with quality players. They also get to ditch Pominville's contract; it creates a roster spot for a younger player. Scherbak holds the second most value in this deal, a talented winger who has improved slowly but steadily since being drafted. He projects as a top-9 winger who may be able to score 50 pts one day. The Sabres, rumoured to be ditching Lehner, also get an NHL-ready tender in Lindgren, whom paired with Ullmark, gives the Sabres an interesting young duo between the pipes that can grow together. With Dahlin and Ristolainen on the backend, this deal basically sets up the Sabres very well on the long-term, giving them young quality depth at every single position, leaving only a few minor tweaks here and there before they become real contenders. Montreal's 2nd in 2018 is also very early and could become a great asset for the Sabres down the road.
Montreal gives up a lot of depth, but acquire the best player in the deal. His cap hit is a bit high, but Montreal can easily absorb it right now, and the cap will rise in the coming years. The Habs have lacked a #1 C forever, and ROR can finally slot into that spot. Bergevin will love his attitude/character and competitiveness, and it will allow for Drouin to switch back to wing, given the Habs can make Bozak or Stastny sign a contract this summer, as a stopgap for Poehling. I have the Habs drafting a D like Bouchard/Hughes/Dobson with their 1st, which would leave Pacioretty/Drouin/Domi/ROR/Gallagher/Bozak as their top-6 up front, with Danault, Byron, Hudon on the 3rd and De La Rose, A.Shaw and Pominville on the 4th. It is respectable for the time being. On D, their new guy like Dobson with Mete and Juulsen gives them a future top-3 of high caliber, to go along with the veterans Weber and Petry. The Habs want to compete while still maintening a young roster, and they will be doing that even though they do get rid of some young depth in this trade. They will have a solid mix of veterans and kids, a talented lineup with potential. Of course the key is Price's play, and that's very much up in the air right now.
