1- This summer at the draft :
Armia + Win 1st
for
Kakko, with a 2 years, 3M$ per contract
2- I don't want to trade Caufield except for an upgrade at his position. So next summer (2025):
Caufield
Habs 2026 1st
Barron or Mailloux
for
Kaprizov with an 7 years extension at 12 M$ per that brings him to 36 years old. I know his 35 and 36 yo might be a risk at that salary but that should concide with the end of Habs contending window, so i don't care.
3- Same offseason, at the draft :
Matheson + worst of our 2025 1st (Habs, Calgary or Florida) + Harris
for
Rasmus Andersson with a 7 years extension at 7M$ per
Calgary can trade Matheson at the deadline for probably a 1st or just keep and extend him if they don't want to go full rebuild.
So our 2025-2026 contending lineup
:
Slaf-Suzuki-Kaprizov
Demidov/Lindstrom-Dach-Roy/Newhook
Roy/Newhook-Beck-Kakko
Anderson (i know)-Evans-Gallagher
Guhle-Andersson
Hutson-Reinbacher
Xhekaj-Mailloux/Barron/Engstrom
Struble
Montembault
Primeau
About the contending thing, i don't really believe it for 2025-2026 season because there will be to many young/rookie players at importante position like Beck, Hutson, Reinbacher but this would be a f***ing good and talented roster with not many weaknesses. Would still be a year Habs start making alot of noise.