Forgive me if this has already been brought up, but Pierre Houde was on the radio this morning and the subject was, being in Colorado, obviously about the trade rumours surrounding the team. Houde mentioned that from what he hears, not only would Sakic like to trade both Landeskog and Duchene, but that he'd prefer it be done in the same trade.
Well if the Habs can add these two character types with huge talent, to their already potent core group, their odds go up greatly in being a potential SC champion. Depends upon what players are lost in the swap, Plekanec($7 mil.) is their best faceoff/two way center, no doubt, but that's for Duchene's($6 mil.) salary. The Landeskog(LW-$5.57 mil.) will require Desharnais($3.5mil.), Beaulieu($1 mil.)or Flynn($900,000) and the extra $1 mil. from Plekanec salary. Then it's the prospects & picks to make the trade work, (Sergachev negates Beaulieu), Sakic will want Lehkonen(LW)+ JDLR(LW/C)or McCarron(C/RW)[The Habs might be wise to add draft picks instead of losing all their quality prospects, leaving the cupboard bare in St.John's IMHO].Heavy price to pay if that doesn't bring the Habs the Stanley Cup, IMHO. Habs will have to move either Emelin or Beaulieu before the Expansion Draft, in this scenario. Also losing one of Lehkonen/McCarron is a huge loss in the Top Nine, going forward. If somehow they could move one of Emelin*($4mil.)/Beaulieu + Scherbak for Fowler(Anaheim), they are still faced with losing a Top Four Dman in the ED. Either Beaulieu for Hanzal (Ariz.) or Fisher(Nash.preferably if losing Plekanec IMHO.) giving the Habs some very good faceoff centers, despite losing one of the best two way centers in the NHL in Plekanec, IMHO.(Duchene, Danault, Hanzal/Fisher, Mitchell are all very capable in the faceoff circle.)Tonight the Habs only center to have a 50% faceoff average was Plekanec, this is a very significant stat. for any teams hopes in the playoffs. Here's hoping that the Habs are focusing upon practicing with Carbonneau, learning a few pointers in changing this deficiency, in time for the playoffs.
That's a lot to digest in a few trades, trying to solve all the salary cap issues, besides acquiring high quality depth in key positions, the Habs lose many if not most of our NHL ready prospects. Hoping they don't have any key injuries in the post season, as St.John's will be depleted like Hamilton was four yrs. ago, every time the Habs had an injury, they needed to make a trade.
Duchene and Landeskog costs way too much in cap.
If we trade Plekanec, do we have the space?
Assuminh Plek, Serg, 1st pick as a starter, wed need to add at least one big piece thats still young.
Obviously they want Gallagher, but im not giving him up. Same sentiment towards Lekhonen.
The Habs will be giving up quite a bit to make the big splash, that will make them the favorite team going into the playoffs, as every elite SC contender has each year.
Sergachev + McCarron + Juulsen + Andrighetto + 1st 17 + 1st 18 + 2nd 18 + Desharnais + Plekanec
Would that be enough for both of them (without giving up a roster player)?
But it would completely decimate our prospect pool
Pacioretty - Duchene - Radulov
Landeskog - Galchenyuk - Gallagher
Lehkonen - Danault - Shaw
Flynn - Mitchell - McCarron
This might be the best top 12 in the league
But I really doubt we try to get both of them because that would likely mean that we wont be able to resign Price
The Habs will sign Price, don't worry about that.
Alex Galchenyuk for John Tavares.
Dreaming, no way NYI's trade Tavares he's the face of their franchise, their fans would want Garth Snow's head on a plate.
I'd be all in for Landeskog and Duchesne if I was MB. Both are young, signed long term and fill a need. But realistically, we'd have to give up a lot.
My take:
Sergachev, Gallagher, plekanec, sherbak/mccarron/fucale/lindgren, first and second round pick.
Plekanec is mostly for salary purpose, but Colorado can get value out of him at the trade deadline or next year.
The proposal starts with sergachev since he's the one Colorado is targeting the most.
Biggest piece would be Gallagher, which value is pretty close to GL. He'd fit right along with them for the next 5 years.
Col also needs a goalie prospect, i bet they'd be please with Lindgren. McCarron and sherbak are our best offensive prospects, they can take one of em.
And they get a first and second this year.
Plus it all fits salary wise.
Do it MB !
I'm quite positive Bergevin intends to be looking to bring the SC home to the Mecca of hockey this spring, it's going to be very festive in good old Montreal in June, if Bergy has his way, at least that's all Habs fans hopes, IMHO!!!...