Speculation: Early predictions: contracts for UFAs and RFAs next year

Le Tricolore

Boo! BOOOO!
Aug 3, 2005
46,824
17,398
Montreal
Armia is RFA and coming out of $1.85M contract. - Staying
Weal is UFA and coming out of a $1,75M contract. - Staying
Thompson is UFA and coming out of a $1.65M contract - Leaving
Lehkonen is RFA and coming out of his ELC deal - Staying
Hudon is RFA and coming out of a 650K deal - Leaving
Benn is UFA and coming out of $1.1M deal - Leaving
Kulak is RFA and coming out of 900K deal - Staying
Folin is UFA and was earning 650K - Leaving
Reilly is RFA and was earning 900K - Leaving
Niemi is UFA and was on a 950K deal - Leaving


So of our free agents, I can see us keeping four of them. Maybe Hudon will be qualified but I doubt he plays another game with the Habs.
 

beowulf

Not a nice guy.
Jan 29, 2005
59,361
8,958
Ottawa
I can't talk much about RFA/UFAs, but I'm fairly certain Drouin is gone this off-season.

Otherwise, I guess it's likely to see Armia, Weal, Kulak, and maybe Benn extend. I think Lehkonen gets a small bridge prove-yourself contract or gets traded as well.

Drouin is not going anywhere unless the GM changes and even then...not likely.
 

LaP

Registered User
Jun 27, 2012
24,292
17,398
Quebec City, Canada
THis is what i think MB will do not what i would do.

Armia is RFA and coming out of $1.85M contract. staying
Weal is UFA and coming out of a $1,75M contract. definitaly staying without any doubt and will be overpaid for too many years
Thompson is UFA and coming out of a $1.65M contract not staying
Lehkonen is RFA and coming out of his ELC deal staying
Hudon is RFA and coming out of a 650K deal not staying
Benn is UFA and coming out of $1.1M deal staying
Kulak is RFA and coming out of 900K deal staying
Folin is UFA and was earning 650K staying
Reilly is RFA and was earning 900K not staying
Niemi is UFA and was on a 950K deal not staying
 

beowulf

Not a nice guy.
Jan 29, 2005
59,361
8,958
Ottawa
Armia is RFA and coming out of $1.85M contract. - Staying
Weal is UFA and coming out of a $1,75M contract. - Staying
Thompson is UFA and coming out of a $1.65M contract - Leaving
Lehkonen is RFA and coming out of his ELC deal - Staying
Hudon is RFA and coming out of a 650K deal - Leaving
Benn is UFA and coming out of $1.1M deal - Leaving
Kulak is RFA and coming out of 900K deal - Staying
Folin is UFA and was earning 650K - Leaving
Reilly is RFA and was earning 900K - Leaving
Niemi is UFA and was on a 950K deal - Leaving


So of our free agents, I can see us keeping four of them. Maybe Hudon will be qualified but I doubt he plays another game with the Habs.

Agree except with Benn unless he asks for a ton of money he stays simply because both the GM and coach seem to like him a fair bit.
 

ottawa

Avatar of the Year*
Nov 7, 2012
33,703
10,208
Orléans/Toronto
Gone:
Thompson (Poehling can be our 4C)
Hudon
Benn (just plain awful)
Folin
Niemi (Lindgren signed to 3 years)

49 contract spots total
 

Le Tricolore

Boo! BOOOO!
Aug 3, 2005
46,824
17,398
Montreal
Agree except with Benn unless he asks for a ton of money he stays simply because both the GM and coach seem to like him a fair bit.
I wouldn't hate if Benn came back, but I really hope that he'd be no where near the top four. No need to play him way over his head again.
 
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Ozmodiar

Registered User
Oct 18, 2017
5,776
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Armia is RFA and coming out of $1.85M contract. - Staying
Weal is UFA and coming out of a $1,75M contract. - Staying
Thompson is UFA and coming out of a $1.65M contract - Leaving
Lehkonen is RFA and coming out of his ELC deal - Staying
Hudon is RFA and coming out of a 650K deal - Leaving
Benn is UFA and coming out of $1.1M deal - Leaving
Kulak is RFA and coming out of 900K deal - Staying
Folin is UFA and was earning 650K - Leaving
Reilly is RFA and was earning 900K - Leaving
Niemi is UFA and was on a 950K deal - Leaving


So of our free agents, I can see us keeping four of them. Maybe Hudon will be qualified but I doubt he plays another game with the Habs.

Benn Staying. Agree with everything else.
 
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SakuKoivu11

Registered User
Jun 29, 2017
2,586
1,772
Drouin will be traded for that top LD.

First line:
Domi while not a clear center, he’s better at LW.
Kotkaniemi he needs to bulk up. He’s be physically ready for next season.
Gallagher the heart and soul of this team.

Second line:
Tatar big surprise this year and will bring it again.
Danault took his game to another level. Selke?
Lehkonen he’s slowed down but he works hard.

Third line:
Weal I like his simple game. He’s not offensively gifted but he doesn’t cost the team goals. Good face off player.
Poehling I like this kid to start here. See if he’s NHL ready. Start on third line at center just like KK.
Armia is a fix here because of his two way game. He and Weal can insulate Poehling.

Fourth line:
Shaw he had a breakout year. He should not be overplayed and keep him healthy.
Thompson I like what he did to the fourth line. Good face off and defensive guy.
Byron injuries has slowed him down. He can still put up solid numbers regardless of which line he plays on.

Knocking on the door:
Suzuki we will see what he does in AHL. He reminds me a lot of David Pastrnak.

Goners:
Drouin for LD
Deslaurier for late pick
Peca for late pick
Weise AHL
Hudon for late pick

Defence:
LD (trade for Drouin) - Weber
Mete - Petry
Kulak - free agent RD
Josh Brook

Goners:
Benn probably sign with Dallas
Frolin probably jet for KHL
Reilly for late pick

Price
Kind green or free agent backup
 

nhlfan9191

Registered User
Aug 4, 2010
19,585
17,344
Benn should be gone but he’ll stay. They seem pretty confident he can play both sides even though he’s awful on the left and there’s value in that. Lehkonen, Armia, Kulak and likely Weal will also likely stay. The rest are gone or a throw up depending on what free agency looks like. Hudon and Niemi are guaranteed gone.
 

Grate n Colorful Oz

Hutson Hawk
Jun 12, 2007
35,310
32,163
Hockey Mecca
The day JD gets traded, I hope he gets a new lease on his career, but aside from that, I'll be truly happy at the karma being sent towards French journalists who obsess with getting local talent. The Flynns and Tremblays of this world. They don't want local talent for the same reasons as the fans. It's either for their own gain (french interviews and catering to sell papers) or for their own ideologies like Tremblay.

Journalists or the Molsons, both don't give a flying **** about the fans per se. They care about keeping the fans interested in their product and a lot of sheep lap it up.
 

mitchmagic

Registered User
Apr 25, 2006
3,665
1,224
Montreal, Qc
www.typeonefilms.com
Armia is RFA and coming out of $1.85M contract. - Staying
Weal is UFA and coming out of a $1,75M contract. - Staying
Thompson is UFA and coming out of a $1.65M contract - Leaving
Lehkonen is RFA and coming out of his ELC deal - Staying
Hudon is RFA and coming out of a 650K deal - Leaving/Traded
Benn is UFA and coming out of $1.1M deal - Staying
Kulak is RFA and coming out of 900K deal - Staying
Folin is UFA and was earning 650K - Staying
Reilly is RFA and was earning 900K - Traded
Niemi is UFA and was on a 950K deal - Leaving

I don't think Drouin will be traded if I'm being honest. I don't think we'll get a decent enough return for him.

I have to assume Deslauriers and Peca will be traded for nothing.
 

MSSLYNX

Registered User
Jul 27, 2009
4,009
917
The day JD gets traded, I hope he gets a new lease on his career, but aside from that, I'll be truly happy at the karma being sent towards French journalists who obsess with getting local talent. The Flynns and Tremblays of this world. They don't want local talent for the same reasons as the fans. It's either for their own gain (french interviews and catering to sell papers) or for their own ideologies like Tremblay.

Journalists or the Molsons, both don't give a flying **** about the fans per se. They care about keeping the fans interested in their product and a lot of sheep lap it up.
Of course.
 

Agalloch

EliteProspects
Sep 18, 2002
9,270
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Lachute, QC
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Now that the season is pretty much over, it's time to take a look at this summer cause there's a lot of work to be done with this roster.

Armia is RFA and coming out of $1.85M contract.
Weal is UFA and coming out of a $1,75M contract.
Thompson is UFA and coming out of a $1.65M contract
Lehkonen is RFA and coming out of his ELC deal
Hudon is RFA and coming out of a 650K deal
Benn is UFA and coming out of $1.1M deal
Kulak is RFA and coming out of 900K deal
Folin is UFA and was earning 650K
Reilly is RFA and was earning 900K
Niemi is UFA and was on a 950K deal


Remember that to this day, there's only 6 rosters spot available considering only one of Poehling, Suzuki, Juulsen or Brooks makes the team.

There's probably some decision also to be made on players with deal in place for next year but are not contributing to the team's success:

Deslauriers = 1 year left
Peca = 1 year left
Weise = 1 year left

So who do you keep, Who do you let go?

Stay: Armia, Weal, Lehkonen, Kulak, Folin

Traded: Peca

Not qualified: Hudon, Reilly

AHL next year : Weise

Gone via UFA: Thompson (thanks for your help), Niemi, Benn
 

Habs Halifax

Loyal Habs Fan
Jul 11, 2016
68,166
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East Coast
Sure have.Hard worker but he brings nothing to the table .Couldn't score in an empy net from the blueline.Knowing Bergevin he will be an overpaid 4th liner.Guys like him are a dime a dozen

You don't know Lehkonen's value. You take his speed and ability to cause turnovers on the offensive end out of the line-up and this creates a hole. All you are looking at is point production and you are ignoring that this kid is not even 25 yet.

Calling Lehkonen a 4th liner is ridiculous. Have you watched any of the games down the stretch? I doubt it if you think Lehkonen is a 4th liner
 

Agalloch

EliteProspects
Sep 18, 2002
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Lachute, QC
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You don't know Lehkonen's value. You take his speed and ability to cause turnovers on the offensive end out of the line-up and this creates a hole. All you are looking at is point production and you are ignoring that this kid is not even 25 yet.

Calling Lehkonen a 4th liner is ridiculous. Have you watched any of the games down the stretch? I doubt it if you think Lehkonen is a 4th liner

Agree. Lehkonen is a keeper. A bridge contract is perfect for him at 1.2-1.5 per year.
 

Habs Halifax

Loyal Habs Fan
Jul 11, 2016
68,166
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East Coast
Agree. Lehkonen is a keeper. A bridge contract is perfect for him at 1.2-1.5 per year.

4 more RFA years left? I would avoid the 1 or 2 year deals. Especially the 2 year deal cause we should not be adding to our to do list in the 21 offseason.

3 years at $2.25M is good value to both Lehkonen and the Habs. Lehkonen would still be a RFA and looking to prove himself from age 24-26 before he needs a new contract at age 27

I would take the same approach with Armia
 
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Ozmodiar

Registered User
Oct 18, 2017
5,776
6,730
Sure have.Hard worker but he brings nothing to the table .Couldn't score in an empy net from the blueline.Knowing Bergevin he will be an overpaid 4th liner.Guys like him are a dime a dozen

but you'd keep Armia, Weal and Kulak. lol
 

DXStriker

Registered User
Nov 15, 2016
1,625
1,268
I love the Ironic spot of most everyone wanting to trade Drouin for EXACTLY what we traded away for him :laugh::nod:

I don't think Drouin is traded by MB outside of a Overpayment or if Alzner is included

Outside of that what most people are saying is probably happening .
Niemi will be gone Armia and co will be tendered

FA will be interesting because we have money and pressure will be reapplied on MB after the year we had .

I am most excited for Laval if Suzuki and Peohling both start next year in Laval .
 

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