Was just looking at Montreal's off-season, and here are some moves I would like Bergevin to make. I would keep things pretty simple, since they have a young team and have been doing quite well so far this season.
SIGNINGS
RFA Artturi Lehkonen 2 years, $2,1M per year
RFA Joel Armia 2 years, $2,8M per year
UFA Kenny Agostino 1 year, $1,1M
RFA Michael McCarron 1 year, $0,9M
RFA Mike Reilly 1 year, $1,5M
RFA Brett Kulak 1 year, $1,0M
UFA
Sign Jake Gardiner to a 4 year contract, $5,5M per year
Sign Joe Pavelski to a 2 year contract, $8,5M per year
TRADES
Tomas Tatar traded for a 2nd round pick with some cash retained
Charles Hudon traded for a 6th round pick
David Schlemko for a minor leaguer with some cash retained
MONTREAL 2019-20
Jonathan Drouin - Max Domi - Joe Pavelski
Artturi Lehkonen - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Joel Armia
Paul Byron - Phil Danault - Brendan Gallagher
Kenny Agostino - Michael McCarron - Andrew Shaw
extras: Matthew Peca, Nicolas Deslauriers
Jake Gardiner - Shea Weber
Mike Reilly - Jeff Petry
Victor Mete - Noah Juulsen
extra: Brett Kulak
Carey Price - Charlie Lindgren
TOTAL CAP HIT: 75,755,000 + Karl Alzner buried cap hit
LAVAL 2019-20
Michael Chaput - Jake Evans - Nick Suzuki
Lukas Vejdemo - Ryan Poehling - Jesse Ylonen
Daniel Audette - Hayden Verbeek - Alexandre Alain
Michael Pezzetta - Joel Teasdale - Antoine Waked
Karl Alzner - Josh Brook
Cale Fleury - David Sklenicka
Michael Moravcik - Jarret Tyszka
Michael McNiven - Cayden Primeau
Reasoning:
-The team signs Pavelski to a pretty hefty cap hit but Montreal has plenty of cap space and are looking for a solid top-6 player. While Pavelski is getting a bit old he is still a productive player and could definitely bury the puck next to two superb playmakers in Drouin and Domi
-Gardiner has his limitations but could be a perfect partner for Weber due to his skating and puck moving. He might want a bit more years but overall I think he would fit in well on Montreal until Brook/Mete/Juulsen/Fleury/Romanov can take over as the next key guys on defense.
-That 2nd line of Lehkonen-Kotkaniemi-Armia is an all Finland line and has already developped some chemistry this season. With a possibility for Kotkaniemi to establish himself as a true force in his sophomore season having two responsible 2-way guys around him who can also score some goals should provide for a great 2nd line for Montreal, with the added perk of having Gallagher in a 3rd line role.
-Top prospects Josh Brook, Nick Suzuki, Ryan Poehling and Cayden Primeau all join Laval for development with the first 3 having a shot at playing in the NHL at some point in 2019-20.
SIGNINGS
RFA Artturi Lehkonen 2 years, $2,1M per year
RFA Joel Armia 2 years, $2,8M per year
UFA Kenny Agostino 1 year, $1,1M
RFA Michael McCarron 1 year, $0,9M
RFA Mike Reilly 1 year, $1,5M
RFA Brett Kulak 1 year, $1,0M
UFA
Sign Jake Gardiner to a 4 year contract, $5,5M per year
Sign Joe Pavelski to a 2 year contract, $8,5M per year
TRADES
Tomas Tatar traded for a 2nd round pick with some cash retained
Charles Hudon traded for a 6th round pick
David Schlemko for a minor leaguer with some cash retained
MONTREAL 2019-20
Jonathan Drouin - Max Domi - Joe Pavelski
Artturi Lehkonen - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Joel Armia
Paul Byron - Phil Danault - Brendan Gallagher
Kenny Agostino - Michael McCarron - Andrew Shaw
extras: Matthew Peca, Nicolas Deslauriers
Jake Gardiner - Shea Weber
Mike Reilly - Jeff Petry
Victor Mete - Noah Juulsen
extra: Brett Kulak
Carey Price - Charlie Lindgren
TOTAL CAP HIT: 75,755,000 + Karl Alzner buried cap hit
LAVAL 2019-20
Michael Chaput - Jake Evans - Nick Suzuki
Lukas Vejdemo - Ryan Poehling - Jesse Ylonen
Daniel Audette - Hayden Verbeek - Alexandre Alain
Michael Pezzetta - Joel Teasdale - Antoine Waked
Karl Alzner - Josh Brook
Cale Fleury - David Sklenicka
Michael Moravcik - Jarret Tyszka
Michael McNiven - Cayden Primeau
Reasoning:
-The team signs Pavelski to a pretty hefty cap hit but Montreal has plenty of cap space and are looking for a solid top-6 player. While Pavelski is getting a bit old he is still a productive player and could definitely bury the puck next to two superb playmakers in Drouin and Domi
-Gardiner has his limitations but could be a perfect partner for Weber due to his skating and puck moving. He might want a bit more years but overall I think he would fit in well on Montreal until Brook/Mete/Juulsen/Fleury/Romanov can take over as the next key guys on defense.
-That 2nd line of Lehkonen-Kotkaniemi-Armia is an all Finland line and has already developped some chemistry this season. With a possibility for Kotkaniemi to establish himself as a true force in his sophomore season having two responsible 2-way guys around him who can also score some goals should provide for a great 2nd line for Montreal, with the added perk of having Gallagher in a 3rd line role.
-Top prospects Josh Brook, Nick Suzuki, Ryan Poehling and Cayden Primeau all join Laval for development with the first 3 having a shot at playing in the NHL at some point in 2019-20.
