Speculation: Habs' 2019-20, roster outlook

[HuGo Sham]

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.

your tatar trade is drunk

 

[BLNY]

If only there was a Montreal forum where something like this could be discussed...

Agreed. I'm a Habs fan and this clearly belongs on the Habs board.

 

[Number1RedWingsFan52]

Jake Gardiner will easily command at least 6 x 6 on the open market, It would surprise me to see Detroit go after him or Tyler Myers this off season.

 

[CupInSIX]

What happened to Hudon being 'worth more than a 3rd' and better than Pirri?

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

 

[Karl Eriksson]

Why is this on main boards.

 

[Intangir]

OP, almighty mods, this roster speculation thread shouldn't be posted on the trade rumors board. It belongs on the Montreal Board.

 

[Goldenhands]

SIGNINGS
RFA Joel Armia 2 years, $2,8M per year

UFA
Sign Jake Gardiner to a 4 year contract, $5,5M per year

TRADES
Tomas Tatar traded for a 2nd round pick with some cash retained

I would try to lock Armia for longer, he is basically an ideal third liner and fits greatly in our line-up... As for Jake Gardiner, you dont want this to happen, bad defensively, turnovers prone and tends to flumble under pressure, he is far from an ideal partner for Weber, Im not sure I would even sign him 1 yr, 1-way for peanuts, if ever a team is dumb enough to sign him 4 x 5,5M, I will laugh a good shot, it would be even worst than the Shattenkirk deal ... Tatar for a 2nd?? Really??