Proposal: HABS needs a top 10 player

Fjordy

Registered User
Jun 20, 2018
15,227
8,185
Suzuki and Romanov plus is the opening offer.

There goes two main assets which are likely a top 3 and top 2.

So now we become the Sabres with one superstar and average to mediocre supporting cast.
Come on man, this doesn't sound like Buffalo at all. We have constant problems with roster, then with coach, and more often all together. If Eichel is trade in Montreal, then Suzuki + Caufield/Romanov + picks as a base is not your whole team.
 

IrishInOntario

Registered User
May 18, 2013
3,089
2,664
Malkin looks terrible this year does he not? No ones dealing near that much for him

He's definitely not playing like he has in years past. in the 4 years leading up to this one he had 72, 98, 72 and 74 points. Hell, his 74 points last year were in 55 games. That's a fantastic pace... No chance the Penguins would accept some low ball offer simply because he's gotten off to a slow start (10 points in 16 games) this year. The 55'ish point (82 game pace) that he's currently on, almost certainly won't last. You have to think he'll pick it up, until we see significant evidence that he won't.

They'll still want a crap ton in return and I don't blame the Penguins for that at all. You don't panic over 16 games when you're talking about a 1st ballot Hall of Famer, who has been less than a PPG player ONE time in his 15 NHL seasons.
 
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Sparky93

Registered User
Dec 30, 2010
7,002
1,040
Gaudreau, Bennett + Kylington
For
Drouin, Kotkaniemi + Chiarot

He's not the upper elite but still very dynamic. Gaudeau-Suzuki-Anderson sounds like a pretty incredible line.
 

NoName

Bringer of Playoffs!
Nov 3, 2017
2,790
1,635
Best start tanking, that is your best bet at a top 10 player. It's that or wait for some off ice drama and pounce.
The Habs can't tank. Not with $10.5 million locked up in Carey Price until 2026. They have to make it work and contend with this core. There is no other option. It is a tough spot Bergevin and management is in right now, for sure.
 
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FameFlame069

Registered User
Oct 2, 2017
2,992
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Gaudreau, Bennett + Kylington
For
Drouin, Kotkaniemi + Chiarot

He's not the upper elite but still very dynamic. Gaudeau-Suzuki-Anderson sounds like a pretty incredible line.

Are you serious? Who there is worth Gaudreau alone? Let alone adding both Bennett and Kylington.
 

BlueBaron

Registered User
May 29, 2006
15,669
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Sarnia, On
The Habs can't tank. Not with $10.5 million locked up in Carey Price until 2026. They have to make it work and contend with this core. There is no other option. It is a tough spot Bergevin and management is in right now, for sure.
Tough market to rebuild in anyway. I agree, tough spot.
 

Jabba11

Hockey Lobby
Nov 28, 2009
6,650
3,303
hockeylobby.blogspot.com
No need to give up on our future for a top 10 player right now.

We’ve been missing that top 10 players for the longest time. We can find success otherwise. You want a superstar? Draft the next Guy Lafleur. Otherwise, no team will trade us one.

Jack Eichel is enticing but hasn’t won anything since joining the league. If we trade away Romanov in a package, it’ll set us back even worse than when we lost Sergachev. Hello to 10 next years of horrendous defense!
 

NoName

Bringer of Playoffs!
Nov 3, 2017
2,790
1,635
Top 10 players virtually never get traded. In the north there are what, 3 of them, and none of them are going to Montreal for any sort of return the Habs can put together.

Looking in the North to avoid the quarantine...

Vancouver isn't giving up Petterson; he is the cornerstone of their future and better then any prospect the Habs have by a country mile. Boeser despite doing amazing always seems in rumors so maybe you can pry him away? It would take a treasure trove of you assets including Suzuki though.

Winnipeg isn't trading out Scheifele. They are in their win-now window and he is the anchor of their forward corps. Laine would have been the prime target but that ship has sailed.

No way on earth Edmonton gives up either McJesus or Drai for even the entire Montreal team. RNH is probably the best you could get.

Calgary might be willing to sell off Johnny hockey if their fall down the standings, but he probably costs even more the Boeser, since he has already proven he can anchor an offense.

Tbh, the guy you have assets to pry away from Toronto would be Nylander. He definitely isn't a "top 10 player" but he is a skilled 1op-line caliber winger.
There isn't anything on the Habs roster or prospect pool that could get Matthews or Marner (yes, even at those cap hits; you pay for elite young talent... unless you are the Habs in which case you pay similar money for a goalie who while great is on the wrong side of thirty with a contract that lasts until he is nearly forty).

Not sure what the Habs would aim for with Ottawa. They are in tank mode, so it isn't like they would be interested in trading a young asset like Chabot.


So the best Montreal might be able to get from within the division would be Boeser, Gaurdreau or Nylander, and the first two are probably prohibitively expensive.


The other division are a different situation. Maybe Crosby or Malkin become available if the Pens fall off the map and decide to blow everything up, but you aren't getting either of them cheap. If Chicago implodes... Maybe Kane? But he is still a monster so you are looking at Suzuki + Romanov + a boatload of 1sts. Kane would doubtless be the most expensive option their is and is still a true top-10 player in the NHL right now. Although not a top-10 guy, Kopitar still is a beast and his gritty 2-way game I think would mesh well in Montreal's system, even if he isn't exactly fleet of foot anymore. He is probably Suzuki+ a hefty return, but not like Crosby or especially Kane.
 

razor8

Registered User
Nov 28, 2017
937
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Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder, but ain't nobody want to lift some heavy ass weights. Ronnie said it best.
 

Lockin17

Registered User
Jul 31, 2018
3,095
2,262
Romanov, Suzuki, KK, and a 1st for Crosby if he waives.
yeah not going to happen for a 33 year old .
that type of package is for Drai , but then again my point is to give future to win now ,
and we need cap space ,
so Danault (resigned) + Drouin/Tatar + Caufield/Guhle + Romanov + 1rd 2021 would be start
 

Hunter368

RIP lomiller1, see you in the next life buddy.
Nov 8, 2011
26,934
23,503
There are things about the Habs I like and things I don't. Solid depth team is nice, but they don't have any stars or game breakers. I think depth can only get you only so far, IMO it's very hard to win it all without some star power.
 

IrishInOntario

Registered User
May 18, 2013
3,089
2,664
yeah not going to happen for a 33 year old .
that type of package is for Drai , but then again my point is to give future to win now ,
and we need cap space ,
so Danault (resigned) + Drouin/Tatar + Caufield/Guhle + Romanov + 1rd 2021 would be start

Guys like Danault and Drouin have little value to a team giving up a top 10 pick. That team will be looking to open cap space in dumping their elite guy and, therefore, will want ELc's, prospects, picks and sweetheart contracts in return, to save money and create flexibility.

He's not a top 10 player, but Filip Forsberg is a really exciting 27 year old, in his prime...

What about something like...

To Nashville
Drouin
Caufield
Draft pick

To Montreal
Filip Forsberg retained (for the difference in salary between he and Drouin).

Forsberg-Suzuki-Anderson is an upgrade on your top line.
 

Mats26

Vet Movement - What's the Maatta?
Sep 16, 2005
3,831
3,734
For starters you can thank Timmins for drafting 1st round busts for most of the last decade. Trading for top 10 players in this league will cost you 2-3 grade A prospects, players\ picks.
 

FameFlame069

Registered User
Oct 2, 2017
2,992
546
I think you should probably look at the returns that Stone and Hall, as UFA's. Then start to brace yourself for the offseason.

I think Gaudreau isn't going to be traded, if anything hes walking next next offseason, Calgary will not trade their top point producer without a replacement in the wings
 

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