Speculation: Habs on Tradecentre Part 8 (Post-Deadline & Free Agency Talk: All proposals here)

[Draft]

State of the defence. Weber played well last night, possible for him to be in our top 6 dmen next year? Can play on the PP, not horrid defensively. Not very big or physical, not outstanding defensively.

Gorges-Subban
Markov-Diaz
Emelin-Weber
(Bouillon)

I am not very excited about this as our defensive corps. Markov has lost a couple steps since the beginning of the year, not excited about him as a go-to guy in the Top-4. Though, he brings enough to the PP and the team that he's worth keeping. Emelin just had a season-ending injury, Diaz has been out half the year, Bouillon is getting old and he's small, Weber is unproven and small, Gorges has been lame all season. Thank goodness we have PK.

Neither Tinordi or Beaulieu are ready for the NHL. They've got a ways to go before they can be full-time players. Awesome as 7th defenceman and replacements though.

There's been talk about trying to sign RFAs or trade for them, who are the most realistic candidates?

Who do we keep? Who do we trade? Who do we try and sign?

 

[Monctonscout]

State of the defence. Weber played well last night, possible for him to be in our top 6 dmen next year? Can play on the PP, not horrid defensively. Not very big or physical, not outstanding defensively.

Gorges-Subban
Markov-Diaz
Emelin-Weber
(Bouillon)

I am not very excited about this as our defensive corps. Markov has lost a couple steps since the beginning of the year, not excited about him as a go-to guy in the Top-4. Though, he brings enough to the PP and the team that he's worth keeping. Emelin just had a season-ending injury, Diaz has been out half the year, Bouillon is getting old and he's small, Weber is unproven and small, Gorges has been lame all season. Thank goodness we have PK.

Neither Tinordi or Beaulieu are ready for the NHL. They've got a ways to go before they can be full-time players. Awesome as 7th defenceman and replacements though.

There's been talk about trying to sign RFAs or trade for them, who are the most realistic candidates?

Who do we keep? Who do we trade? Who do we try and sign?

Weber probably isn't in the picture next year.

I think Markov's struggles are twofold. 1-he's lost a half step to a step speed wise but still plays like he has above average foot speed to recover and gets caught. He needs to adjust, especially on piches at the offensive blueline. 2-the condensed schedule after having barely played the last 24 months is a tough adjustment and he looks run down at times..

With Emelin and Diaz healthy you can better control his workload and he is very effective. His defense wasn't bad until the last 2-3 weeks, so fatigue may be a factor. After Diaz is back I wouldn't opposed sitting him for a couple games with an phantom "upper body injury" to get him rested.

In terms of roster moves the only thing they may do is maybe add a PK specialist like Murray for 1 year if they can with Tinordi and Beaulieu close.

 

[MSLs absurd thighs]

State of the defence. Weber played well last night, possible for him to be in our top 6 dmen next year? Can play on the PP, not horrid defensively. Not very big or physical, not outstanding defensively.

Gorges-Subban
Markov-Diaz
Emelin-Weber
(Bouillon)

I am not very excited about this as our defensive corps. Markov has lost a couple steps since the beginning of the year, not excited about him as a go-to guy in the Top-4. Though, he brings enough to the PP and the team that he's worth keeping. Emelin just had a season-ending injury, Diaz has been out half the year, Bouillon is getting old and he's small, Weber is unproven and small, Gorges has been lame all season. Thank goodness we have PK.

Neither Tinordi or Beaulieu are ready for the NHL. They've got a ways to go before they can be full-time players. Awesome as 7th defenceman and replacements though.

There's been talk about trying to sign RFAs or trade for them, who are the most realistic candidates?

Who do we keep? Who do we trade? Who do we try and sign?

Since Bouillon is already signed;

Gorges or Diaz out
Try and trade for a top-4 d-man with some experience and possibly some size too.

 

[Draft]

Weber probably isn't in the picture next year.

I think Markov's struggles are twofold. 1-he's lost a half step to a step speed wise but still plays like he has above average foot speed to recover and gets caught. He needs to adjust, especially on piches at the offensive blueline. 2-the condensed schedule after having barely played the last 24 months is a tough adjustment and he looks run down at times..

With Emelin and Diaz healthy you can better control his workload and he is very effective. His defense wasn't bad until the last 2-3 weeks, so fatigue may be a factor. After Diaz is back I wouldn't opposed sitting him for a couple games with an phantom "upper body injury" to get him rested.

In terms of roster moves the only thing they may do is maybe add a PK specialist like Murray for 1 year if they can with Tinordi and Beaulieu close.

Is the team comfortable with Emelin and Diaz moving forward? Don't get me wrong, I like both of them. What are they without Markov? Are they true Top-4 defenceman for the team? We know that Markov is older now but we've all seen what he can do for his defence partners. So are Diaz and Emelin following Streit or are they following Komisarek?

Potential RFAs are: Leddy, Demers, Franson, Savard, Tanev, Wiercioch, Hamonic, Shattenkirk, Pietrangelo, Ellerby, Bogosian, Rundblad, Mcdonagh, Alzner, etc. The point is, there are teams that won't be able to afford their new RFAs. Obviously there are several players on this list the Habs won't get even close to signing. There are several players that aren't ready for the NHL.

Tanev, Leddy, Franson/Gunnarson.

They are all playing on teams that are going to be up against the cap. There are more examples of course. I think they would all be upgrades on our current situation and in the future. Even if we don't get an RFA, each of these teams have good defenceman that we could trade for. Desharnais would be attractive to both Vancouver and Chicago, they need centers (I know no one truly wants DD). Toronto's prospect pool is horrendous, we've got a lot of defence prospects. Any ideas?

 

[Monctonscout]

Is the team comfortable with Emelin and Diaz moving forward? Don't get me wrong, I like both of them. What are they without Markov? Are they true Top-4 defenceman for the team? We know that Markov is older now but we've all seen what he can do for his defence partners. So are Diaz and Emelin following Streit or are they following Komisarek?

Potential RFAs are: Leddy, Demers, Franson, Savard, Tanev, Wiercioch, Hamonic, Shattenkirk, Pietrangelo, Ellerby, Bogosian, Rundblad, Mcdonagh, Alzner, etc. The point is, there are teams that won't be able to afford their new RFAs. Obviously there are several players on this list the Habs won't get even close to signing. There are several players that aren't ready for the NHL.

Tanev, Leddy, Franson/Gunnarson.

They are all playing on teams that are going to be up against the cap. There are more examples of course. I think they would all be upgrades on our current situation and in the future. Even if we don't get an RFA, each of these teams have good defenceman that we could trade for. Desharnais would be attractive to both Vancouver and Chicago, they need centers (I know no one truly wants DD). Toronto's prospect pool is horrendous, we've got a lot of defence prospects. Any ideas?

Why would Diaz and Emelin not be here going forward? Both are signed to cheap deals next year, would be dumb to trade either one. Hopefully MB can get both signed to extensions this summer. Unless they want crazy money it's no brainer to extend them for 2-3-4 more years. Both are legit top 4 NHL d-men.

I don't see too many RFA's getting signed or traded, those players are usually young core players for them, with 2 buyouts available a lot of teams will fix their cap issues...like Komisarek getting bought out and probably Grabovsky.

 

[Draft]

Why would Diaz and Emelin not be here going forward? Both are signed to cheap deals next year, would be dumb to trade either one. Hopefully MB can get both signed to extensions this summer. Unless they want crazy money it's no brainer to extend them for 2-3-4 more years. Both are legit top 4 NHL d-men.

I don't see too many RFA's getting signed or traded, those players are usually young core players for them, with 2 buyouts available a lot of teams will fix their cap issues...like Komisarek getting bought out and probably Grabovsky.

In two years, not very logical to trade them now as we don't have the players to cover for them. Are they the "legit" top 4 d-men we want? Diaz has had a severe concussion and Emelin has had a knee injury and surgery. Are they going to be the players they were before their injuries? We should upgrade this position when there's an opportunity. I'm not necessarily talking about trading Diaz and Emelin for the RFA rights, I'm talking about making a trade and making them expendable when their contracts are up and improving on what we have.

Toronto will probably be okay, Vancouver and Chicago not so much. They are very top heavy and they're contracts to buy out will be expensive, not to say it can't be done. It makes much more sense to trade assets for other assets instead of buying them out for nothing.

 

[Monctonscout]

In two years, not very logical to trade them now as we don't have the players to cover for them. Are they the "legit" top 4 d-men we want? Diaz has had a severe concussion and Emelin has had a knee injury and surgery. Are they going to be the players they were before their injuries? We should upgrade this position when there's an opportunity. I'm not necessarily talking about trading Diaz and Emelin for the RFA rights, I'm talking about making a trade and making them expendable when their contracts are up and improving on what we have.

Toronto will probably be okay, Vancouver and Chicago not so much. They are very top heavy and they're contracts to buy out will be expensive, not to say it can't be done. It makes much more sense to trade assets for other assets instead of buying them out for nothing.

The best case scenario from an asset standpoint is young players coming up and making veterans expendable. I don't see the point of moving Diaz or Emelin, both profile as good NHL d-men going forward with their skillset. Their improvement this year is a significant part of the team improving.

If you start trading every player as soon as they have a serious injury or concussion you wouldn't have much of a team left...Galchenyuk Gallagher Gorges Bourque Markov Diaz Emelin Desharnais Eller Moen Halpern Armstrong all gone.

Usually the guys being bought out are not assets(Komisarek) or not worth keeping(Luongo).

 

[Draft]

The best case scenario from an asset standpoint is young players coming up and making veterans expendable. I don't see the point of moving Diaz or Emelin, both profile as good NHL d-men going forward with their skillset. Their improvement this year is a significant part of the team improving.

If you start trading every player as soon as they have a serious injury or concussion you wouldn't have much of a team left...Galchenyuk Gallagher Gorges Bourque Markov Diaz Emelin Desharnais Eller Moen Halpern Armstrong all gone.

Usually the guys being bought out are not assets(Komisarek) or not worth keeping(Luongo).

I'm not suggesting we move them, I'm suggesting we improve the position. If improving the position means moving them or not resigning, then that's what it means. Chicago is going to be in a lot of trouble cap-wise (Leddy), so will San Jose (Demers).

 

[Monctonscout]

I'm not suggesting we move them, I'm suggesting we improve the position. If improving the position means moving them or not resigning, then that's what it means. Chicago is going to be in a lot of trouble cap-wise (Leddy), so will San Jose (Demers).

Both guys are smaller PMD's, we already have too many of those. Makes no sense to trade assets to further strengthen your strengths.

 

[Bieber fever]

Adding any player under 6'0 200lbs is useless at the moment.

 

[MSLs absurd thighs]

Adding any player under 6'0 200lbs is useless at the moment.

No! Let's add a 37 years old, decreasing, aging player who's about the same size as Armstrong on our top-6. Can only turn out fine!

 

[WeThreeKings]

Adding any player under 6'0 200lbs is useless at the moment.

Crosby would be terrible. Agreed.

 

[Draft]

Both guys are smaller PMD's, we already have too many of those. Makes no sense to trade assets to further strengthen your strengths.

Well... Leddy isn't ideal. Demers is pretty decent physically 6'01 and 185, not huge but has been known to play the body. We would all love Franson but I'm pretty sure Toronto won't let him go. McDonagh seems to be pretty well liked in New York as well. Any other ideas?

 

[Halifaxhab*]

Well... Leddy isn't ideal. Demers is pretty decent physically 6'01 and 185, not huge but has been known to play the body. We would all love Franson but I'm pretty sure Toronto won't let him go. McDonagh seems to be pretty well liked in New York as well. Any other ideas?

The UFA dman prospects seem very slim. Regehr? Murray? Fistric? And no guarantee any reach July 1st.

So trading for a young top4 dman....very expensive.

 

[CrAzYNiNe]

What about Hal Gill?

 

[Monctonscout]

All the BS crap Gionta gets on here and he is now on pace(82 games) for 26 goals despite a slow start(understandable having not played in 13 months).


First 19 games 3-5-8
Last 24 games 9-7-16

 

[MSLs absurd thighs]

All the BS crap Gionta gets on here and he is now on pace(82 games) for 26 goals despite a slow start(understandable having not played in 13 months).


First 19 games 3-5-8
Last 24 games 9-7-16

Good for him. 5M per year is still a terrible investment on a guy who's at his best when he doesn't touch the puck for more than a millisecond though.

 

[Habsterix*]

Good for him. 5M per year is still a terrible investment on a guy who's at his best when he doesn't touch the puck for more than a millisecond though.

How much is a 25-30 goals scorer worth in the NHL, might I ask you? Remember that you must compare with guys who were UFAs for a fair comparison...

We'll be waiting.

 

[Pierre Dagenais]

Good for him. 5M per year is still a terrible investment on a guy who's at his best when he doesn't touch the puck for more than a millisecond though.

5 million is an overpayment but for a guy who was UFA, it's not a terrible investment.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

5 million is an overpayment but for a guy who was UFA, it's not a terrible investment.

Plus we're not close to spending to the cap this year so who cares if he's overpaid by $1 - 1.5 million max..

 

[Ghetto Sangria]

Good for him. 5M per year is still a terrible investment on a guy who's at his best when he doesn't touch the puck for more than a millisecond though.

And his contract is so restricting, right? I mean geez! The habs have 3.5 million in cap space this season which they didn't fill.

And oh no!!! The habs will have over 10 million dollars in cap space next season!!! We better free up more cap space!

 

[OldCraig71]

What about Hal Gill?

He is a useful guy especially on the pk, not the greatest talent in the NHL but does what he does very well. Seeing him swimming around on a 5 on 3 was funny,scary and awesome all at once.

 

[Alexdaman]

We could of used a guy like Torres, oh well... at least we're stacked for the draft.

 

[Monctonscout]

Good for him. 5M per year is still a terrible investment on a guy who's at his best when he doesn't touch the puck for more than a millisecond though.

How did he score 231 career goals "at his best when he doesn't touch the puck"? Are there no bounds or common sense to your posts?

 

[Monctonscout]

And his contract is so restricting, right? I mean geez! The habs have 3.5 million in cap space this season which they didn't fill.

And oh no!!! The habs will have over 10 million dollars in cap space next season!!! We better free up more cap space!

Haven't you heard? Cap hit scores goals during the season and erven more during the playoffs!