S Bah
Registered User
Please do not combine this with the Trade Proposal thread at least for a day or two.
If you were the GM of the Habs what direction would you head in going into the trade deadline.
Their are lots of upcoming UFAs in:
Gionta, Parros, Markov, Bouillion, Murray and Diaz.
Smaller forwards in:
Gionta, Briere and Desharnais.
Plus Bourque who looks to be on his way out of town as well.
The Title should include the best moves that I still keep my job, GM. The actual moves would be easy if the business or financial concerns did not come before the team concerns. Bergevin knows precisely what needs to be done and is doing it as quickly as constraints allow him from where I am watching, my coach.
What would you look to do?
-Would you look to trade those upcoming UFAs away for picks/prospects to make sure that we get something for them before they walk away?
-Would you try to add size and toughness to the team?
-Would you trade anyone else not listed?
-Would you look to trade picks/prospects and make a run for it now?
-Fire the coach?
-Other ideas?
Keep in mind that there are only 30 games left in the season and we are only six points away from tops in the division. Plus we have a three point cushion from the top team not in the playoffs. So technically we are right in the thick of things.
What would you do?
If I could make changes, they would be radical changes, ones that concern our fans here each and every game on the GDT. The first would involve moving the Hamilton franchise closer, like Laval, maybe in 2016 that step will be taken!
As is Rick Dudley is great finding the Habs free agents that will make the team better.
Timmins and the Scouts are the Premier talent evaluating team in the NHL-World.
They could find the best route to becoming SC team, without the contractual restraints imposed by the NHL & Salary Caps, faster than any other team.
Moving players is not that easy with those things in mind, it certainly would be nice to trade away the players that are past their prime yrs. for draft choices or prospects. The problem is 29 teams are either trying to win the SC this season, make the playoffs for extra monies, or getting the draft picks & young prospects.
The Oilers having a monopoly on top draft picks the last decade has increased the difficulties of honest franchises that try each season, like the Habs.
That said, I would move Markov, Bourque, Desharnais, Briere, Murray, Boullion, Gionta and Parros. All for prospects or draft choices, and load the system with the competitors necessary to build a future powerhouse. Then bring up prospects and ensure they get icetime with our core group in the best circumstances, similar to the pattern set by Chicago and LA. Look through their respective depth charts and it will be apparent what steps are needed to bring the Habs back to an Elite level once again.