Bergevin had Price, Subban, Patch, Pleky, Markov, Gallagher, Eller, and the 3rd OA pick. It carried us for years but he was not able to fill the holes. Didn't want to trade Poehling+ for ROR in his prime?
And now fans want to pass on Dubois cause he "ruins" our rebuild? Yeah sure, lets dilly dally and waste prime years of Suzuki and Caufield, like we did with Price. Great plan and all our holes will be addressed through the draft in the next two drafts?
. Our rebuild started before Gorton/Hughes were hired. Suzuki, Caufield, Guhle, Xhekaj, and a deep pool is something Gorton/Hughes inherited. The rebuild didn't start last year people.
Nobody want to pass on Dubois and it's a perfect fit for Montréal because of his age, his size, the kind of player he is, center or winger and built for playoff! But you talk about it like it's Dubois or nothing and now or never.
Don't get me wrong I really want Dubois but you don't seem to understand how important the Florida pick can be for your rebuild. You said yourself Suzuki 13th, Caufield 15th, Guhle 16th are not a sure shot, 1 on 10, but can we try to pick in that range in a good draft year! Why we can't take a try to have your "Getlaf-Perry 2.0"?
I understand your point when you said the pick will never be good like PLD but it's not the only option, trade, and we can wait another year; it's a different story. To trading for him at his fair value, at Trouba discount is another thing, it's simply burning some assets we don't need to do and we don't have the luxury to do at this stage of the rebuild.
I'm maybe a little bit stupid but I really think Dubois are a die Habs fan and want to play with us. He will not take a discount or steal anyone but he will get paid what he deserve to play here! To resume, if Dubois come here it would be for the good reason with the idea to win the Stanley Cup before the end of his contract and not because of the money.
If we sign him in 2024 it will be higher than this summer because of the cap increase but I prefer to pay him a little bit more and keeping the Florida pick because this player can be the key of the success for us in the future and maybe the best player we can draft, at least on paper, in the next decade except next year!
In a ideal world for the Habs and Dubois :
2 great pick in the 1st round 2023
1 great pick with the 1st round 2024 because we're still bad
Dubois in the summer 2024 - UFA Market (Competitive Mode : On)
After that, you try to find the missing pieces with what we have (Players, Picks, Prospects, $$$)
If we trade for Dubois this summer at the cost of the Florida 1st pick and some assets this will be bad for your future because even if you don't see that in the trade at first, adding PLD at this moment when we can't really compete will only make us pick later in the draft 2024! Example of trade : Anderson, Florida 1st, Harris, Mysak for Dubois!
Anderson (value : 1st round + ???)
Florida 1st pick
Harris (value : 3rd round???)
Mysak (value : future considerations ...)
1st Pick 2024 becoming a Top 16 not a Top 8
It's way too much for a player we can add for free in 16 months and I prefer to take the gamble to wait him on the UFA market and use the assets somewhere else. With 2 x 1st pick and a 3rd round pick in play you can target one of the missing pieces ....
