Markov - Keep
I'd go $18M/3yrs to keep him. Of course, it would be nice to get any discounts or a shorter term or whatnot, but I don't see balking at 3 years or $6M per, the way he's playing now. As long as he sustains that over the season.
Me neither, I'd use the injury history a bit during negotiations to try and create wiggle room, if all else fails, pay the man his monies.
Gionta - Let go/Trade
He's decent, but we need to get bigger, and he plays increasingly on the perimeter compared to when he was younger and more Gallagher-esque. I also find that he gets matchup icetime that I'm not sure he's so good at... I don't know that the stats show it, but I feel like maybe he's riding his reputation and veteran status a bit much on his defensive play too. I'd let him walk. If we're out of the playoffs at the deadline, trade him.
I agree, unless we can move DD instead Then I'd consider keeping him.
Subban - Keep
Maximum term, whatever it takes. $64M/8yrs, say. If he will give us a little discount on that, sweet. If not, no worries.
Agreed
Bouillon - Let go
I wish we would let him go. I guess we just need to make sure Therrien gets fired beforehand. Otherwise I expect Bouillon back on the same deal he has now.
I don't mind Boullion actually, he's just misused, I think he can be effective at 16-18 minutes of easy ice time. Having said that, if the only way to keep him off the PK is to let him walk then I won't lose any sleep.
Murray - Undecided
I don't feel like I have finished evaluating Murray yet. He has made some blunders, but I like "the idea of" Murray with the size and physicality he can bring. If he can level out over the remainder of the season, I'd much rather keep him than Bouillon as the veteran depth guy. If he can't level out his play a bit, there are always going to be options on the UFA market, no biggie either way.
This type of player is way more of liability than anything he can bring to the table. Wouldn't even consider keeping him.
Eller - Keep
Obviously he's a keeper. I can see something like $4M per. He still needs to be more consistent and I find that Habs fans overrate him defensively, but we need him, and with a bigger contract let's just hope he grows into it.
Diaz - Keep at the right $
He is playing well, and like I keep saying in the other threads, I don't know how you really justify to him/his agent offering him less than you just gave Emelin. But I don't like that price for him. If I could get him at the right price (say $10M/3yrs), a price that leans more to the good/bargain side than most of our signings seem to, I'd be for it. As he has already proved this year, it's great to have another D who can play 20+ mins and contribute like he has. 5D isn't too many. If he really wants to seek a better payday, I don't blame him, but I think we can get away with letting him walk.
I would let him go and replace with a more defensive minded player with some size/strength. If the price is dirt cheap, I'd keep him, but I think he deserves at least emelin time if we base it off of usage. I don't see him signing for the 2.5 I'd be willing to give him.
Parros - Let go
The idea that the team needed a goon was perhaps worth checking out after some of the shenanigan-games we had the last couple years. But let's face it, Parros is pretty much proving that we didn't really need one. He's a liability overall on the ice. In the future, our fighters have to be able to play too.
I like the idea of an enforcer, George will do his thing, but the coach needs to use when we need him and not in the 3rd period protecting a lead. Don't really care either way, I like an enforcer, but think George is the wrong guy.
White - Keep
You need cheap depth players too. White is pretty generic atm, I wish he'd become a little more abrasive again. But as long as he's a sub-$1M 4th liner/spare, there's no point in just jettisoning him. He's ok for that.
I think White is a career AHLer, not skilled enough to play real minutes and not tough enough to enforce. Losing him hurts basically nothing, don't care either way.
Desharnais - ???
Well, at the rate he's going, you have to consider buying him out and making him a UFA, even with the $1M+ buyout cap hit for 6 years.
Hard to maneuver with contracts like this and Briere taking up cap space for nothing. I just hope we don't move him for another albatross contract that ends up worse. Buyout is probably the only option, I don't see a market for this guy.
Leblanc - keep
He gets whatever his minimum QO is, I'd say. If he has a good season, consider cutting that down to a 1-year 1-way $550k minimum. Work him in on the bottom lines next season, assuming he does ok in the minors this year.