Speculation: Would you give Duchene 8M x 7 years in free agency?

[Apoplectic Habs Fan]

Really MTL has never been a player in free agency and rarely even considered by the NHLs elite.

Id be looking at the Islanders UFAs. Jake Gardiner is interesting especially if you can pair him with Weber.

MTL needs a LD and size/scoring from the wing. The forward group need more dimensions to their game. You need more than just small and shifty

 

[Redux91]

Yes, despite what it may look like throughout his career that his teams "struggle", he remains one of the fastest skaters in the NHL, and on THIS team, maybe he finally finds the place he's always been looking for, a fast, stable team

Personally, not to get everyone excited or anything, i think its a foregone conclusion
Too many things have been angling in this direction

 

[Redux91]

Yeah, and you can't sign a free agent for 8 years unless you are re-signing a player already under your control. This is why Toronto only has John for 7 years.

Which is even better for us, 7's much better than 8

 

[Just Linda]

Yes on the condition that we trade Drouin for a LD. Otherwise nah

 

[NotProkofievian]

Which is even better for us, 7's much better than 8

Don't want him. You can @ me when Duchene does anything in the playoffs. He's a dyed in the wool gilded loser.

 

[Fazkovsky]

He has 6 points so far in 15 games in clb

Im not impressed

 

[Julien LG]

Easily yes. I doubt he will cost only 8.

 

[Runner77]

Simon Tsalikis, TSN690: "Hey, free asset!"

 

[JoelWarlord]

In a second. This team has over 16M in cap space that will likely be nearly 20M with the cap increase and only has Lehkonen + a few depth plugs to sign this year and Domi the year after. I have absolutely no idea why "no" is leading this poll.

 

[Tyson]

In a second. This team has over 16M in cap space that will likely be nearly 20M with the cap increase and only has Lehkonen + a few depth plugs to sign this year and Domi the year after. I have absolutely no idea why "no" is leading this poll.

Just because you have cap space doesn’t mean you should waste it

 

[Redux91]

Don't want him. You can @ me when Duchene does anything in the playoffs. He's a dyed in the wool gilded loser.

Thats fair.

I think things will go differently for him here.

 

[NobleSix]

Simon Tsalikis, TSN690: "Hey, free asset!"

lol Tsalikis is such a knob. He should stick to selling houses.

 

[Walrus26]

If we're breaking the bank on a UFA please let it be Panarin. Just as (un) likely as landing Duchene but far more appealing.

Does Duchene drive a team like a bona fide #1C or is he basically the equivalent of MaxPac at C?

 

[Mackiaveli]

Duchene is a great player but I feel like he would stunt the growth of Kotkaniemi/Poehling/Suzuki. I’m not 100% sure that I would sign him. On top of that, he has massive attitude issues. The Uber video has to be something that MB factors in when looking at him. I’m leaning towards no but that’s me.

8x7 probably not.

6x7 yes

8.5x5 yes

9x5 probably, yes.

8x7 is just...a lot.

Bringing him in would also allow us to move one of Poehling or Suzuki for help in other areas (LD, scoring winger). Alternatively, it lets us shift Suzuki to a RW.

My hope this offseason is that we find a way to move on from Alzner, sign Duchene at 9x5/8x5 and Gardiner at 6x7 or 7x5. I wouldn't be opposed to moving Poehling+ for a top 6 winger with term either.

 

[Redux91]

Easily yes. I doubt he will cost only 8.

For only 8 per you JUMP on it all day for sure, id go as far as 9 max tho

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Yes easily

I cant believe people say no considering the amount of cap space we have

 

[Ozmodiar]

You'd have to trade for his rights first. And no.

No, it doesn’t work like that.

If a team traded for his rights, they’d still have a 7 year maximum. CBJ are the only team that can offer 8.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Just because you have cap space doesn’t mean you should waste it

8M for one of the fastest players in the league who fills a decades long organizational hole and offers star power on a team with no legitimate star players isn't a waste. Especially when that leaves the team with nearly 10M of space with only one player of consequence (Domi) that needs a new contract.

What number would be acceptable and how many assets are you willing to trade to get a comparable player and save that marginal amount of money versus signing a UFA that just costs money? How many more years are we willing to kick the can down the road with 20 million in cap space while Price and Weber age into their 30s?

 

[Runner77]

Just because you have cap space doesn’t mean you should waste it

However, should we carry it forward for a third season in a row, assuming Duchene is the only UFA who is actually interested in signing with the Habs?

Suzuki projects as a winger anyway and it puts you in a position to trade some other asset for a LD.

 

[Runner77]

lol Tsalikis is such a knob. He should stick to selling houses.

I know, I just made a parody of his "Hey, free coffee!" one liner from his Royal LePage radio ad.

 

[ZUKI]

No

Panarin yes

Yes

"No" , - Panarin

 

[Redux91]

No, it doesn’t work like that.

If a team traded for his rights, they’d still have a 7 year maximum. CBJ are the only team that can offer 8.

Isnt it whoever has the rights gets the 8 year option?

 

[JoelWarlord]

Isnt it whoever has the rights gets the 8 year option?

There's a cutoff date for when you have to acquire the player to get the 8 year option, I think it's the deadline but I'm not sure.

 

[Redux91]

Yes easily

I cant believe people say no considering the amount of cap space we have

I can totally see why people would want to stay away, and its fair

Im just thinking why not take a stab at it, deal with repurcussions after

I mean who are we really "saving money" for at this point?? McDavid?? Price and Weber are paid.
Panarin fills a type of need sure, i just dont think he's angling towards a MTL destination, not like Duchene

 

[NotProkofievian]

No, it doesn’t work like that.

If a team traded for his rights, they’d still have a 7 year maximum. CBJ are the only team that can offer 8.

It doesn't? Is it based on how many games the player played for a given team or something?