Tag: Trade

Canadiens Hint to Improvements – What It Can Look Like

Published on by JD Lagrange3 Comments

By JD Lagrange – The Montreal Canadiens are stirring up discussions among fans regarding their pursuit of game-changing free agents. Supported by the team’s VP of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton, GM Kent Hughes’ willingness to strike the right deal at the right price adds fuel to the speculation. As the offseason looms, attention turns to potential unrestricted free agents and trade targets. While some names stand out, others are dismissed due to various factors. Yet, amidst the conjecture, one thing remains certain: the Canadiens are poised to make strategic moves aimed at propelling them towards a future filled with success and rejuvenated fan enthusiasm.

A while ago, prior to trade deadline, we looked at some long-shots potential trade targets. Let’s now turn our focus on more impactful players, through free agency and trades.

PENDING UFAs

There’s a lot of chatter among fans about whether the Canadiens should pursue a game-changing free agent. VP of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton addressed this directly, stating they’d pull the trigger if the right player at the right price emerged. Whether you agree or not, those were his words.

Given this stance, I’ve taken the initiative to spotlight some potential impactful unrestricted free agents this upcoming summer. While there may be others worth considering, I’ve narrowed it down to four:

  1. Sam Reinhart (FLA) – 28 years old, Right Wing
  2. Jake Guentzel (CAR) – 29 years old, Left Wing
  3. Elias Lindholm (VAN) – 29 years old, Center/Right Wing
  4. Anthony Duclair (TBL) – 28 years old, Left Wing

Now, I’ve intentionally excluded two notable pending UFAs:

  • Steven Stamkos: It’s hard to envision him leaving Tampa Bay.
  • Jonathan Marchessault: Why pursue another undersized forward, especially with Cole Caufield already in the top-6? Additionally, at 33, turning 34 in December, he might not be the ideal fit.

TRADE(S)

I prefer this option, and whenever Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes fields the question, his answer remains consistent. He’s keen on seizing the chance to acquire a young, high-caliber player via trade, provided it doesn’t compromise the team’s long-term vision. It’s akin to the moves for Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook in recent NHL Drafts. The Canadiens certainly possess the assets, be it draft picks or promising young prospects, to make such a move.

Once again, I’ve sifted through the teams and compiled a reasonably realistic list of young, impactful players who might be available via trade. Just for fun, I’ve ranked them by age:

OUT OF LEFT FIELD

I understand that this suggestion might not be a crowd-pleaser, but I’m throwing it out there anyway. After all, when has the prevailing sentiment ever held me back from voicing my thoughts, right?

Picture this scenario: What if the Canadiens, after conducting thorough research, entertained the idea of a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, with the stipulation that they retain half of Patrik Laine’s salary?

Here’s the breakdown on Laine:

  • Patrik Laine (CBJ) – Right Wing, 26 years old
  • Currently enrolled in the NHLPA Player Assistance Program
  • Contract valued at $8.7 million, expiring in 2025-26
  • Stands at an imposing 6 feet 5 inches, weighing 215 lbs
  • Drafted 2nd overall in 2016, just behind Auston Matthews

Laine’s talent is undeniable. If the Canadiens could get him at $4.35 million per season for the remaining two years of his contract, it could be a very worthwhile move. However, his injury history raises a valid concern, warranting a thorough medical evaluation before any decisions are made.

CONCLUSION

Despite lingering doubts among fans, the Montreal Canadiens are unwavering in their resolve. As they look ahead to the next season, their primary objective is crystal clear: to shift the focus towards winning more hockey games and instill a winning mentality within their youthful roster.

In their quest for success, the organization is prepared to expedite the rebuild process, albeit with a cautious eye on the future and a keen emphasis on acquiring players within the optimal age range. Armed with a treasure trove of quality picks and assets amassed over three challenging seasons, the Canadiens possess the necessary tools to realize their aspirations.

However, the stakes are undeniably high. Anything short of a spirited bid for a playoffs berth next season will undoubtedly fall short of management’s lofty expectations. With the honeymoon phase now firmly in the rearview mirror, the Canadiens brace themselves for the more arduous phase of their journey, where the scrutiny of fans will be more vocal, and the challenges more formidable than ever before.

If You Smell What Hughes Is Cooking

Published on by JD Lagrange3 Comments

By JD Lagrange – In the bustling kitchen of a hot hockey market, Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes dons his apron, poised over a simmering pot of talent with the precision of a Master Chef. The aroma of anticipation fills the air as Hughes orchestrates a culinary masterpiece, his latest creation: a tantalizing blend of prospects and picks, seasoned with strategic foresight and a dash of daring. As Canadiens’ fans awaits the unveiling of his culinary coup, the ingredients bubble and brew, hinting at a feast of trades and transformative moves yet to come. Welcome to the Canadiens’ kitchen, where Hughes has something cooking, and it’s about to reach a boiling point: a delectable dish known as “Players Overload.”

Players overload

For many fans, the notion of prospects overflowing in the Canadiens’ system is a novel experience, shaped by past management’s penchant for trading picks for immediate gains before 2018. However, under Marc Bergevin’s 2018 Reset, the team’s draft strategy took a seismic shift, resulting in the accumulation of 58 promising prospects.

Looking ahead, the Canadiens find themselves with a bounty of picks, boasting 12 selections in each of the next two NHL Drafts, including a dozen in the coveted first three rounds. Yet, despite this wealth of talent, the team faces the constraints of the NHL’s 50-contract limit, with Capfriendly.com currently listing 46 players under contract, a number that’s poised to fluctuate as negotiations ensue.

Amidst this roster puzzle, impending free agency looms large, with notable names like Tanner Pearson, Colin White, Chris Wideman, Philippe Maillet, Mitchell Stephens, and Brady Keeper on the brink of unrestricted status. Additionally, a cadre of seven players awaits decisions on their restricted free agent status, underscoring the pressing need for strategic roster management amidst the team’s ongoing reset and rebuild endeavours.

The Art of Differing

Given that prospects and picks serve as valuable assets to a team, it’s essential not to squander them by allowing them to languish without yielding any returns. Allowing prospects to become unrestricted free agents by neglecting to qualify them is a missed opportunity. Thus, the optimal approach to managing an overabundance of prospects is to diversify current assets.

While some picks may find their way into larger trade packages, I anticipate the team will also explore avenues to exchange both picks and prospects for future considerations, particularly picks in the 2026 draft and beyond. Given the sheer volume of assets at their disposal, the Canadiens could opt to employ this strategy by leveraging prospects and 2024 picks to secure future assets. This forward-thinking approach ensures that these assets can be leveraged effectively when the team transitions into a buyer’s market in the years to come.

Keeping an eye on the Draft

You know that feeling when your instincts kick in? Well, mine are telling me that Kent Hughes is gearing up to make a splash at this year’s NHL Draft, and it could be even bigger than the moves we’ve seen in the last couple of drafts with Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook. While many are speculating about the possibility of the Jets’ first-round pick, acquired in the Sean Monahan trade, being up for grabs, I’m going out on a limb to suggest that the Canadiens’ own first-round pick this summer might also be on the table for the right deal.

Of course, there’s the popular idea among Habs’ fans of reuniting Trevor Zegras with Cole Caufield. However, my personal preference would be to pursue someone like Martin Necas from Carolina—a solid 6-foot 2-inch, 200-pound center/right-winger. With tough decisions looming for the Hurricanes this summer, the 25-year-old Czech native has been rumored to be available.

Yet, my gut tells me that Hughes might have something even bigger in mind. Why do I think that? Because he has the assets to pull it off. I can’t shake the feeling that, unless the Canadiens win the Draft Lottery and snag Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick, they may not end up selecting at their current rank. Yes, it might ruffle some feathers among those who prioritize prospects over established players, but don’t be surprised if Hughes trades the team’s first-round pick in a move that catches everyone off guard and shakes up the hockey world.

As the anticipation builds proportionally to the hope for better days, Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes stands ready to unleash his culinary masterpiece upon the hockey world. With prospects and picks simmering in his kitchen of talent, Hughes’s strategic vision promises a feast of transformative moves yet to come. From the bustling trade market to the negotiation table, the Canadiens’ kitchen is alive with the sizzle of potential deals. So brace yourselves for a serving of hockey history in the making, as Hughes prepares to serve up his signature dish, one that promises to leave fans and pundits alike craving for more.