After the heartbreak of missing the playoffs by a hair Montreal goes to work. They have a lot of younger forwards moving up their depth chart, but not much on the back end which they will need to address if they want to compete for a playoff spot. They also could look at bringing in a top 6 forward as a UFA to allow their younger forwards to learn the NHL game further down the lineup for a season or two. Finally, they should consider an upgrade to the backup position to keep Price fresher for the playoffs (60GP or less in regular season would be ideal).
RFA's
Lehkonen - 2 year bridge deal @ 2.5M, betting on himself to earn a larger deal in a few years.
Kulak - 2 year re-up @ $1.5M as Bergevin is hesitant to overpay for less than a full good season.
Armia - 3 year @ $3M if he's not used in any trades.
Hudon, Oulette, & Reilly are on the trade block to upgrade the LD, as sweeteners in cap dumps, or for picks. Otherwise re-signed to reasonable one year extensions.
UFA's
Montreal may be in on the Duchene sweepstakes (6 x $7M), but may also choose to be patient and develop their forward group from within instead.
Montreal's most glaring need is a LD. After the Alzner signing blew up in their face, they are likely tentative to spend on another UFA D, but I still think they may approach Gardiner to sign (6 x $6M) giving him 6 opportunities a year to show Toronto their mistake in not keeping cap space to keep him. I think Gardiner chooses to go elsewhere though; having already played under a microscope I think he looks to go somewhere where he'll have a degree of anonymity.
Trades
Explanation of each one that I make is in the additional comments of each.
Overall, Montreal should look to keep open cap space for their young players as they develop. If possible, Alzner to be moved in a pay to go away or doofus for doofus type deal. Byron, Shaw, or Armia could be moved to address LD. I also think they need a better answer at backup goalie than Lindgren.
Lineup
Is missing one top line center, but I've avoided adding Duchene as I think the Habs should wait to see what they have with Kotkaniemi, Poehling, and Suzuki developing as centers. I also did not add a bigger name to the LHD (Gardiner, Edler, Brodie), and felt cheaper options (Coburn, Benn) were too old, so instead chose to go after a decent middle pairing at worst guy who is the right age to fit with the Habs developing core group of forwards (Maatta). I think Poehling makes the team and they bring up Evans for the fourth line (who had a good year last year in the AHL), while they let Suzuki play tons of minutes at the AHL level.
Chicago is thin on LD after Keith so they think a mid pick is a good gamble on local product Reilly who will likely get an opportunity to play as high as second pairing.
Florida moves out a backup they don't need when they likely sign Bob. They get two guys that can probably play in their lineup given their horrible depth outside of their top 6-7 forwards and $3.4M off the books for the 2020 off season if they don't work out.
Pittsburgh is looking to shake up their roster following a disappointing playoffs. They move some money tied up in this middle pairing blue liner for a middle 6 forward with grit and proven playoff scoring. They get a little bit older in the process but their window to win is closing as Crosby, Malkin, and Letang age and they acquire a mid pick to account for the age discrepancy.
Montreal acquires a LD who is at the prime age to grow alongside their developing core. They add a mid pick to account for the age difference of these players.
Not sure why FLA would make this deal as it doesn't open up all that much cap space once they replace Reimer's backup slot.
Maatta is on the slower side these days and not sure he should play alongside Weber. As a partner to Petry, he might be a step up, but we're still short a #1 LHD.
You still have $7.5M in the kitty. Why not use it?
Not sure why FLA would make this deal as it doesn't open up all that much cap space once they replace Reimer's backup slot.
Maatta is on the slower side these days and not sure he should play alongside Weber. As a partner to Petry, he might be a step up, but we're still short a #1 LHD.
You still have $7.5M in the kitty. Why not use it?
Florida will likely sign Bob and have Montembeault be the super cheap backup (Luongo retires).
I took your advice and did move Kulak up with Weber as they had great CF% together last year (58%) in a limited sample and Maatta back with Petry. I think if Maatta can stay and play healthy he is not horribly slow but has looked it lately due to injuries.
I did try to use it on either Gardiner (6 x $6M) or Duchene (6 x $7M), but expect Montreal to miss out on them both. If that happens, perhaps they buy a Toronto first or second rounder next year by agreeing to take Marleau and buy him out so he can return for less money to the Leafs. What would you use the money for this year without affecting the Habs ability to keep their developing core intact?
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
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