2020-21 with contract extensions

OK I'll bite. I like most of this BTW.

-Scandella is simply to cheap. He deserves at least what he got in his last contract. Can't fathom he is willing to take such a discount just to play in his hometown. Players will take a little off but that is easily 50% reduction. Seems way too muhc.

-If Im not mistaken, Romanov is signing with Montreal to play in Montreal. Signing him and then demoting him to Laval without him proving hes NHL worthy first is how you piss of a potential star player. If he plays AHL hockey this year its because he played and stank it up and proved he's not ready. Then he has to accept that he will be demoted.

-Rather than get Bernier at that cost (The Detroit 2nd is not happening btw so Im dismissing is outright), Habs should take a shot at Crawford if he doesn't resign in Chicago. If not there are other options in free agency that wont cost any assets and that are old enough to not deserve long term contracts and that are still good. UFA older goalies will have to sign for cheaper and less long. There's a glutton of goalies available this year and only so many open spots.

- Kotkaniemi can start in the AHL but if he is not with the club quickly that is a massive failure on MB's part. Might as well trade him him. Too many players will be ahead of him on the depth chart and he'll just stagnate. KK needs NHL minutes now. The time to give him AHL minutes was the past two years. He's 20 now, we need to see what he can do.

- Sergachev IMHO is a pipe dream but I hope Im wrong. I would love MB to OS him and get him for this price. I just don't see him accepting it coming from the guy that traded him once and then playing next the guy that tried to take his head off the last game. I have no idea what he is thinking but if I'm in those shoes, I would rather make less money than sign in Montreal. Can't fathom after all that's happened, he cool with coming back here.

- See reply in other thread for Scandella.

- Touched on it in the other thread, but it would be best to not rush Romanov. He doesnt play a lot of minutes in the KHL (through no fault of his own) but that has surely slowed down his development. Unless he proves he can play a top 4 role in the NHL this year then I would rather play him in Laval, lots of PP time, lots of icetime. I would call him up when injuries inevitably happen. If the habs dont get Sergachev (which is likely the case) Romanov will probably make top 4 anyways.

- I think Crawford will stay in Chicago, but if not I would be all over him. In this scenario (the habs getting Sergachev) mete is expendable, so they trade him and Lindgren for a pick and reliable backup goalie. I think mete is worth it for Detroit, maybe that's just me but Mete is a pretty good young defensemen, his only shortcoming is his size. The pick could be changed to a conditional based on Bernier resigning.

- Disagree on the KK philosophy. Did you watch KK in Laval? Guy had his confidence back and he gotter better and better as the games went on. Just because he should have been in the AHL the past two years does not mean he can no longer play there now. There will be injuries, and he will get his chance. Or he plays well and the habs have no choice but to play him. Similar to Romanov, I would rather be surprised by a younger player in training camp then be counting on them. Out of Domi, Danault, Suzuki can you say KK is better than them right now? No, so might as well play KK 20 minutes / game in the AHL all situations, than only 13 minutes in the NHL.

- Sergachev is a pipe dream, but it's a a dream worth chasing for the habs. If it doesn't work, no big deal just keep Mete and hope Romanov works out. With regards to playing with Weber, I think Sergachev would love it. He would be a first pairing defenseman, which he isn't in TB. Additionally, he seemed to have a lot of respect for Weber in the interview after the fight, saying he respected him for trying to stick up for his smaller teammate (suzuki). I think Sergachev can get past the fact that he was traded for guy who was supposed to be the local hero, Drouin was also drafted 3rd overall so it's a trade of two young guys with lots of potential that play completely different roles. I dont think he should take it to personally, if he was mad he is probably over it by now.

@F50marco worth noting this:

"#Habs Romanov's agent Dan Milstein on conference call: "(Romanov)'s coming to Montreal on a one-way ticket... he's coming to Montreal for good." Romanov says he's ready for North American play, whether in AHL or NHL."
- John Lu via twitter

Good to know Romanov is open to playing in the AHL. I hope he blows us away in MTL but if he had to have a stint in MTL playing with all the other future core players it certainly wouldn't be a bad thing for him.

The athletic recently posted an article about how MTL should turn Laval into a proving grounds for their prospects since training camp can be to small of a sample size. I think if Romanov is stuck in the 3rd pairing or something with no PP time in MTL he would be better off playing 1st pairing in Laval with PP time. He will never develop an offensive game if MTL is not prepared to give him a chance in an offensive role.

Edit: Another One

"Yeah I’m ready to play in AHL, I’m ready to play in NHL. I’m ready to play in North America.” - Alexander Romanov.

That's great news!

Although I will say this, Russian especially good ones who could be making much more back in Russia, tend to be more finicky than other nationalities. My interpretation of Romanov coming here is that he is coming to play in the NHL. IF he plays in the NHL and proves to himself that he is not ready, I think he'll accept the AHL. BUT if in his mind he has made the team but the MB and CJ feel otherwise, i think we may see some sparks.

If he is willing to go where ever the org feels is best for him, than Im am perfectly happy!