Bergevin : “I was asked if my (first-round) pick might be available and I answered yes, though I won’t trade that pick just to trade it. It has to be for a player who would help us right away. And then there’s the contract. Trading the 16th pick for a player that has one year left on his contract before becoming a free agent, that’s not the smartest thing to do either.
“But my pick is even more available (than usual), yes.”
So not 1st for a UFA to be. Let's say 2 years of Gaudreau is OK for Bergevin.
Bergevin on giving their young C more ice time : "At a certain point you have to take the risk that your kids will keep progressing. We’ve reached a point where we’re ready to take that risk." Evans could get his spot afterall. If not, trade weal and sign a 4th C veteran.
Obviously, the 1st can be kept. From the Athletic : In other words, Bergevin is not looking to go big game hunting – like Patrik Laine, for instance.
“Players of that caliber don’t often change teams, and the ones that do, there’s a reason for it,” Bergevin said. “And to acquire them, it costs a fortune.”
But the purpose of AGM is to try something, so there it is. The trade seemed approved on an other post https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/1957517
2021 buyout :
2020-21 : 3,55m Alzner in Laval
2021-22 : 2,3m
2022-23 : 1,1m
2023-2024 : 0
result if buyout this year :
+0,4 2020-2021
-0,4 2021-2022
-0,3 2022-2023
+0,8 2023-2024
so if MTL has extra 400k this year, a buyout could help them to have approx 800k more cap for 2 seasons (key ones)
If this were to happen pre draft I would find it hard to say no. Treliving can turn two first rounders into a stud goalie like Kuemper or a top line RW very easily. Also opens up a million dollars to go after a Hall or Markstrom if the Flames wanted to. I do hate the idea of trading a nearly hundred point guy but the secondary moves that could be made after are sure enticing.
Hmm. This is tough. I probably do it, if we think that Gaudreau would be open to staying here long term. If he isn’t, then I wouldn’t do it.
I agree that the next 2 years isn't really MTL window for a deep run. I'm not even sure I do it myself. If Bergevin hears echoes about Gaudreau wanting to sign for an american team in 2 years, I don't think he pulls the trigger