Équipe: 2017-18 Canadiens de Montréal

Date de création initiale: 8 janv. 2018

Publié: 8 janv. 2018

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

Disclaimer: This is just based on the mathematical calculations which gives MTL little to no hope to make the playoffs.

Also, Bergevin would never do this kind of thing. So just think of this as a situation where he is fired by Molson and replaced with somebody with a wider vision of team management.

Also, Claude Julien would stay behind the bench.

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Trades:

ANA-MTL trade:

Galchenyuk is pretty much dead weight in MTL, he is not going to develop as much as he should here. Therefore, since his stats aren't bad this season, now would be a good time to trade him.

Hemsky and Terry are simply adding meat to this trade's bone. They're both UFA's after this season, so it's better to trade them than to leave them out of the roster. The rockets aren't going to make to playoffs either (AHL affiliate).

The 5th round pick is conditional to the games played by Galchenyuk for the remaining of the season (the condition is at least 21 games, which is almost half of 43).

In return, MTL receives Steel, which is a great potential center prospect (which MTL critically needs, if you exclude Poehling - his stats don't speak as much as Steel's).

The 1st round pick is obvious - ANA really wants to make the playoffs and they are right behind SJ - so it's not a big loss for them. Furthermore, they have been winning more games than SJ recently.

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LAK - MTL trade:

Shaw's the big catch here. LA's playing style matches Shaw's more than MTL's. He would be more than happy to go elsewhere and his contract doesn't hurt LA's cap space that much. For what he's worth for LA, Luff and a 2019 5th round pick is a really good deal.

Plekanec is going UFA after this season and there is no way that he is resigning in MTL. Therefore, trading him for a 3rd is a good deal for both teams.

In return, as said previously, MTL would get Matt Luff, a similar player as Shaw, but with better offensive skills. It's also a right-handed RW, which MTL needs in the prospect bank.

The 3rd round pick is conditional to Plekanec and Shaw playing a combination of at least 42 games, which is exactly how many games LA has to play right now (it is currently January 8, 2018).

The 5th in 2019 is only a sweetener, since MTL has given away theirs in a previous trade (you never have enough picks).

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Roster:

Drouin - Danault - Scherbak

As you can see by scrolling down, Drouin would pair up with Danault and Sherbak, since Drouin's game while playing center isn't exactly terrific. Danault is a reliable center, although he's not a 1st line center, but at least he will get the job done until the end of the season.

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Byron - Hudon - Gallagher

This line is simply put: Fast as hell. Surprising the opposing team and creating scoring chances. Hudon deserves to have this kind of opportunity and Byron and Gallagher are the team two best scorers.

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Pacioretty - Grégoire - Lehkonen

Pacio's getting a demotion, he deserves it for being a shitty captain. Depending on how he responds for the rest of the season, his status could change. Grégoire is a center prospect that would be evaluated as a 3rd line center until either the season ends (which would mean he would be doing a good job), or until the stats are not showing anything promising. Lehkonen needs more icetime away from the two 1st lines, which would give him more space to deploy his playmaking talent.

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Deslauriers - Eisenschmid - Baun

The 4th line would do what a 4th line does: play physical, dump and chance kind of style. Nothing too complex.

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Carr

He's the main forwards back up. Nothing really great about him, but nothing bad either.

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Alzner - Weber

Weber being injured right now, this is only a scenario in which he comes back soon. Pairing him up with Alzner would be a good chemistry test to see if the two can do a good job together in the following season (2018-2019).

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Mete - Petry

Mete being back from the World Junior's, he would need some time to re-adjust to the NHL gameplay, which is why pairing him on the 2nd with Petry would be a safer option. Petry would simply be assigned to be on Mete's 6 O' clock at all times, which means that he would stay behind if Mete goes up to support the offense (A.K.A: not taking any risks).

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Schlemko - Benn

Morrow had plenty of chances, he blew most of them, hence why Schlemko would be back in the starting line up, as a 3rd paired Benn. His salary being 2.1M$, it would be a waste of money to leave him undressed.

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Jerabek

Main defense back up. We didn't see much of him during this season, so he might replace Schlemko or an injured D.

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Goalies

The goalie situation would be as following: As soon as Price loses, you give the chance to Lindgren and/or Fucale to play the next game. That gives pressure on Price to perform well and if he does and he wins every game for the team and MTL ends up making the playoffs, well it's simply a bonus to this kind of move.

Lindgren and Fucale aren't doing a bad job in Laval (AHL) per say and they deserve to have more starting opportunities in the big league.

Niemi, well... He would probably be put on waivers in order to bring up Lindgren and/or Fucale. Tough is the hockey business.

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Non-roster (which you guys can't see):

Morrow: Dead weight, RFA for the next season, might re-sign him if there's no better D in free agency

Juulsen: Next up on the right side D, he needs more Junior experience though.

Poehling: In the juniors

McCarron: Dead weight, but he's an RFA, so MTL can re-sign him for cheap for one or two years after this season's end.

Froese: Will probably do a lot more in the AHL, so he would stay there unless injuries or bad luck happens.

Waked: In the Juniors

Cracknell: Dead weight, will help build leadership in Laval (AHL)

De La Rose: Dead weight, will be RFA and could be re-signed for cheap.

Bourque: In the juniors

Parisi: Not much need for him, also an RFA that could be re-signed for cheap.

Addison: In the juniors

Audette: Would replace Grégoire if he doesn't perform. If not, stays in Laval (AHL) for the remaining season.

McNiven: Lindgren and Fucale would have their chances, but if they don't perform, he could be called up as well.

Lernout: He's had his chance for this season, maybe he'll show up more prepared for the next.

Taormina: Secondary D back up, in case of injuries or replacement.

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If you have read this far, then you kind sir/kind lady are what makes this site more enjoyable than most NHL forums. I appreciate your dedication.


TLDR; Time to shake the cage and fire Bergevin. The players are sitting on their ass knowing that they are not going to be traded.

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