Alex Edler is a veteran dman who can help the habs struggling powerplay. Ideally they can sign Jake gardiner, but I feel this is unlikely.
Given the habs abundance of cap space, I also expect them to spend on a top 6 Forward in free agency. I think Ryan dzingel could be a great fit if he doesn’t re sign with Colombus.
Although I obviously have the habs signing a top 6 forward in free agency, I do believe the habs have a log jam in their bottom 6 forwards. 1 of lehkonen, Shaw, or Byron is most likely dealt this offseason, and I believe lehkonen is most likely. The old maata for lehkonen rumours I think can become a reality, further bolstering the habs left side of defence.
Although we saw poehling score a hat trick in his debut, I think he’ll spend the majority of next season in Laval. This could be beneficial since the habs middle 6 is quite saturated, and his only spot really appears to be the 4th (maybe 3rd) Centre spot. This will be for the best regardless, as Laval is poised to have a strong roster next year with players like brook, poehling, Suzuki, Teasdale, primeau, etc all joining on a full time basis.
I also believe Domi transitions to the wing and kotkaniemi takes on a larger role playing together with him on the 2nd line, this potentially happens after what I am about to explain next.
I really could also see another forward being dealt from this habs roster, and Jonathan Drouin makes most sense. I think the habs start the season giving him every opportunity to succeed, but he is potentially dealt before the deadline. Bergevin’s most recent moves show he is not shy to deal high skilled players for those with a higher motor and work rate (Domi/galchenyuk swap)
I honestly agree with this statement. I just think the habs aren’t going to get much else for lehkonen at this point - more of a projected real trade than one is actually want to happen.
I honestly agree with this statement. I just think the habs aren’t going to get much else for lehkonen at this point - more of a projected real trade than one is actually want to happen.
MTL arent trading Lehkonen thats it. Drouin Byron Armia Shaw Tatar before Lehkonen. Is 23 yo, no reason to trade him.
MTL arent trading Lehkonen thats it. Drouin Byron Armia Shaw Tatar before Lehkonen. Is 23 yo, no reason to trade him.
I’d love to agree with your thought, but just look at lehkonen’s usage last season. He was shuffled throughout the lineup often, losing his spot in the top 9 to other players as well. Byron wears an A, and when healthy Shaw consistently plays in the top 6 it seems and is liked by the coaching staff very much. Tatar was phenomenal on our 1st line this past season. Drouin and lehkonen are my most likely to be traded, and a Drouin trade is much harder to make therefore leading me to believe lehkonen is the odd man out.
I’d love to agree with your thought, but just look at lehkonen’s usage last season. He was shuffled throughout the lineup often, losing his spot in the top 9 to other players as well. Byron wears an A, and when healthy Shaw consistently plays in the top 6 it seems and is liked by the coaching staff very much. Tatar was phenomenal on our 1st line this past season. Drouin and lehkonen are my most likely to be traded, and a Drouin trade is much harder to make therefore leading me to believe lehkonen is the odd man out.
Lehkonen played with KK half season, when on the 4th line because he didnt score during 35 matchs, went on the 1st line with Domi for the rest of the season when games were crucial.
Lehkonen played with KK half season, when on the 4th line because he didnt score during 35 matchs, went on the 1st line with Domi for the rest of the season when games were crucial.
I agree with you here, but like I say in my post I don’t think the habs see Domi as a long term C. And when he shifts to the wing on a line with KK (I assume this is what they’ll do) lehkonen probably doesn’t crack the top 6 as is. Drouin, Tatar, Gallagher, Domi are all ahead of him on the winger depth chart.
Shaw, Byron, and Armia are all more effective in a bottom 6 role and when lehkonen isn’t scoring his penalty killing is alright but he doesn’t really offer much else to the team. This makes him the odd man out imo with the influx of forwards the team has, and needing room for poehling and Suzuki in 2020-2021.
I agree with you here, but like I say in my post I don’t think the habs see Domi as a long term C. And when he shifts to the wing on a line with KK (I assume this is what they’ll do) lehkonen probably doesn’t crack the top 6 as is. Drouin, Tatar, Gallagher, Domi are all ahead of him on the winger depth chart.
Shaw, Byron, and Armia are all more effective in a bottom 6 role and when lehkonen isn’t scoring his penalty killing is alright but he doesn’t really offer much else to the team. This makes him the odd man out imo with the influx of forwards the team has, and needing room for poehling and Suzuki in 2020-2021.
Lehkonen is doing everything perfect, he only need more finish. But with more finished, he's a top 6 winger. Tatar wont get an expension, so Domi-Drouin-Lehkonen will be the 3 LW.
Lehkonen is doing everything perfect, he only need more finish. But with more finished, he's a top 6 winger. Tatar wont get an expension, so Domi-Drouin-Lehkonen will be the 3 LW.
Curious as to why you think Tatar won’t be extended at the end of his contract. He was a big part of the habs most consistent line of Gallagher, danault and himself. Seems very well liked amongst the locker room and already a fan favourite after 1 season.
Curious as to why you think Tatar won’t be extended at the end of his contract. He was a big part of the habs most consistent line of Gallagher, danault and himself. Seems very well liked amongst the locker room and already a fan favourite after 1 season.
He's gonna be 30 yo & we wont have the cap space to keep him. Danault Kotkaniemi Poehling Gallagher gonna need an extention, & the year before Domi Mete Juulsen will get a big raise.
He's gonna be 30 yo & we wont have the cap space to keep him. Danault Kotkaniemi Poehling Gallagher gonna need an extention, & the year before Domi Mete Juulsen will get a big raise.
Poehling’s extension won’t be very rich at that point - he’s probably playing in the AHL and only 1 year of NHL experience going into the contract. KK hopefully plays himself into a 5M approx contract. Gallagher should be getting a $3M increase. Danault as well probably up to around 5.5M. We will also have Shaw off the books by then, and nearly alzner contract gone as well. It’s not the salary cap that worries me for who stays/leaves more so than the upcoming expansion draft for Seattle in 2021.
Poehling’s extension won’t be very rich at that point - he’s probably playing in the AHL and only 1 year of NHL experience going into the contract. KK hopefully plays himself into a 5M approx contract. Gallagher should be getting a $3M increase. Danault as well probably up to around 5.5M. We will also have Shaw off the books by then, and nearly alzner contract gone as well. It’s not the salary cap that worries me for who stays/leaves more so than the upcoming expansion draft for Seattle in 2021.
Kotkaniemi Domi Drouin Gallagher Lehkonen Shaw Armia / Weber Mete Juulsen / Price
I’d love to agree with your thought, but just look at lehkonen’s usage last season. He was shuffled throughout the lineup often, losing his spot in the top 9 to other players as well. Byron wears an A, and when healthy Shaw consistently plays in the top 6 it seems and is liked by the coaching staff very much. Tatar was phenomenal on our 1st line this past season. Drouin and lehkonen are my most likely to be traded, and a Drouin trade is much harder to make therefore leading me to believe lehkonen is the odd man out.
Don't kid yourself. Lehkonen was shuffled through the lineup because Julien trusts him more than just about any other player on the team. He was often moved onto lines that were getting stale and helped reignite them. While he had a horrendous slump, his scoring-chances-per-60 were very solid and his defensive game and forechecking is among the best on the team.