Équipe: 2019-20 Canadiens de Montréal

Date de création initiale: 27 mai 2019

Publié: 27 mai 2019

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

Karlsson can play the offside, playing with Weber will allow him to relax and focus on offense. It will be awkward at first and mistakes will happen but Karlsson is an elite defenseman and should have no problem adjusting to the left side something he has done in his career before at least a few shifts in some games while playing in Ottawa/San Jose and playing for Sweden.

Why it makes sense for Montreal: they don't have to give up asset's in a trade to get a top pairing defense, it gives the Habs someone who can actually skate with the puck up the ice from their own end. The move still allows the Habs to search for a left shot defense that could come available at the deadline if teams don't have the season they expect. Players that come to mind are Fowler(ANA), Ghost(PHI), Brodie(CAL), Nurse(EDM), Gustafsson(CHI). Trading any of Petry, Juulsen, Brook and Fleury isn't much of a loss if the Habs land a left shot D because Karlsson can go back to his normal side split ice times with Weber giving a one two punch along the right side.

Why the Habs shouldn't do it: the cap hit would forever hurt the Habs if they decide to go all in then rebuild, Karlsson can still play but his body has taken a beating similar to Weber and both could be walking statues in 4 years.

Habs main focus at the deadline should be to move Alzner, with the expansion draft coming up unless he waives his NTC the Habs would be forced to protect him exposing another much better player, retaining anymore than 1250000 of his contract would hurt the Habs for the next two years when they will have a number of contracts up.

Karlsson is highly unlikely to sign in Montreal after playing for a divisional rival for most of his career. He wants to win and will likely to a pay cut and sign with a top ranked team if they can move enough cap he'll likely sign for $9M to a contender.

Cheers