No Habs fans agreed to that
We don’t want to trade Armia
No more Armia to SJ

Montréal is going all in. Wait to see if he hits the UFA market.

Unless the Habs move someone to their off side: Gallagher, Toffoli, Anderson, are all ahead of Armia for RW. 2.6 mil for a 4th line guy is not cheap, regardless playing small special teams minutes. The trade totally makes sense for them. Immediate LW help on 3rd or more like 4th line, a future RW/C in Gambrell that could play 3rd line potentially 2nd line minutes, and a pick. What part of that does not sound more than fair. Nothing says going all in like trading Max Domi though

expected lineup is most likely

Drouin-Suzuki-Gallagher
Taffoli-Kotkaniemi/Danault-Anderson
Tatar-Danault/Kotkaniemi-Armia
Byron-Evans-Lehkonen

Doesn't make sense. Tatar has been there 2nd best forward/winger for 2 years now behind Gally. My lineup and the one's I've seen online and talking with my friends who are habs fans

Tatar-Suzuki-Gally
Drouin-Danault-Toffoli
Byron-KK-Anderson
Lekhonen-Evans-Armia

ESPECIALLY if Poehling could be the guy he has shown flashes of, the winger depth is too good to not trade for assets.

Tatar - Danault - Gally is one of the best 5 on 5 lines in the league. I can’t see them being split up next season.

Personally I think Toffoli gets moved to left wing.

Tatar - Danault - Gally
Drouin - Suzuki - Anderson
Toffoli - KK - Armia
Lehk - Evans - Byron

You are both wrong

Tatar-Danault-Gallagher
Drouin-Suzuki-Anderson
Toffoli-KK-Armia or Lehky-KK-Toffoli
Byron-Evans-Lehky or Byron-Evans-Armia

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but neither Byron or Lehkonen are strong enough offensively to warrant 3rd line minutes on a team with this much depth. Having a top 9 of

Drouin-Suzuki-Gallagher
Taffoli-Kotkaniemi/Danault-Anderson
Tatar-Danault/Kotkaniemi-Armia

means we have 1(boarderline) 1st line and 2 top end 2nd lines with the 4th line being equal to most teams 3rd line shutdown line. In my opinion Gallagher will not be removed from the top line he is our best RW right now. Having Tatar and Gallagher between Suzuki did not work so well in the play in series once Drouin was moved to the left side that line got infinitely better. For that reason I believe CJ keeps Drouin with Suzuki and our top line will be Drouin-Suzuki-Gallagher. With the unbalance of talent on the RW over the LW swapping Taffoli and Lehkonen who both play as well on their off-wing as they do on their strong side allows for a more balanced attack. this type of lineup could see all of our top 9 wingers putting up 25-30 goals this season. Each of our top 9 centers get 2 very good wingers that can backcheck and put the puck in the net on a regular basis.

Basically every one of us agree on the top 9 being some combo of Drouin, Tatar, Danault, Gallagher, Suzuki, Armia, Kotkaniemi, Anderson and Taffoli (with Taffoli most likely playing the left side)



There you go 3 Habs fans with varying opinions on the top 9 all agree on the players who make up the top 9. That should tell you who our bottom 3 forwards will be LOL.

Habs will go with Toffoli on the LW for a while and see how that works. I'm positive they will lose (in some way shape or form) Lehkonen AND Armia next off season (UFA, expansion draft, trade, whatever). They'll want all the money they can get to sign Danault next summer. 3rd and 4th liners making more than 2M$ won't work in MTL's cap situation. I just don't think those players can be had this off season. I think the only guy they would consider trading for draft picks is Paul Byron. He's a big cap relief, and could use that cap space for a big addition at the trade deadline. Right now, they have zero cap space, so they won't even be able to make a trade at the deadline.

Doesn’t matter who the best winger is and who the best centre is and who the best scorer is. We know for certain absolutely without any shred of a doubt that Tatar Danault and Gallagher will continue to play together as one of the best 5v5 lines in hockey. You don’t change that for anything. Likely to see Drouin Suzuki and Anderson as a line (could be tweaked) and the rest will be figured out. Kk will be cantering the next 2 best wingers whoever gels with him quickest. Also Byron is probably the best option being a guy that’s paced 20 goals for the last few years prior to the one that just went by

With how well Suzuki played in the playoffs with Tatar and Gallagher CJ might go back to them early in the year to see if they continue to develop chemistry. Don't forget that Suzuki was able to do a better job in the playoffs with Tatar and Gallagher than Danault was. That is why Danault was relegated to the 3rd line. Danault might just have to face the music that he is no longer a top 6 center on this team anymore.

Yes but the playoffs for the Habs was used to see where we stood with the kids. Now that we have depth it will be a different story. Why break up danaults line when Suzuki could easily have success with Drouin and Anderson. Kk with toffoli and whoever makes the 3w to go with them.

Because that could set back Suzuki and Kotkaniemi's development. Why push them down the lineup when they have proved they are ready for bigger roles?

Firstly I don’t now how much KK has really proved. He looked good and scored which was a relief knowing what he had gone thru and playing Suzuki with Drouin and Anderson would be dynamite not holding him back at all. Tatar is likely a casualty at years end unless they find another way and get him cheap. Anyways it looks like we have a slight difference of opinion but that’s all fair and we both see this depth as a good sign of things to come

We’ll lose Tatar and Armia next summer if Danault is extended
Lehkonen will stay and be protected in the expansion draft

How about no more Armia to SJ in exchange for no more Meier to the Habs. Deal?

Didn’t see a Meier trade for at least 2-3 weeks

I think Danault test the FA market and Tatar is offered 5.5 x 4 years. Puts him in the same range as the rest of our wingers. No way is he offered more than Gallagher though.

I can’t see MTL offering a contract to Tatar
Toffoli will take is spot on the top6 LW next year ( 2021-22)

How about Armia 1st 2nd for Meier

TBH you are probably right. I just don't think MB will let both Tuna and Danault walk in the same offseason. Unless his plan is to go hard after Hall or Laine next off season and use Poehling as 3C.

If Danault is leaving, Poehling play 3C and he probably resign Armia 1-2 years. But Danault is probably extending around 5M long terms

God I hope you are right LOL. I like Danault and he deserves the respect of a long term deal.