Don't really know what the point of the $20 mil in trade deadline space would be...this team goes from wildcard contender to no-show if you move Tatar and Danault.

Ice time that I think our centers would be capable of playing:

Suzuki - 20 minutes
Kotkaniemi - 16 minutes
Evans - 14 minutes
Poehling - 12 minutes.

We're already over 60 minutes per game.

Tatar's ice time can easily be spread across the bevy of new wingers that Bergevin just signed.

$20mm in cap space basically means unlimited ability (for cap purposes) to add whoever you want at the trade deadline. And a ridiculous arsenal of draft picks at the same time.

I mean, I'm sure that they can all play those minutes and more, but it doesn't mean that's a good idea. If you're not looking to compete this year, sure! If you are-not a great plan.

With our wingers, D, and especially our goaltending, I think that's a top 4 team in the Eastern conference at the trade deadline. And we can add at that point as needed.

I'll admit that Poehling is a bit of a wild card. But Thompson (or another UFA) can fill in if he's not ready yet. Tons of cap space to use for that purpose also.

You've got Paul Byron playing on the 2nd line...2 rookies as C's (Evans/Poehling) who have yet to have any success at the NHL level. You're banking on Josh Anderson being better post injury than he was before. Assuming that KK is the guy you had in the playoffs, and not the regular season version...Joel Edmundson (Karl Alzner-lite) playing in a top 4 role (Which I assume you're saving for Romanov, who played a little over 10 minutes per game/was a healthy scratch a number of times in the KHL).

To be the 4th best team in the Canadian division with this team, EVERYTHING will need to go right, and that rarely happens.

I think you mean playoff team to no-show but you are absolutely correct. Moving both Tatar and Danault without getting a top 6 forward back on a cheaper contract is not a great idea. Right now in a Canadian Division we will be fighting with Toronto and Edmonton for the top 3 spots. If you move Tatar and Danault without filling one of those holes we will be fighting with Calgary, Winnipeg and Vancouver for a wildcard spot and likely lose that fight. Byron can score 20 goals a year but that does not make him top 6 material. Our strength right now comes from our winger depth, that will be why we fight with the top teams for a top 3 finish.

- Byron can play 14-15 minutes a game on that line (when factoring in SH minutes) no problem at all.
- Evans is ready. Poehling I'm not sure. Either a UFA or a trade could bring in someone valuable to fill in those minutes. (part of the whole point of trade deadline cap space and a plethora of draft picks)
- Banking on Josh Anderson being the player he was post injury (or even better)? Yes I am. What's your reasoning behind thinking otherwise?
- Edmundson played a top 4 role on a Stanley cup winner 16 months ago. What is your reasoning behind "Karl Alzner-lite"

Top 4 team in the Eastern conference would be my bet (i.e. out of the usual 16 teams).

You would have, in that scenario, exactly the two things required to bring in the top 6 forward that you'd be looking for. cap space and draft picks.

No, I'm pretty confident that in an All-Canadian division, they'll fight with Vancouver for 4th. Calgary was good filled their needs. Toronto was good and filled their needs. Winnipeg was good and filled their needs. Not sure which one of those three the Habs are all of the sudden going to knock off? They certainly could, but I doubt it.

this notion of "canadian division" likely means that we play games in country to start the season until the border gets (closer to) back to normal.
I doubt the league changes conferences or divisions for the purpose of playoff seeding. Normal "in division" and "in conference" games likely happy second, but only after all the "in country" games are complete.

If it's a lottery pick you gave away TATAR for free

Not how it works. Would revert to a 2022 1st instead.

-You've already got Danault...
-Maybe Evans is ready, maybe he's not, but he looked overmatched in the playoffs.
-Missing most of a season because of shoulder surgery isn't typically a good sign for a guy who makes a living playing a rough and tumble game. I like him, but wouldn't bank on him doing any more than he did during his best season in Columbus.
-Slow, horrible possession stats. His numbers essentially negate Petry's. He's really not good.

Top 4 teams in the conference! That's bananas. *IF* this were a typical year, Eastern conference-wise, you think they're all of the sudden better than Tampa, Carolina, Columbus, Toronto, Boston (Who will be without Marchand/Pasta for a month or two, so sure, why not?), the Islanders, the Rangers, the Caps, and the Flyers?! I could maybe pick 2 teams that they might be better than out of that group, but you think they're top 4?

I can't imagine that they say: "Ok, here's our schedule for the season...if the border opens, we'll change it!", or "Hey, I know you guys have been playing each other all year long, but you're not technically competing against each other, you're actually competing against teams that you don't get to play..."

"Slow, horrible possession stats. His numbers essentially negate Petry's. He's really not good."

...and yet he strangely was good enough to occupy a top 4 role on a Stanley cup winner. With the rest of the team compensating for his "not good-ness."
Whatever, it's all good, we'll gladly accept #25, even though we'll have to listen from the analytics community about how we're supposed to look at his possession stats to determine the value of a stay at home D, and how the rest of the team won "in spite" of his bad play! A classic "Andrew Berkshire" useless analytics argument.

It's always funny to me how the anti-analytics clan are happy to use them when they benefit their argument, but completely throw it out the door when it doesn't favor them. Playing with Colton Parayko and/or Pietro isn't the same as playing with Jeff Petry.

Regardless, I think the Habs will surprise some folks this year, but jumping ahead of 7 of the 11 teams that were ahead of them in the standings in the East last year is a pretty bold prediction.

I'm not anti-analytics. Your argument is that he's really not good based on a single statistical category. Honestly, people who make those types of arguments don't really deserve to call themselves members of the analytics community.

And yeah, I'm more than comfortable comparing the quality of Weber/Petry to Petro/Parayko.

Ik, I was joking

What statistical category have you referenced, other that this whole "He played top 4 during the playoffs!" thing, which I find kind of funny too...he averaged 16:32 minutes per game. Bouwmeester (23:30), Parayko (25:07) and Pietrangelo (25:45) ate the minutes. He essentially split that 4D position with Gunnarsson and Dunn.

As for Weber/Petry being compared to Petro/Parayko? C'monnnnn.

Top 4 all season in his last year with the Blues. 19:23 TOI per game. Had the same role more or less last year in Carolina. You need depth at D in this league if you want to take a run.
To your point on usage, Edmundson basically ate up critical situation / D zone minutes, which is exactly what skews your possession stats.

You might think those 4 D aren't comparable. I don't believe you'll find yourself in the majority though.