Why is Byron in any of these trades?
Nobody in the entire league wants him.

Cause in order for any trade to work Montreal has to clear cap and if Columbus wants KK and Caufield they will have no choice but to include Byron. It doesn't matter though I don't see Montreal paying the equivalent of 2 1sts +++ for PLD

Habs should not be letting KK and Caulfield go.

here how i think the conversation will go

MB: so Dubois wants out eh?

JK: why yes a very keen eye of yours.

MB: ill tell you what, ill give you Danault, Tatar, and 2 1st

JK: no thank you. -Hangs up phone

a few days later

JK: shall we reopen the Dubois discussion

MB: sure

JK: so i want Kotkaniemi

MB: -hangs up phone

Honestly if im montreal I dont make any moves right now. Montreal should currently be 3-0 and is playing like the best team in their divisions so I would not make any major moves for the next little bit.

His value has fluctuated so much in people's minds over the past week. Montreal has leverage over Columbus but that doesn't mean Columbus wont ask for a lot. I think people are overvaluing his return given his current situation.

There are other ways to create cap space, other than adding a cap dump though.

Kotkaniemi - $0.925MM
Toffoli - $4.25MM

PLD - $5MM

That's a difference of $175K

When two teams that are expecting to compete, make a trade, there's less likely to be prospects or picks, involved.

Toffoli was just signed he will not likely be traded so soon same with Anderson. MB has a huge man crush on Drouin so he is also off limits most likely. The only forwards that make sense from Montreal's perspective are Danault (need to make cap space and roster space, this is the easiest route) Byron (cap space) Tatar (cap space and not likely to be resigned). Armia (same as Tatar). If we get PLD one of these players need to be involved but only Byron and Armia would be part of a package involving KK. Otherwise it doesn't make sense from Montreal's perspective. I suspect the best and easiest option is Danault + Kulak = 4933333 Dubios = 5000000 difference = 77777 Montreal also sends one of Norlinder\Caufield\Guhle and a 2nd. Total value = 2 1sts + 2 2nd + 4th (Danault = 1st + 2nd, Norlinder\Caufield\Guhle = 1st, 2nd = 2nd Kulak = 4th).

Yeah I agree mostly, my point was more that there's other options than including a cap dump. My first option would be Suzuki, but for Habs fans, those are fighting words, lol. The biggest issue is that either of the two centres CBJ would want back, are both on their ELC. I think Montreal is the perfect destination for PLD, just not a great trade fit right now. This gets easier in the offseason when KK needs a raise.

Not really, IF KK can have a strong year and put up decent numbers and shows he can still hit his ceiling of a 1C then the trade makes even less sense than it does now. IF KK doesn't step it up and shows he can only be a 2C then Montreal has to add to get Dubois, even then Dubios is only a 2C or 1B option so does moving multiple assets for what KK will bottom out at make sense? Especially after the playoffs are done and KK will be that much closer to Dubois. IMO there is no real fit between the two teams, Columbus wants KK or Suzuki, Montreal should only be willing to part with Danault.