As a habs fan, done.

I don't mind it. But why would MTL do this if they are playoff bound?

If we have another deal in place to get a LHD then we’d probably do it. The habs are really tight to the cap, and Evans (who will likely be a healthy scratch tomorrow) is playing well, and we also have Caufield. And this is all while Armia’s out, so he could find himself as the 15th forward just because he can’t play C, he’s a right handed shot who only plays RW, and he isn’t as good defensively as Lehkonen, Evans, or Byron. He’s still a great player, the habs just don’t need him anymore.

Plus it’s very unlikely he gets re-signed anyways, so we don’t have to worry about next year.

Is Caufield actually gonna play this year? I really don't expect him to. I expect him to go to the AHL and learn the system for 6 months or so before you ever see him.
Nor do I expect MTL to be buyers. How much would it cost you to get a decent LD better than what you have. Is it worth spending all of that? For MTL I don't think it is.

He has bonuses in his contract for GP this year, so it’s definitely a possibility. IMO he’ll play a few games in Laval to start off, and once the habs are close to clinching a playoff spot he’ll play some games with the big club. Whether he plays in the playoffs depends on how he plays in his NHL stint.

If the LD is on an affordable contract that extends beyond this year and is enough of an upgrade to be worth it then the habs would absolutely be interested. (à la Ekholm, but he’s likely not available anymore) They did trade for Staal as a pure rental, so yeah, they’re buyers.

Staal was a nothing of a trade. To get a guy who can play 2D spot isn't going to come nearly as cheap as Staal and that's really the point I'm making here. Demand is crushing supply here. I don't see you getting one without it costing you down the road. And right now isn't the right time to do that.

If they move Armia, they have Evans as a #12, Frolik as a #13. Like it was mentioned, Caufield may make an appearance at some point. They are using one of his ELC years regardless, so I am sure he will play a few NHL games. They also have Poehling is anything. Armia is someone they could move. I think Ruhwedel could also be a good RD option for MTL.

MTL does not want Ruhwedel.

And yes they have bodies but that really isn't really the point I'm making here. They are downgrading. A team going into the playoffs. For what, cap space to over pay for a defenseman? I just don't think that's wise use of assets for MTL.

I’d say that if we trade Armia, Evans is the 13th forward, Caufield is 14th, and Frolík is the 15th. We don’t really want/need Ruhwedel, since Mete, Romanov, Edmundson, and most of our AHL LHD can play the right side.

Montréal has so much draft pick/prospect capital that it’s worth it to trade for a player like that. Now obviously the habs aren’t giving up an arm and a leg for a rental, but if they can get someone that can help them now and in the future, they jump on it. And I know it’s extremely unlikely that the habs end up landing a player like that, because of there being little to none of them available, which is why I’d say the habs would do this only if they were able to land a LHD.

And I know Staal was cheap, but you don’t trade for rentals you know you can’t re-sign unless you want to try to win this year.

I think MTL traded for him to get into the playoffs as they were on the edge. Why, $. teams are looking to make all they can this season with most losing money.
Of course that though was pre huge covid outbreak in canada. The NHL wasn't talking about going back to a bubble at the time of the trade. They thought they could play at home, get ticket sales etc..
Of course all that might be gone now. Which is just one more reason the trade market will be slow.

Montréal wasn’t trading for Staal to make the playoffs. It’s pretty clear that Bergevin expects to make the playoffs (which is obvious with the roster the habs have). The Staal trade was made because he wants to put his team in the best position to make it as far into the playoffs as they can. And it makes absolutely no sense to say that they traded for Staal to make money. Anyone that knows anything about the current global situation knew months ago that there would be no fans in the stands in Canada this year. If Moulson cared about money, he wouldn’t have allowed the team to spend over $100 million in the offseason. Geoff is clearly well off enough, and he’s willing to spend whatever he can to help the team win.

I think you are under estimating this. Teams make more in the playoffs. We all know that.
They picked up staal while they were losing games and falling down the division.
It is what it is. If giving up a 4th helps you reap a few million back, you do it.
It's common sense.
They aren't just spending money to "help the team win" no one is dumping money in not expecting to make it back. Sports teams aren't yachts, they aren't money pits.

What extra money will the habs be making in the playoffs? A little bit of revenue from ads on the boards and helmets? That won’t even cover the cost of 1 league minimum player. And while some owners obviously are in the business to make money, a lot aren’t. See Winnipeg. They lose tonnes of money each year, but their owner is filthy rich and he’s willing to lose money each year to keep a team in Winnipeg. Now the habs are obviously profitable most years, but for Moulson the habs profit is secondary to team success. And that’s especially apparent this year, when team success has little effect on the team’s financials.

no team is losing money. Even the little they lose in a season they are reaping back.
Especially as they wait on new TV deals etc... The values of the team rise every year, far outpacing the loses. It's why people pay 800 million for a team.

There is clearly money to be made, more than if they didn't make it right? How much, none of us know that number. But it doesn't matter. The question is does dealing a 3rd and 5th round pick, which is basically nothing make you money back. The answer to that is yes, which is why they do it. As the 3rd and 5th round pick don't hold much value. It's not like it's a 1st rounder.
Teams trade picks for cap space all the time. So them trading picks for capital as well should be no surprise. It's a math game. Make the playoffs get paid more, does the pay = the value of the pick, yes, ok do it.
Don't underestimate what they can make on those games. It's not 1 game. It's at least 4, probably more. I'm going to guess they make a few million if they make it. Is a few million worth a 3rd and 5th. Yeah it is.
It's really a zero sum game. You are going to spend the vast majority of your operating costs anyway. The question is do you do nothing and just get what ever the season holds, or do you do something and make a little extra to offset the costs. If you are in position you probably do something. Which is what MTL did.
But that cost has a limit. As there becomes a point where assets spent does not equal reward. Which is why I don't see them spending big.