avs decline, they are not taking on the additional cap hit of Drouin over Compher. Retain 2m and they might talk

So does MTL, why would they trade Drouin who is a better player when they don't need the cap space?

Also Bozak > Tierney and he's a UFA, would rather see MTL go that route before trading a 3rd.

Drouin is more talented but last year,...but

Drouin
44gms 2g 21a 23pts

Compher
43gms 8g 11a 19pts

for the offesnive talent that drouin is suppose to be, he had one awful season and was consiederable outscored in an elevated role compared to compher. Drouin needs to bounce back in a considerable name bc right now his production is pretty awful for someone as talented as he is. Montreal needs a big bounce back season from him, hopefully his personal issuses are behind him and he can be happy and concentrate on playing the game he loves

Compher P/60 = 1.6, his career high is 1.7
Drouin's P/60 last year = 1.9 (career low), his career high is 2.5

I know points aren't everything, Compher is better defensively, but in this case MTL needs offensive players so they'd rather have Drouin.

It's just a case of a bad trade for both teams IMO.

I dont disagree, just was my point that drouin needs to get back to his normal level, hopefully his distractions are beyond him and he can do what he does best on the ice

I disagree I think Drouin would take a big jump playing with MacKinnon and don't see him making that jump on this Habs team as currently constructed. Compher's ceiling isn't as high but he can hold his own at center which the Habs desperately need if they lose KK. It doesn't hurt that the Habs also save 2M for a Suzuki extension next season.

@coga16 is the Avs fan and he isn't interested, I won't debate whether or not Drouin would be good in Colorado it doesn't really matter from my perspective.

For MTL, KK was expected to provide offense so they need someone with offensive upside, not Compher or Tierney. They have Evans, Poehling, and Paquette, they don't need 3rd line C's.

I'd sign Bozak as a contingency and just give Drouin the opportunity as 2C (He played C for Ducharme in Junior, he wouldn't be THE GUY this time that's Suzuki, and Drouin has improved defensively and effort wise since he came to MTL, he will be hungry to impress this season). This would give MTL time to assess the situation and negotiate for a better center if necessary or wait until free agency next year (right now MTL has no leverage).

Drouin's normal level has been just north of 2.0.
Dropping to 1.9 for 40 games isn't a deviation.
Less goals, but that is expected as he took more of a playmaking role.

This season isn't about making a return to norm.
It's time for him to step up and look like the player he was supposed to eventually become.

Mackinnon and drouin do not have a amazing connection....they do not train together, they do not hang out with one another in the offseason, they never interact on social media,etc.

The idea that they are some super chemistry best buds is just weird. They were team mates over a decade ago.

Compher hasn’t played up to the contract he was given, he has a major breakout this year in my mind, he should score 40 + points. I’m saying next year when his value is up is the time to trade him. That being said I would still take the drouin deal I think he needs to get less pressure on him, Colorado with the style of play would be a great fit.

You could put pretty much any player on Mackinnons wing and he would have a big jump in production, that's not exclusive to Drouin