is that that far fetched? habs just let kk walk and have traded other top prospects like sergachev, galchenyuk, mcdonagh.

Lehkonen could be an interesting piece to include going to Colorado in a trade scenario like the one in this AGM. Avs would be down a couple of forwards if they moved Compher and Newhook, especially considering that Eichel will miss at least 4 months as well, so Lehkonen could be a cheaper Compher replacement, ideally with 50% retained.

The forward group would basically be this until Eichel returned:

Landeskog -- Mackinnon -- Rantanen
Nichuskin -------- Kadri ------ Burakovsky
Lehkonen --------- Jost -------- Ranta
Helm ------------ Maltsev ------ O'Connor

Maybe instead of Caufield they'd do something like 2022 1st + Lehkonen + prospect that Buffalo likes other than Caufield, and Lehkonen goes to Colorado with only the futures to Buffalo.

Anyways, this is becoming quite convoluted. Just thought it was an interesting idea as a way to move Girard somewhere without pissing him off by trading him directly to Buffalo.

I think rather than two 2nds make it one 1st. Probably 2023.

I was simply addressing why it isn't a "need", but a "nice to have". If we weren't talking Caufield it might be worth looking at, but moving him just to throw another hat in the ring at a well stocked position, isn't wise.

It's not not trading for Girard because of our LHD pipeline that is a problem, it's the idea of trading Caufield for a LHD while having this LHD pipeline.

You can do something like 1st + Lehkonen + prospect/pick then. It doesn't have to include Caufield but needs to be fair value for Girard in this scenario.

https://twitter.com/BWildeMTL/status/1449735255162769408

Just saw this, which is interesting in light of the conversation on how valuable Girard would (or wouldn't) be to the Habs, as a McAvoy/Fox/Heiskanen/Sanderson (or a Makar or Hughes) player is not really in the realm of possibility ... wonder what Wilde thinks could be MON's trade chips for such a high end asset, and Girard's contract is so good ... players like that don't really get traded, so it is hard to calculate his value, esp. as it is also tied to how you rate his size versus his mobility + analytics. Only follow prospects secondhand, but am doubtful in spite of its LHD pipeline, MON has a bluechip PMD (Byram, Drysdale, Sanderson calibre) within the system. Guhle is very good, but not really a PMD, and doubtful Norlinder is slated to reach that level. Maybe MON could think of trading for Marino who is allegedly on the mkt., though that would be a post-Bergevin move, since he doesn't seem to value PMD.

thats fine the habs will take that risk given that their biggest issue remains putting the puck in the net so why would they trade one of their top scoring prospect who has already shown he can have success in the toughest games. This deal just makes doesnt make sense for either side.

This is really neat 👍

Replies here are always far too harsh

They never seem to appreciate constructive input

Newhook, Girard, and a 1st might pretty much get it done without involving two other teams. Colorado can't do that though, as they need the roster players to get through the season.

FWIW, my stab at an Eichel trade would be something along the lines of Bowers, Olausson, Barron, conditional 1st, 3rd. Pretty much all futures, which allows the team to get through the year and survive while Jack is out. Same or more retention is necessary. It most likely doesn't get it done, but Newhook is still untouchable.

Sorry, MTL would reject your trade, as we need Caufield for the future. We would like to counteroffer for a conditional 7th for Makar at 100% retained salary.

So Girard, Newhook, Compher, Beaucage and a 1st for a guy with a neck issue and even with retention a massive cap hit. Then $25M to sign a starting goalie, 2 defenseman, and 4 forwards all while knowing a MacKinnon extension is priority 1 in the off season. The Avs aren’t acquiring a big long term contract this season no matter what?

This trade never happens, your right, Montreal doesn't let go of Caufield as he is potentially the future of that team and they need goal scoring in a bad way. The Makar part of your reply makes no sense though as this proposal is actually quite close in value, I think one second would be better but still. As it stands rn Girard would have slightly more value then Caufield.

Mackinnon's extension will be covered by EJ's money coming off the books.

$25m is easily enough to sign Burakovsky (~$6m), Nichuskin (~$3.5m), and Kuemper (~$5.5m) and still have ~$10m left over for 2-3 depth forwards and a #6 Dman.

The concern about the neck is very valid however. I'm not suggesting it would be easy to swing this trade, but I think it's interesting to explore the parameters by which it could potentially work, given that Colorado were specifically mentioned by Friedman as being involved in discussions about Eichel.

Evidently BUF has outright said they won’t retain anything. Eichel at 8.5 is worth investigating, Eichel at 10M would mean 46M in 5 players not exactly optimal for layering and considering the shortage of picks it would be very hard to get young cheap talent.

Adam already said that he's not retaining on Jack Eichel, And good luck getting Eichel and then giving MacKinnon $11,000,000 in a couple of seasons.

Tell me you don't know sarcasm without telling me you don't know sarcasm. Caufield rn may have less value than Girard, but Caufield in 3-4 years will get a Suzuki-like extension, and have much more value than Girard.

You say that like it's a guarantee. He's still only played 13 NHL games with 4 goals, and whilst he does have the potential to break out in a big way, he still hasn't proved it. Better prospects than him have busted, so it's no guarantee that he hits his ceiling.