I think it would take that 1st just to take Vlasic right now. Even then I'm not sure its worth it as Sharks could easily use all that free money to buy UFA's and will themselves into the playoffs defeating the purpose of making the move in the first place.

Montreal just doesn't have the cap space to do this going forward. But as much as I hate Vlasic's contract, that unprotected 2023 1st is hella tempting.

Gut is that the Habs don't do it though, they already have a lot of veterans with term.

You're right, it's stupid

Vlasic's contract is really bad 4 more years at 7M... at a minimum I'd want Eklund and a lotto protected 1st to take his contract.

Plus, ya know, all the damage he would do playing. Hard to place a dollar amount on that.

I mean if you make a trade for him you probably don't mind his on ice play. He'll help you get better draft picks and people can't complain you are tanking cause his NMC prevents him from being taken off the roster.

Have we not learned our lesson with unprotected 1sts yet? Let’s not and just buy him out. Or better yet maybe he catches Hossa Syndrome and becomes allergic to his gear.

A prospect of Eklunds level will never be added just to take on a bad contract. PLUS getting a 1st?? That’s just a joke.

SJ would retain money and add a pick or 2 rather than trade Eklund

Montreal wouldn't trade for Vlasic without getting serious assets back and moving out their own bad contracts. Which makes no sense for SJ to do. Why move Vlasic and get back Armia + Byron at the cost of Eklund and an unprotected 1st? Cause that is what it would take at a minimum. Vlasic has no value at all and while Byron and Armia aren't very sought after they do at least have some value. Use Marleau as a baseline, 1 year 7 mil cost the Leafs an unprotected 1st, how much more would the Sharks have to give up for 4 more years?

Leafs gave up a 1st that turned into Jarvis for 1 year of Marleau at a lower caphit.

Taking Vlasics contract forces you to commit to a 4 year rebuild and prevents you from getting assets with that cap space in the future.

Sharks probably can't move Vlasic this season but if they do Eklund will be in that deal.

Exactly. Anyone who thinks one 1st that probably isnt even be a top 15 pick for 4 years of a 7M contract is fair hasn't heard of the salary cap.

If Montreal was going full rebuild, I could see them taking Vlasic for assets. Anything less than a full tear down means they can't easily handle that contract though, so the rest of the trade doesn't matter.