First line: Cole Caufield // Nick Suzuki // Kirby Dach
This line is currently proving to be effective for Montreal, so why not see if the line is effective next year? The only downside I see in this is that Dach is going to hopefully be our second line centre of the future, so deploying him at RW isn't too effective for his development. Maybe Dvorak can take his spot... but he's also good at faceoffs. Hopefully Slafkovsky eventually takes Dach's spot, but for now I don't think he'll be that good.
Second line: Juraj Slafkovsky // Christian Dvorak // Filip Mesar
Mesar looked very good in the preseason, and he's doing very good in the OHL currently. I think one of the rookies on Montreal will take over a top six spot... it's just a question of who it'll be. My guess is on Mesar, who could also be motivated by playing with his buddy Juraj. Dvorak would centre the two as an experienced, defensively responsible centre.
Third line: Nils Hoglander // Owen Beck // Brendan Gallagher
Hoglander hasn't been very good on the Canucks this season... the Habs acquire him hoping to put a spark in him. Owen Beck was another force in the preseason, and is also dominating in the OHL. He was so good that some were wondering whether he'd get a shot in the NHL this season... but it wasn't meant to be. Both are put with a hardworking veteran in Brendan Gallagher to mentor them.
Fourth line: Rem Pitlick // Jake Evans // Jesse Ylonen
Pitlick and Evans provide some great energy on the fourth line, and both are very good defensively. Ylonen is put with them to add even more energy to that line. I personally don't see any more than middle six potential in him anymore, which is why he's on the fourth line and not in the top nine.
First pair: Mike Matheson // Kaiden Guhle
Guhle has looked very good this season so far, and Matheson was a great puck moving defenseman in the preseason before his injury. I believe that with Guhle's defensive responsibility, Matheson can somewhat run a bit free with breakouts. As long as one of them can play right side, I feel like this pair would be very effective.
Second pair: Jordan Harris // Johnny Kovacevic
This pair has been, arguably, Montreal's best pairing this season. They've been solid defensively, and unnoticeable offensively (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). I don't see any reason to split this pairing up unless something changes with them.
Third pair: Arber Xhekaj // Justin Barron
Xhekaj's emergence has been a very good sign for Montreal. This pickup was a very under-the-radar one, and I don't think he's been that bad (save for the first couple games where he was figuring things out). He could be a good player to play with Barron as he works his way into the NHL.
Scratches: Michael Pezzetta, Joel Armia, Chris Wideman
I feel like all three of these guys are, at this point, NHL-caliber, just not good enough to crack the lineup. Pezzetta could enter the lineup if Xhekaj is out (for whatever reason), and Armia is the 14th forward. Wideman is the 7th defenseman.
With the emergence of Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris, Johnathan Kovacevic, and Arber Xhekaj, the Canadiens have four young NHL defensemen, as well as four veterans. This is not a long term solution. Therefore, the Canadiens make the tough decision to trade Joel Edmundson away to a contender.
Dufour seems to be a similar player to Anderson when I watched a few games of him at the WJC. Big winger with speed. Islanders may not want to wait for him to develop to have a winger like that, so we assume that Dufour for Norlinder is the swap. On the other hand, Josh Anderson is acquired by the Islanders for a first round pick in the 15-20 range. For the sake of argument, let's say its the 16th overall pick. The Isles reportedly had interest in him on the 2022 draft day for the 13th overall pick, but they eventually moved that to the Canadiens for Alexander Romanov, which was flipped to Chicago for Kirby Dach. This time, the Canadiens will keep the pick.
Additionally, the Canadiens' left side on defense is starting to get clogged, as well as the wings on forward. Montreal makes the choice to move on from prospect Mattias Norlinder, and winger Josh Anderson. Norlinder still has some upside as a second pair defenseman, but with Jordan Harris & Arber Xhekaj already cracking the NHL, as well as prospects such as Lane Hutson and Adam Engstrom in the system, something has to give. Josh Anderson, on the other hand, brought lots of interest on 2022 draft day, because he's a big winger with speed. Not saying he's worth this, but it's likely time to move on from him if you can get a good return for him.
Needing to bolster their blueline a little bit, the Canucks move underperforming prospect Nils Hoglander to the Canadiens in exchange for Savard and a second round pick. Hopefully Hoglander finds some sort of a spark in Montreal, and returns to his former potential.
With, hopefully, the arrival of Justin Barron in the NHL in 23/24, the Canadiens decide to move on from David Savard as well. He proved well as a "replacement" for Shea Weber, but in the end, his contract is too long. He has to go.
Pick condition: If Hoglander gets under 40 points, pick is downgraded to 2024 3rd round pick (MTL).
Absolutely zero chance Toronto is trading a first for Joel Edmundson, who doesn't need play a position of need for the Leafs.
"to trade Joel Edmundson away to a contender."
doesn't have to be toronto
but i am curious to know... if muzz is done, then your left side is rielly sandin giordano. do you expect sandin to take the next step if gio regresses?
I liked Savard on CBJ but I dont think that this will happen as he is past his prime, he signed a value deal to be in MTL and Hoglander will probably be used to get a young RD, like a barron type, Not saying barron, barron type
I liked Savard on CBJ but I dont think that this will happen as he is past his prime, he signed a value deal to be in MTL and Hoglander will probably be used to get a young RD, like a barron type, Not saying barron, barron type
ill be honest savard's deal really isn't that "value" per se, he's played like he's worth 2-2.5M imo. hoglander for a young d makes sense tho, i do think MTL could be a good place for him to revitalize his career
I think we're gonna have to make a choice between keeping Harris or Xhekaj at one point in time. On the left side we have Matheson (signed for another 4 years), Guhle, and there is only room for one other LHD. Down the road we will then have to make room for Hutson.
I wouldn't move Savard yet as he is a sure bet while Barron and Mailloux integrate the line up, but I would start targeting another young RHD prospect.
As for Hoglander, I was wondering what's your take on Sean Farrell.
ill be honest savard's deal really isn't that "value" per se, he's played like he's worth 2-2.5M imo. hoglander for a young d makes sense tho, i do think MTL could be a good place for him to revitalize his career
I think savard would still fetch a fair penny on the UFA market, look at gudbranson, he just got 4x4. When Savard hit the market people were suggesting 4.5M for him 4m at the floor because again he is a RD. He would not be super easy to move right now but what is the worst that could happen if you try. I dont think MTL is the place for hogs to go, its a hard market to play in, same with van, but the expectation on newly traded players in all canadian markets is astronomically high, that if he were to stumble out of the gates, he would hear it but this time through a translator
doesn't have to be toronto
but i am curious to know... if muzz is done, then your left side is rielly sandin giordano. do you expect sandin to take the next step if gio regresses?
Yes, I expect Sandin to take the next step. I just wonder if the Leafs management has learned their lesson to quite trading away draft picks for minimal improvement. I know fans beat down the Leafs Dmen, but the Leafs are 12th in GAA. That's with Sandin missing training camp, Liljegren not back yet and has missed all training camp, 7th Dman Benn out but ready to return, and it looks like Muzzin may be gone long term. Certainly the Leafs can't have any injuries to Dmen....which might be a big hope, Not much in the minors to help.
Yes, I expect Sandin to take the next step. I just wonder if the Leafs management has learned their lesson to quite trading away draft picks for minimal improvement. I know fans beat down the Leafs Dmen, but the Leafs are 12th in GAA. That's with Sandin missing training camp, Liljegren not back yet and has missed all training camp, 7th Dman Benn out but ready to return, and it looks like Muzzin may be gone long term. Certainly the Leafs can't have any injuries to Dmen....which might be a big hope, Not much in the minors to help.
doesn't have to be toronto
but i am curious to know... if muzz is done, then your left side is rielly sandin giordano. do you expect sandin to take the next step if gio regresses?
It already looks good so far. Sandin can get a little risky but he's physical and really smart with the puck. I think he needs a solid partner, I think him with Brodie would be solid. Edmunson isn't half as good as you guys think he is. He'd have to beat Gio and he's just not as good as he is.
Josh Anderson sucks and has a terrible deal and has no spot in the islanders lineup and Norlinder wouldnt crack our top 6 for 7+ years. Not giving up Dufour AND a 2023 first lol. That is waaaaaaaayyyy off. Like the islanders wouldnt take anderson and norlinder for free, let alone that insane haul
I dont normally get upset on here but that trade is just incredibly far off. Nobody in the NHL thinks Anderson has positive value. I dont think a single team would pick him up if he was placed on waivers. That contract is terrible considering he is an average 3rd liner at best
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