Rather Keep Hayes Tbh.

The whole Buyout thing seems unlikely. I know it was reported but I really dont think Larry Brooks has much sources in Philly given Him and Torts have history of hating each others guts.

In addition, Hayes is still a decent 2C that puts up numbers. Why would Montreal recieve an absolute Haul for retaining less and Philly gets stiffed.

Xhekaj sure isnt worth that much.

Xhekaj stay at Montreal

I tried being objective by taking Xhekaj out and asking if it do it ?
The answer was unlikely.

Then i asked if Ken Hughes history suggests he would given his many public statements on never doing this with our players let alone for another team.
It quickly became apparent he'd have no interest in helping NYR out while giving away the teams best Alexi Emelin style player when teams have to respect when he's on the ice despite being a bottom pair guy currently playing a 6th/7th Defensman role as it stands now.

MTL needs its cap the next 4 years
i just dont see the upside when we are stilll after PLD this summer
Plus according to Klingberg he woulda loved to sign in MTL and he still might this summer(as per his interview with MTL media in our first game vs ANA this season)
While i see the return is big a later 1st is the biggest upside to this deal
Jones while good is a LD that falls behind Ghule, Harris,Xhekaj,Hutson , Kovaecvic and Beaudin just ahead of Norlinder, Trudeau and Struble.

Beaudin has 6 pts in 23 NHL games to 8pts in 38 NHL games.
We got him on the cheap and since coming home to Quebec is almost a point per game player for the first time since Junior.
If we didnt just get him i could see entertaining Jones to play as first call up for LD but we got Beaudin now


Not saying the value isnt there , just that the situation vs the reward doesnt see MTL doing this deal today. 2 years ago for sure they'd have done it under Bergavin
But i doubt Hughes would ever agree

In the comment section for the trade it says MTL is the only team Retaining Salary.
Pretty sure at the top of the post the motivation for it is listed as PHI getting off with no salary retained and his full contract cleared.

Hayes only shot at a return is in a deal like Faksa + Khudobin for Hayes package

Than Why is Hayes cap hit at 1.7ish mil here??????

That's Hayes with double Retention.

I agree there would be some sort of cap dump player coming back to Philly in a trade, but in that situation Philly should still get somthing decent or the trade makes absolute no sense for us to do.

"Mtl probably would not want to get rid of arber xhekaj but to loose him and take on a little under 2 million you get kravtsov Jones a 1st 4th and 5th with blais"

That's 1.7x4 or 6.8 million retention by Montreal yeah don't see that happening