Depends. If the jackets draft a 1C this summer then I'd pass and just let Ceulemans develop the right way in the AHL while they figure out who the best options to keep out of the current RD group are.

Think Habs keep their Beck

If the habs win the lotto and get first or second then it would be possible but still not likely

Very difficult to see them give up on Beck. He was their answer to NOT drafting Shane Wright. They would be more inclined to trade picks.

No way. Owen Beck stays for sure. Habs will have Mailloux and Barron in 2 szns anyways

I don't think "giving up" is the right verb. Rather, trade from a position of organizational strength to acquire depth at a position of organizational weakness.

If they draft: Smith, Dvorsky or if they are lucky enough to get one of the big 3 with a lottery win, any prospect will be ahead of Beck. Also with Suzuki, Dach, Dvorak, Evans... The Habs are pretty well setup at Center without much room for prospects like Kidney, Beck, Kapanen to come up.

After Kovacevic, Barron, and Mailloux (if the league let's him play which is not a given) the cupboard is pretty bare and those guys are not obvious locks to make and stay in the NHL.

That's not much depth. Look at how many defensemen got hurt this season alone. What if Barron or Mailloux don't work out?

Generally not a good idea to trade players taking the professional route for those taking the college path.
You can never be sure college players will sign before their rights expire.
Kapanen, Kidney, or Farrell perhaps. More likely if Ceulemans sees that his path to the NHL will be blocked in Columbus, so he feels signing there isn't a good move, but that's just as likely to drive him to free agency.

Fair point, but easily clarified with a few conversations if you have access to the player. If a trade like this one were to happen, the Habs would probably need to get permission to speak to him and his agent and understand his intentions. I imagine he'll be happy to go to a team where there is a clear path to the pros, but you never know... Very good comment!

Also... I imagine CBJ turn down picks. They have plenty of picks...

Enh. I'm not as much of a fan of Beck on paper, so I'd hesitate. But that's admittedly partly due to a lack of complete information on him, so I could be convinced.

Finally others are seeing what I’ve been saying for months. Owen Beck and Logan Mailloux will both be on team within 2 years.

So do the Habs. So no dice

This is why I think they should trade Evans. He's a luxury. There are teams contending that would love to have a low cost center that wins draws with speed and playoff pedigree. Sam Lafferty is already drawing a lot of interest in Chicago. They are the same type of player except Evans is a proven playoff commodity.

If he was healthy...

To hear Habs fans tell it, he's the second coming of Patrice Bergeron. Very defensively responsible but with a wicked wrist shot and good offensive instincts. Has lead the OHL in faceoff wins percentage for a few years and in training camp this year he looked NHL ready.

Depth in what way? With Savard and Kovacevic there, and with other young Dmen (mostly LD) also showing promise, there is a fine line between depth and logjam. You have to find playing time for young D to develop.

Yes. To be fair I doubt Savard is on this team in 2024-25, and Kovacevic is probably a 7th damn on a strong playoff team.

Very true, yea, I dont see Savard here beyond next szn. I agree on Kovacevic too.