Did you just assume you're getting PLD?

idk his exact value, just that I'd trade him on the vertical. Trade for a G, LW, or RD prospect. I see him as a center not the type to make the switch to winger.

In terms of picks, I think he receives about where he was drafted, late 2nd, early 3rd

I just don’t see anything that would have changed since he was drafted.

For a center with a 2,5 ppg since joining a team where he has teammates that can actually produce?

Of course I did . Even if we don't get him, we have Dach + 2 early 1st who can take the spot.

Expendable? no
Most valuable of the people pushed out by Beck and likely PLD ? Yes

Kidney and Kapanen are the best middle 6 Center prospects we got that got leap frogged by Dach and Beck's additions at the draft (Via Trade for Dach)
Factor in Mysak in Laval soon to be joined by WHL's 6th leading point producer Jared Davidson and likely Belzile on a new deal with a full 750k for NHL or AHL (500k raise)
He's close to the NHL but only started succeeding when Evans went down and he took Center.(which is as unlikely as Drouin taking Center.)
1/3 will get the call up next season when they trade either Dvorak or Evans . The other two will be top guys in a deep system with many solid goal scorer's entering their 2nd and 3rd years pro and making a more consistent impact the more muscle they back on and the more experience they get.

As it stands Kidney still has a great shot as he can play an extra year like Suzuki did in junior going on a memorial cup run before jumping straight to the NHL where he's stayed.
If he goes down to Laval next year though its going to hurt him a lot as its a Defense first system with emphasis on shots in bulk with more Garbage goal scorers with double digit goals then skilled goal scorers with the same. Kidney wouldnt work in that system but in MSL system based on skill, speed and possession he'll be clutch.
If he learns to be as strong on his off hand with faceoffs like Beck did during his boredom in the Pandemic , Then Beck's only edges is Aggression and Strength(difference of 15lbs of muscle on same build, so a year maybe two physically ahead). But Kidney has to straight up non stop overachieve to succeed here as our AHL and NHL systems couldnt be more different


Ultimately though i think its we can leave Kapanen in the SHL to until June 2025 before we'd have to sign him and burn time off his ELC.
Its the difference of 1 season to make it straight to the NHL versus 3 seasons to make a decision with Kappanen .
He's not worth moving until the draft after a Memorial Cup when his value will be at its best this year.
Not worth moving Kidney before then unless its in a deal for PLD

Dvorsky is a nice option for the FLA pick as others overachieve like Caufield in the Dach draft , he's falling out of the top 10 slowly.
Given the league he's in is less competitive then most of those in the top 10 still MTL could steal him .

Slovak Center who at age 17 has started for the U20 Slovak team twice with 5 points in 9 games so far and still eligible for 2 more.
Slafkovsky -Dvorsky-Mesar sounds good to me

It will be interesting to see. With Slaf, Suzuki, Caufield, Dach, Benson/Smith (+PLD?) (+Farrell?) in the top6, it will be difficult for Kidney to grab a top6 spot. As you said, his offense first style makes him less interesting than someone like Kapanen or Evans for the 3rd/4th center spot.

Realistically, I only see one of Kidney or Beck making it with the team. The other is expendable. I'm not too particular over which one gets moved, as long as it involves a piece we need.
No rush. That decision can be pushed back until we have reshaped our roster and identified the holes and the players we want to fill them.
Unless someone is offering a high end close to NHL ready RHD, no need to worry about his trade value.

Dvorsky would be a nice option with FLA's pick. I liked him at the WJC. Though, if he is available, I wouldn't pick him over Sandin-Pellikka.
Would be great getting Dvorsky this year and someone like Jakub Chromiak next year (Offensive minded Slovak RD)

I appreciate the effort put into this explanation.

However, I don't see kidney ever cracking the habs roster as it stands right now. Unless he goes on a tear next season in Laval and shows that his game does infact translates effortlessly to pro (highly unlikely for a 20 year old), he doesn't really project as a top 6 nhler. We've got so many options in the system already that will push him down the lineup unless his progression takes another step.

I would definitely throw him in to a trade as a "B level" prospect.

That. If MTL need a B prospect to be thrown in a trade, do it. If not, keep him and see what he can become.

I agree and you're right, what it boils down to is timing and lack of system space.
Though i was just saying he's a Darkhorse and if he continues to overachieve he might edge out Beck , but its a lot of hoping and wishing.
Reality is with Beck and Dach arriving he's odd man out 9/10 unless he has a Suzuki like Memorial Cup run jumping straight to the NHL
Or a trade takes Beck away for a player that isnt a Center replacing him (i know a lot of mock deals on here have him linked to PLD)


I dont envry being MTL's GM right now
No matter what by Jun.1st/2023 he'll have a lot of rough decisions to make about who stays and who goes.
14 Qualifying offers are due the next 2 years with many playing great hockey and many will have to go.
There's even a chance the #6 WHL scorer and leader of the most stacked WHL team in which he's the #1 Center as a 5th rounder on a team flooded with 1st and 2nd rounders.
Still Contractually signing him means letting another player go unsigned or just outright releasing them.

What the NHL needs is an AHL equivelant in Europe or to elevate the ECHL to a rival conference like AFC vs NFC in the NFL.
It would double the amount of players you could develop and by adding 10 more contracts to the NHL's league maximum it could be done easily.
This would mean a trade block out of conferences though to keep NHL teams duel Affiliations in in both leagues above board with no chance of collusion.
Off Season trades would be allowed but a free during the season.

We just need a way to develop players more profeciently in regards to their skill sets.
Ofcouse like Belzile's showing now learning to play every role /line has its upsides
But in Contract we have others failing because they cant adjust to a 4th line role after a lifetime of playing top 6.
I put forth having Mysak on another team facing AHL quality players would have been better for his development as he was injured not long after added to 4th line his rookie year.

Right now thats the risk Kidney runs if he cant make the jump from QMJHL to OHL as in our AHL system he wont be given 1st line as its a Defense First system as Stephens learned demoted from 1st to 3rd for a ECHL call up made good who became the #1 Center undisputed . With 2 systems we could progress our Offensive an Defensive Prospects in rival systems while keeping our goalies sharp.

NHL would benefit and there's a lot less likelihood European players struggle with the Transition as there's twice as many chances they'll line in beside someone who can help them or speaks their language to help them keep up in real time to the busy North American lifestyles. NHL is too deep now all the way to the AHL not to have 2 teams close for development on the AHL's level .

I feel like he's pretty replaceable as a prospect - Montreal could easily lose one Kidney and still function normally.