His value to MTL is nothing because they have the highest chance of signing him as a FA

What if he never makes it to ufa genius

Then we didn't give up any assets and didn't get any worse than we are now, genius!

Edit*** Also with multiple reports out there that PLD will only sign long term with the Habs, there is not going to be many (if any) teams willing to give up a Meier type of package for him. I think realistically you are going to have to settle on rental types of packages (1st + top prospect + roster player)

All the talk is he's going to MTL so don't think other teams will give up anything big for him.

Okay then you lose the guy that wants to play there. Any pick 7-9 in this draft you hope becomes Dubois in skill and is only one year older than Suzuki so it makes sense to trade for a guy that wants to be there and fits the timeline not to mention he's a local guy. Trust me I wish we could keep Dubois but you can't deny hughes would be interested in what he could bring

Yeah and what if he's traded to Carolina and he stays there huh? Yeah just because mtl is a team he's interested in doesn't mean it's the only team genius

Edit: if ror got a 1st 2nd 3rd and prospect with a bottom sixer Dubois should be able to get 2 1sts 2nd 3rd and a better prospect even as a rental due to the fact he's a better player

You can't make picks conditional on resigning anymore.

trade him to ohio

Okay than just 2 firsts 2nd 3rd and b teir prospect more than ror but less than meier if he's traded as a rental to a team not named mtl

He's been there and done that lol

If he wants to be here, why would he sign long term with another team rather than waiting 1 year to sign here? This is not rocket science my friend, if he is traded it will be as a rental, if he signs long-term after the trade then he was just trying to use Montreal as leverage, either way we either get him in FA or we don't get him!

Because just because he's says he'd play in mtl doesn't mean if he's goes to the Canes likes it there and resigns

Edit: so I guess you don't get him lol

Then

1. He didn't really want to come to Montreal
2. We didn't pay a ridiculous price just to acquire him.

I don't understand why you don't get this concept, his value as a rental is a 1st + good prospect + roster player, even to Montreal. So you are looking at 2024 1st unprotected (Montreal might do the Cat's pick this year if it is not top 10) + a prospect like Barron or Beck + a player like Dvorak or Harris or Armia or Anderson (good players but not core players)

He'll get a good return. Don't worry about the Montreal trolls, they still believe they're getting a 1st and a top prospect for Anderson.

There are a few decent Montreal fans that know if they want PLD they will need to pay a competitive price or they will be out on him.

Based on what ror got Dubois is more valuable than that offer so we could trade him elsewhere for more it's up to mtl to determine that if he's worth bringing in pay the price to ensure it. Or
Overpay in fa as money talks and if he's gets an offer for 2 plus millions more than you don't get him as a ufa. Even if you do get him in ufa the cost cap wise will be greater than paying the increase price so what's more valuable the cap space for a team that is trying to emerge from a rebuild like nj. Or the assets that you hope can translate their game to the nhl level as there's no guarantee they can. The ultimate loss for mtl is to lose him to another team in fa and could have paid for him to be cheaper and build chemistry

The habs are still reletively early in the rebuid, they are a team that needs several things, not just one piece. They are better off playing the long game and retaining their firsts/prospect to maximize their chances of developing a steady flow of NHL caliber players. There no need to pay the price it will take to get Dubois now, if he hits free agency and we can sign him awesome, if he ends up somewhere else then they look elsewhere, their future doesnt solely depend on Dubois.

Definitely especially because Dubois is a guy that actually wants to go there. Did nyr want for fox or kane in this case? Even if it's worse case and it's only mtl which lots of mtl believe which is false than they still got to pay a price to get him as trading him as a rental is an option as well. Even trading him and allowing extension could increase it. Dubois will be paid for and even if a team gives up plenty of assets like mtl the fact is futures are risky (no guarantees)

The difference is the Leafs are in win now mode and couldn't afford to wait for ROR to hit FA and their picks are not going to be as high in the drafts as Montreal's will be. There is a huge difference in giving up a late 1st or two when you are contending and giving up 2 1sts in the top 3rd of the draft when you are rebuilding plus multiple other assets for a guy known to be wanting to test FA in the hopes of signing with your team anyway.

When was the last time a player for almost a year and half wants to go to your team? Also if he goes ufa it will be more costly in terms of cap and will have other suitors so you either got to show that hey we are interested in you are not because not trading for him or giving competitive offers just because "hey we know you want to come here so we offer less". The fact is yes mtl is a young team but look at other teams coming out of rebuilds in the past paying assets that they have abundance of since coming out of a rebuild (trouba, hall, DeBrincat, etc) teams trade for players that fit the timeline and are star players to boost their team. Teams like Arizona are in a rebuild for so long because the talent they draft may not be the best talent but also they don't add to their young group with players. Yes mtl could stick to the process but there's no guarantee that the prospects make an impact. Dubois fits and is local and wants to come and you guys say "ufa only I'm greedy I don't want you unless you're free"

Look I am not saying that you shouldn't want a Meier type of package for PLD, you should. I am just saying that Montreal is not in the position to give up that type of package for him right now. If we get him that is great, if we miss out on him, well frankly it will suck but he is not the only FA we have missed out on over the years and there will be others in the future as well. I hope we get PLD but I also hope we don't go overboard with the cost just cause he is a local guy.

You know that he may not even make it to ufa and that you are not the only team right? I can say I want to go to Toronto but if I get an offer from Florida am I going to reject it instantly because it's not Toronto. Dubois will do what's best for HIM. Just because he wants something doesn't mean he will jeopardize his future for a team that has done nothing in the pursuit of getting him. Look at the Sens at the 2022 draft 7th overall and late 30s for a team that has not been in the playoffs since 2017. This is because they have the assets and want to turn the corner on what they have built. Paying the price for these star players rarely goes against the team that acquires the player as look they can trade DeBrincat if needed and get a similar package back or other nhl talent what's so different with Dubois? Trade for him and save cap long term and start to build a competitive team I don't see what the issue is with trading for him. Teams want a competitive team and playoffs so why not trade for Dubois to get in the playoffs in 2025 rather than 2027

for starters i said the habs would be fine if they dont get Dubois, this isnt about low balling trade offers or anything, if youre a team that needs several pieces, you are better off allowing all the young players you just stock piled the time they need to grow a little so you can make a more informed decision then chasing a player because his agent leaked to the press that he wants to play for you. Your examples of teams selling off futures to speed there way out of of a rebuild helps prove my point. Theres no guarantee that holding onto the prospects pans out, that correct, theres also no guarantee adding dubois changes the habs timeline at all either. Sens made the big move and currently sit 6 points a head of MTL in the standings. Rangers are looking real strong going into this years playoffs, but that has very little to do with Trouba and more to do with many other pieces they've added/good drafting. At this point i think overpaying just to get a start player who is putting up his first legit season in terms of production would be the wrong move given what the price is going to be to get Dubois in a trade.

So you think adding Dubois to the team doesn't make you better? In the case of DeBrincat it isn't the fact they have underperformed but that they went out and got this player for assets when they weren't a playoff team. Ottawa had more to address besides DeBrincat such as defense so they fell on their face. Is Ottawa a better team with DeBrincat on it vs off it? Yes. This wouldn't even be an overpay but fair value for a gut that can be on the team for 10 plus years and the value of having him on your team vs not having him at all. The benefits of trading for him are just better (lower cap hit, longer contract, no ufa bidding war, showing the team that they are willing to build on the team, trading risks in picks and prospects for an impact player, French speaking and active in mtl charities) losing that kind of asset because you're scared at what the picks could be and what the team would be is just not worth it. Do you think the sens cared what they gave up? No they got DeBrincat. Also with mtl and many rebuilding teams trading these futures is almost needed at a point as not every player can play on the roster so maximizing the value on these players such as a 1st top prospect and other smaller adds solves 2 problems with having a lot of depth and not enough spots and getting a guy that most players won't become. Mtl should trade for him imo and being stingy on wanting him or not or waiting just shows that they don't think worth it. Letting him go to market allows all teams offer deals that can be significantly better than mtl so the whole "wait to fa" is banking on him sticking to mtl and not being swayed by anyone which is unrealistic. In conclusion sure you can not want to trade for him not forcing you to change but when an opportunity like this presents itself not regretting not going for it is key.

100% at some point a rebuilding team need to make "that move" and add certain players that they can only get through the trade market, i dont think MTL is there yet and it would be premature to do so. Dubois is a piece that helps get closer to the playoffs thats for sure but what you give up to get him 100% matters, and to do so for a player you may have a solid change of signing in the near future doesnt make sense. The habs are not in any sort of cap crunch at the moment and with the cap going up, paying an extra 1-1.5m aav on Dubois isnt worth 3 + future assets in my opinion. If you look at teams that are set up for continued success or are currently in that window, they got there by adding assets to their franchise over several years and being patient and then when the timing was right you start making those deals, doing it too early can completely derail a teams future.

The question for me isnt does trading for dubois make the habs better today, of course it does. The question is does trading for Dubois make the Habs better in 5 years.

Dubois would 100% make the team better when he's there regardless. The fact is the trade value might be high sure but the asset you're getting is top teir not available many other ways. The fact he's local does charities there, grew up a habs fan. Even if it's a lot what's stopping the habs from having Dubois the rest of his career? Yes a trade can be expensive but there is also value in games played for a team. Common Example of this is the evander kane deal to buffalo. We got many players from the deal but if you look at the deal not many aspect are left. Tyler Myers played a lot of games, armia, Stafford, roslovic played some as well. In this deal both teams got assets and kane was flipped for assets that recouped many of what was traded. Does this mean that the jets got nothing for kane? No but the games and years that the player plays on the team where he improves the overall outlook for a team is key. If Dubois got traded for a lot but was an active member of the community, was a good player and provided many aspects that mtl don't currently have. Sure they might not make the playoffs next year with Dubois that isn't the point. He could be there for 10 plus years 800 some games and just be someone everyone loves on their team. Trading for dubois would open themselves up to more opportunities with other players wanted to play in mtl with an up and coming team. If they make a splash with this deal it would be the beginning of the turnaround. The rebuild wouldn't be over but steps in becoming more competitive for playoffs are in place. A team that shows that they are trying to emerge from a rebuild and be a contender with the underlying assets many other options for trade and ufa will want to come based on the projection. Dubois accelerates this projection and thus the likelihood of more impact players wanting to come to mtl.