This team isnt a playoff team and worst in the long run.

This can't be rushed because MTL isn't just two pieces away, their two SUPERSTAR pieces away. And those type players only come by drafting, going by analytics that pick has to be a top 5 to safely get a star

too much for laf but yeah makes sense

What if Gorton was wrong on Lafreniere and essentially makes the same mistake twice?
I'd be okay taking that risk with a pick outside the top 10, but it's far from necessary to take a step ahead. That will come with better drafting and development first.

Dach was an acceptable risk by trading from a position of strength to acquire an additional 1st. We have a Florida and Calgary 1st to seek similar opportunities with, but we have to draft with our best picks.

Would be interesting to see them fail a new prospect in NYR. I would do this

Not sure id trade a top 50 pick for Laf at this point

Thanks for your response.

I would counter that this team is a team that has all the components necessary to be a playoff team and just requires time and reps (keeping in mind that I think Monty is a fine goalie and I don't believe we need a Price to win the cup)

They will also have lots of prospects in the pipeline who will come up over the course of the next 2-3 years and challenge for spots or make it possible for them to trade players for assets as NYR have done with Dallas and now with Montreal (in my fantasy land).

Struble, Trudeau, Hutson, Engstrom, Mailloux, Roy, Mesar, Kidney, Kapanen, Dobes will all have a legit shot to make this team going forward and they will keep adding over the years.

Yes it's true this team will not have an Elite forward like McDavid or Bedard, but that isn't happening anyway and look at NYR. They have a good team and an Elite Defenseman and maybe an Elite goalie and a whole bunch of good-great players. They look like they can do some damage in these playoffs.

I was initially going to crap all over this AGM.
But the more I look at it....it ain't so bad.
I'm completely against rushing rebuilds but Laf and PLD fit within the age group of a rebuild, specifically for the habs.

The only asterisk I would put on this AGM is ...
* let's see what LAF does in the playoffs this season. I don't think at this point he's worth a 5OA.
* DONT TRADE WIFI AT ALL

Laf is 21 and has more points than Dach did at this point in his career. I am pretty thrilled to have Dach and actually believe he will continue to evolve to be a PPG player, especially if he's playing with a Dubois consistently for an entire season.

Laf could also become a PPG player given time. It takes players several years to adapt to the NHL. Laf is improving every season and I think given a top line role he could explode next year.

It's a gamble, but it fits exactly what the GM said they were looking for. A chance to accelerate things not just for 1 season, but for the long term.

Habs fans are so impatient. Half of them want to give up on Slafkovsky after 1 season as an 18 year old. Let's see where he's at at 21-22. I expect great things!

First off, thanks for the response and thanks for taking another look!

I understand the gamble, but there is also the other gamble: what will this team be in 3 years when Smith & Reinbacher (for example) are rookies.

Also what will this team look like in 5-6 years when Smith & Reinbacher are peaking? Suzuki will be... 29. Caufield will be 27-28? Matheson will be long gone.

I actually believe this team could grow into a contender... Maybe with the occasional free agent thrown in there.

The way things are going in Calgary... It could be a top 10 pick in 2026.

Lafreniere is playing well in a 3rd line role. How many 3rd liners in this league have 16 goals and 39 points?

Based on what? Not trying to be harsh, but I think this is a fairly strange statement about a player who is following the progression curve ahead of most top 6 wingers in the NHL.

To put it simply, only one team has won a cup during the cap era without a superstar forward and that was St Louis.

Every other team has had at least one superstar forward and a super star defenseman.

I'm sick of being a playoff team, I want this team to be a legit contender for years to come and that only happens with multiple star players. Being a mediocre playoff team was fun with Carey leading the way but that time is over and this team needs a couple years in the basement in order to properly compete with the Buffalos, Ottawa's, NJ and even Detroit in the next 5-10 years

So... Let's examine it a bit ok?

Avs for example have:

Mack 1 OA
Rant 10 OA
Land 2 OA
Makar 4 OA
Byram 4 OA
Nichushkin 10 OA

They have other players, but can we agree this is their crop of truly high-end talent?

This Habs team would have:

Slaf 1 OA
Laf 1 OA
Dach 3 OA
Dubois 3 OA
Zuke 13 OA
Caufield 15 OA
Guhle 16 OA

Yes it's true that we don't have a Defenseman the caliber of Makar, but honestly who does? Maybe Hutson becomes that. Who knows?

But other than that, can we agree the talent from the high end of the draft would be there if we made these trades?

Not good two ways, very inconsistent and if you go back and look at where his points come from, a lot of times he didnt even drive the play. Analytics and eye test prove he is a high risk, high reward guy. And in this draft I would much rather take a player like Musty, Bonk, But or one of the inevitable players who is projected top 20 who drops than to give up that pick for Laf. And I would 100% not give up a top 20 pick this year. You could convince me on a pick around 35 but thats it

And you are comparing him objectively to other 21 year old players in the league?

im comparing his potential, floor and history to what I expect to get out of someone in the top 50...

And ive seen more out of players like Perfetti, Jarvis, Schneider, Greig, etc.

Laf's floor is automatically making him not worth a 1st rounder. I would take Smith, Moore, Wood, ASP, Danielson, But, Heidt, etc before Laf every single time

That said, its well worth the risk of a 2nd rounder for the Habs, but 5th OVR is CRAZY

Are you factoring in the 4-5 or so years it will take for the Habs to develop any of those players to the point Laf is at today and what that would mean for Caufield & Zuke to play with a player like Laf?

Laf could very well work out for MTL, but
A. MTL is not contending in the next 2-3 years
B. 5th OVR players dont take 5 years to develop, they take 0-1 to get to the NHL

A 2nd rounder is worth it, 5th OVR is not even close

You think Smith is playing in the NHL in 2024?

Edit: and you think he will out produce Laf in 2024-25?

The Habs arent contending in 2024-25 lmao so it doesnt matter. But id prefer Smith in 25-26 as a center making 950k to Laf making 3-4 as a winger

Plus another point, if MTL wants Laf, just offer sheet a 1x4.2 mil deal. NY cant match and its only a 2nd. And IK offersheets dont happen but the threat of one is good enough to weaken Laf's value.

And im not even saying Laf sucks, my entire point is that 5TH OVR IS WAY TOO HIGH. Look at what Debrincat got in a weaker draft, now imagine this stacked draft with a player who has proven nothing.

Rangers pass. Laffy is signing a new deal to stay in NYC.

Can the Rangers afford everyone they need to re-sign?

I'd be happy if the Habs sign Tarasenko as a UFA on a 3 year deal instead. Doubt he'd be interested in MTL though, but it seems he's fit right in with the NYR. No way you sign Miller, Laf, Tarasenko and a few other role players this offseason.

Anyway

Rangers have limited cap space for sure, but not signing a 21 year old that is relatively cheap isn't the answer. Tarasenko was always just a rental. Kane on the other hand may choose to stay since NYC is where he wants to be. If Drury needs cap room, it will be Goodrow that gets traded, not Laffy.

Just because of McDavid, and Austen Matthews everything that isn't pouring up points directly is a bust. Not all 1OA is equal.