Why would he sign with Montreal for less than what he should get on the market? It's also highly unlikely he ever hits the market

Hard Sell but the team looks competitive
That said we're not giving up on Monty a younger goalie in a good position with Price signed on to be his Conditioning coach full time after preparing him for the World Championships where he won Gold. It makes literally no sense to overpay an old goalie who said outright he wouldnt sign with WPG cause they're Rebuilding and they're still better off then we are as far as being closer to a playoff return.

I just dont see world where he signs here given how blunt he's been about playing for a team contending today

What invalidates this team for me is that both Helleboy and Lindholm will be sold and likely signed with whatever team they are traded to. As is, it doesn't look like you gave up anything for them. Marchessault makes sense to be a UFA pick up since they'll be a playoff team (although I can't imagine VGK losing a bidding war for him, especially since they have no state taxes and MTL is in, well, Montreal), but the other two likely will not be UFA pick ups

Obviously this is made with the assumption that if he does hit the market, then he becomes a very interesting add for MTL. I agree that as of today it’s more likely to see him re-sign but as of today nothing’s done so I figured I might as well give it a shot

For Hellebuyck to sign, MTL’s young core needs to have a great season statistically and make a push for the playoffs. If none of this happens, I agree he won’t even consider MTL.

Lindholm is nice but really a second line centre. Career 57 points per 82 games. Doesn't seem reasonable for any team to offer 8 years to player who will almost 30 years old when his new contract starts.
I've heard the rumours of the Flames offering him a big contract. Wow, first Huberdeau then Kadri. They look like two long term awful contracts. Seems not to the way for a team to go.

I’d be also surprised to see them hit the market, but since it’s July 2023 and nothing’s confirmed as of today, I figured I’d give it a shot. That team would be very competitive (although very unlikely it happens).

I think career PPG doesn't work that well for a guy like Lindholm - he's almost had two separate careers between his stints in Carolina and Calgary:

With CAR (2013-14 -> 2017-18, age 19-23 seasons): 374 GP, 64-124-188, 0.5 pts/GP, 17:09 TOI, 8.9 S%
With CGY (2018-19 -> 2022-23, age 24-28 seasons): 369 GP, 139-186-325, 0.88 pts/GP, 19:38 TOI, 15.4 S%, Selke votes in 4 out of 5 seasons

And his most common 5v5 linemates by year were Jeff Skinner & Riley Nash (13-14), Skinner & Eric Staal (14-15), Staal & Victor Rask (15-16), Jordan Staal, Rask, & Sebastian Aho (16-17), and Skinner/Aho (17-18). He typically finished top-5 on Carolina in scoring, too - these weren't really high-scoring teams, the highest scoring season on *any* of those 5 Carolina teams was Sebastian Aho's 65-point season in 2017-18. His production jumped in Calgary once he went from skating with guys like that to spending a lot of time with the Johnny Gaudreaus and Matt Tkachuks of the world - once you pair him with someone who can actually finish, you can clearly see a spike in his production.

Career? So you are just going to include his his 5 years on a bottom feeding Hurricanes team? 18th was the highest that team ever finished in the standings, 18th! His career average before coming to Calgary was 41 points. He hasn't even played as many games in Calgary yet as he did in Carolina (needs 5 more games to break even). Since joining the Flames his average has been 72 points. This is why I hate career averages. Look at Tage Thompson, he has a career average of 54 points.

Thanks for your informative analysis gents. Valid points.

But put me on the side of thinking offering a player 7 or 8 years when his contract starts at age 29 years and 10 months as a gamble long term. Not saying Lindholm might get such an offer, but should he?

I have no issue with it. Caps going to start and keep going up

Well if you believe Bettman.....who constantly lied about future cap and always has an excuse when it doesn't go up. Hey I hope it does go up.

Yea, I rising cap helps, but the other players also want a raises too. I see the Leafs situation next season. If Matthews and Nylander were to get 4.5m between them on their next contracts, how does it make the Leafs better? Just more the same, and less cap to help to other areas.

No
Even if they do great WPG still has Connor ,Ehlers, Kupair, Vlardi, Barron, Morrisey, Pionik , Samberg, Heinola, Perfetti and Stanley among others to build on
Schiefele and Hellybyuck to still sell and profit off of.

Your Evaluation of their Talent and Their Build vs ours is completely Wrong ignoring reported Fact.
WPG didnt accept a PLD deal until LAK offered them Iafollo, Vlardi, Kupari in a package for a reason
They keep saying over and over they are not rebuilding like MTL but Retooling like NSH


So if Connor isnt willing to sign there and wait a year
Why would he sign here and be forced to wait multiple with Allen of all people as his back up.
Allen went from never injured before MTL to always injured since Price Retired.
I dont see why he'd walk into that situation and be happy when LAK is missing literally only him as is NJD and CBJ who are much better fits

MTL signing Hellebyuck ignores his wants and our needs.