Yes lets help a rival with their cap issues for absolutely nothing. Kubalik has negative value as long as the Sens cannot sign Pinto

How about no.
You can trade us Mathieu Joseph and Det's 1st round pick option for a Mtl 3rd round pick in 2025

Kubalik can't play center, so it makes him a pointless target.

Habs aren't buying rentals. If anything, they'd take him for future considerations. It's a risk to spend picks on someone just to trade him a couple of months later, hence why Hughes prefers trades like Pearson & Monahan.

No. Ottawa wants to keep Joseph

You can have him for free. Heck I’d throw a 3rd if it’s needed for you to take him: but he’s clearly the worst top 9 player we currently have

Why would anyone think that Kubalik replaces Dach?

Montreal is rebuilding, they don't care about replacing Dach (not that Kubalik comes anywhere close to doing that). They've also been the most injured team in the league two years running, this is nothing for them.

If Ottawa wants cap relief, then pay for it. But Dach's injury doesn't change Montreal's approach all that much.

That's not how life works though. There's 32 teams and there isn't a 31 team collusion against one team. Teams will act based on their needs or what would benefit them (like selling Kubalik at the deadline)


lol there's still people who thinks this will happen


Suzuki-Newhook-Monahan-Evans are at center. Problems seems to be more on the Wing and PP

And you're "buying" a rental, you're using him to sell him higher later (trade deadline), unless you guys think Habs are not going to be sellers at the deadline?

That said, I'd be "ok" with trading him for a 7th, good AHL player or even FC if there is really no market for him (there's most likely one as teams always look for scoring depth)

Caufield-Suzuki-Harvey-Pinard
Slafkovsky-Newhook-Anderson
Pearson-Monahan-Gallagher
Pezzetta-Evans-Ylonen

There **might** be a room for Kubalik on 3LW and you bump Pearson and Pezzetta down, but again many players impressed enough in camp to deserve a call-up, instead of making a trade to "replace" Dach.

I'm aware this is under the assumption that Kubalik is dealt later, but Hughes does that kind of moves with free players (Pearson) or dumped players (Monahan, Dadonov). With three scoreless games, I don't see him being particularly excited to spend a pick on Kubalik. If he were free, maybe.

TCMonkey, forgot to say this but yeah, Kastelic would 100% be claimed. He doesn't have the best start of season but he's intimidating and pretty damn good on faceoffs already, was Top-12 last season. He was good enough defensively too so he'd get picked up for sure as he is on a cheap contract too.


Yes, Montreal might be able to get him for free if the market isn't too hot for him right now. Maybe Dorion is waiting a little for that (as injuries pile up) or maybe his pride is in the way (to not lose face even more on the DeBrincat's trade) but for that, nobody can help him with how many blunders he makes.