Habs wpuld have no interest in this. We dont want more old bottom 6 guys with term

Ok, so what about if Gaudreau is gone from the deal?

Probably better for Montreal, I just don't know what the point of this trade is for them. They already have 12 picks in 2024 draft and 11 in the 2025 draft, and a number of decent young D that need playing time. Unless they really like Spacek (which is possible), they'd probably prefer to just keep Kovacevic.

That's helpful, thanks. I guess a better question is, what would they be looking for in a Kovacevic trade? Understand that he's not necessarily being shopped, just curious what type of framework would catch interest?

What any rebuilding club would want - a good pick or a prospect (preferably a forward with some size and offensive upside). I just don't see a team offering up something that would make sense for Montreal.

Lol well that reads as contradictory to what you just said and I'd be surprised if MTLs asking price is so high that there isn't a single interested team, but fair enough.

"Good" is the operative word. And the asking prices for guys that aren't available are always higher, the same way buying something that isn't for sale is usually more expensive than buy something that is for sale. Montreal isn't looking for an "interested team", they want Kovacevic in the lineup. An offer needs to change their mind.

Yes I'm aware of that, but it's not hard to see that they have players like Barron, Mailloux, Reinbacher, Xhekaj, etc. all needing time. And that's just on the right side - the left is equally backed up, if not more. While useful, I doubt they're gonna prioritize Kovacevic over the development of their next wave. He's a nice to have not a need to have. Also, take one scan through MTL proposals and you'll find any number that have him being dealt for peanuts.

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/4893823
https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/4891981
https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/4894397

It obviously has to be worth it for MTL, but let's not pretend the tipping point is so high that there simply isn't any market.

Habs main problem is they have too many bottom 6 players cluttering up their roster as is. Adding Gaudreau just exacerbates the problem.

Theyre fine trading Kovacevic for like a draft pick but if Gaudreau is added, it means the Habs are sending back an equally bad contract. Which defeats the purpose for Minny.

It doesn't "defeat the purpose for Minny." The purpose is to get a solid RHD with Spurgeon's durability being a question mark next year.

Adding Gaudreau was just to try and shuffle money, but it's not a critical component here. I'm fine dropping him and tweaking.

As for what MTL would want, that's what I'm trying to understand. You say a pick. The guy above says they already have enough picks.

I think you missed my point with the defeats the purpose statement. I said for the Habs to take back Gaudreau they'd have to send an Anderson/Gallagher, etc back. That would defeat the purpose for Minny. Am I not wrong? If not, boy do I have an offer for you!

As for the value, I purposefully left out the value of the pick. The guy above isn't saying no to picks, he's saying no to lower end picks. Which I agree but hey if you want to send a higher end one, I'm not gonna say no. For a 3rd or a 4th, I think the Habs probably just keep Kovacevic.

1) Didn't miss your point, you just didn't specify. You said an they'd have to send an "equally" bad contract. Gally/Anderson contracts are not "equally" bad as Gaudreau's. They're unequivocally worse.

2) Great, so it's a 2nd or a 3rd+.

OK.