Dillon will not be under contract for the 24-25 season.
Barlow and a 2nd likely does not get this done. Modification - replace Barlow with McGroarty, remove the 2nd to the Habs - and the Habs send back the Jet's first plus a 2nd, maybe another piece.

If Matheson was an RHD, good defensively and the ask wasn't Barlow the Jets might look at it. As it is the Jets have no need for an offensive LHD to play behind Morrissey.

I agree there is no way a 30yr old LHD returns a prospect like Barlow.

Yup. A decent prospect is one thing, but expecting one of any team's top prospects for an unspectacular 30 YO that plays one of the easiest positions to fill is wishful thinking.

Montreal still needs Matheson more than they need to trade him... they just need to trade off some prospects

With Matheson and Hutson, they'll have a decent breakout... they defend those guys with Savard, Xhekaj, and Kovacevic... maybe they let Savard go but I don't really think they should... maybe use Barron to fill in 3RD role, and you basically got Guhle, Struble, and Harris who are disposable. Guhle has mid to late first value, Struble you might get a 3rd or 4th rounder for, and Harris is barely better than scratch value. Mailloux can compete with Barron for 6th D role next year.

Guhle and Hutson are basically competing for the same spot in the line-up, and really Hutson has the higher ceiling, which is 1D where Guhle is more 3D ceiling, maybe 2D on a so-so team. There's no reason to let a good defenseman go just so that you can develop a guy to be as good as the defenseman you're letting go.

And D won't develop right if they're getting shelled cuz you deal all the vets away...

Montreal need a significant piece coming back not a prospect who won't even be ranked in the top 10 montreal prospects