One major flaw, to be a playoff team Dach needs to be healthy for a full season and I am not convinced he can be

I think in that case we have both Necas and Newhook who can jump in at 2C and then we can call up Beck from Laval. How does that sound?

Is Necas a viable center? I would think if he was the Canes would use him there over KK. Newhook IMO is not a good center, he just doesn't read the play well enough for me

Necas has played center before. I think, like Newhook, he's a better winger, but the point is we have options.

I personally would probably try swapping Dach for PLD (even though it's not a popular move on here amongst Habs fans)

Farrell is of no interest, let's make that clear from the start. However, a lot of Canes fans, myself included, have said one of Slaf, Caufield or Suzuki would need to be coming the other way for Necas to depart since Carolina are going to want a top 6 replacement. The 6th overall pick in almost ANY other draft would be extremely fascinating, but this is a rich defensive draft. Carolina's blueline is already loaded with guys like Morrow and Nikishin coming through... it would take more than something like Tij in the draft to get Necas anyway, although this is extremely creative.

I would not for cap reasons.

In 2025 we'll need about 16M to sign Guhle & Slaf if all goes to plan. We'll have it because Dvorak, Armia, Savard come off the books.

In 2026 we'll need to sign: Dach, Roy, Hutson, Xhekaj, Reinbacher, Mailloux if all goes to plan. We'll have some cap increases, but we'll also probably buy out the last year of both Gallagher & Anderson deals. I am worried about 2026 and Dubois' salary will possibly be too much for us to bear.

I mean, pick any B prospect from the Habs. Oliver Kapanen maybe?

Oh and obviously the Habs don't want to make a lateral move. We cannot move any of our top 6 players.

This.

I don't see it. Are they better from the ground up right now over teams like Buffalo and Ottawa, probably, as those nucleus, clearly, arent working.
Tampa, Boston still aren't going away with their elite talent.

They've already matched their point total from last year with 9 games to play. I see this same progression next season but not a playoff team!

Necas is an upgrade on Caufield or Slafkovsky. He's probably a lateral move from Suzuki.

Again, not exactly interested in futures. Carolina are in the middle of their cup window. They need guys that will help them win now, for the most part

Every team is a playoff team in the off season apparently; or in your case before off season even happens. Problem is there are only 4-5 playoff spots and you’re 8th place in Atlantic & 15th in East. Tough to jump that many teams in one year

I mean adding Necas and Crouse tot he top 6 is a huge step but the issue is still the 2C. Dach is too much of a high injury risk for me to call this a playoff team, if it was someone like Dubois or Lindhold, then yeah they likely are a playoff team. Also Tampa is falling, they are barely holding on to a wildcard spot (9 points ahead with 9 games remaining) means they probably make it but not as comfortably as they did last year. The decline has been evident and will only get worse each passing season, their cup window is closing.

I dont think you've noticed Tampa has been on a tear since Vasilevskiy returned to form, Point/Kucherov have been en fuego and they are about to catch the injury depleted Leafs with 2 matchups on the docket. They are a different team with Vasi at 100%. They arent merely holding on to a playoff spot, they have seized it and are a dangerous out. I dont think Florida wants anything to do with them, again!

TIJ is ranked so far down past where MTL sits 6th OA
1,Cellebrini
2.Levushunov

Outside that there's no consensus # anything , it depends on who has what pick
CBJ for example lets say has 3rd OA valuing Lindstrom or Demidov
ANA could value Silayev or Dickinson
MTL could value Eiserman or Paraekh

So where the chips fall is hard to tell
One thing is for sure in a D heavy draft i doubt anymore then 2-3 forwards go top 5
No matter which way you slice it Eiserman, Lidstrom, Demidov or Catton is falling out of the top 5 and if not you get Levushunov who is Elite RD 6'2 209lbs and still growing.


Which is why MTL wouldnt trade it for anyone short of Drisitl's final 2 years and even then i wouldnt really want to its just an example.
I dont see anyone else worth having at that cost when you'd have to give up on players of that caliber.

While Tij is ranked at his best where Benson finished last year after falling 5 spots give or take.
Tij is currently ranked as high as 11th OA to as low as 31st OA so basically MTL could get him with the WPG pick if enough D go early

I tell you this much i'd rather not rush a rebuild and just wait
If we pass on a Demidov, Eiserman,Lindstrom or Catton we'll regret it

Therein lies the problem. Habs don’t want to make any “lateral” moves, but they want to buy a top 6 piece from a contender. The Canes have enough cap flexibility to sign Jarvis, Guentzel, and Necas (most important signings), although at the likely expense of Skjei, Pesce, and maybe even Turbo. Unless the Canes are getting an equal or better replacement for Necas, at best it is a lateral move, but more than likely a couple steps backwards.

For perspective, if the overall placement in the standings were reversed, would you take that package for one of Caufield or Suzuki?

That's fair, I haven't been able to watch a lot of games since the tdl was only going off how they had done up until that point.

He is a viable center but he just doesn't do what RBA wants in a center

This is a bottom 8 defense just like this year. Until the kids shows to take a step up or we sign another good D UFA, doubt we make the playoffs.

Arizona has no desire to get rid of crouse, people simply want him so they make ACGMs for him. We’re not moving him

He's also older. I expect by the time Slaf is Necas' age... He'll be significantly better.

Look at how many 1-goal games we were in. Now add 2 goal scorers plus Dach. I bet we win a whole bunch of those games.

Sure. But adding 3 quality forwards (an entire line) when your team can't score, is probably a great way to do it. The Habs are playing Evans & Armia in the top 6 this year. Not exactly a recipe for success, but the team is making progress.

Only if I could not afford to sign them.

I'm not sure it's in the Canes best interest to sign those three and lose so many blueliners.

Anyway I offered a deal because I thought this is not an entirely unreasonable. I am looking for plausible moves fans can get behind.