7th overall seems like a bit much for Necas, but Necas is also very good. Montreal fans want the team to draft a future top 6 forward this year AND acquire another one via trade, and this doesn't do that, BUT I don't think Montreal needs to get 2 guys, they have a ton of forward prospects and one of them could become the last piece to the puzzle

My idea is that Montreal will gonna target a young player for their top 6 (ex : Necas, Zegras, etc. ) and I think they will gonna target a veteran via free agency for their top 6 (ex : Marchessault, Stamkos, etc.).

I don’t see blues going for that

Just with the retention and all I’d rather just keep Buch and Faulk

I don't mind it actually since they're getting the 7th OA pick in this scenario, and a replacement LD that we could potentially retain and flip next year if we are out of it. Could it be better? Sure. Maybe without retention on Faulk I'd be all over it

Canes decline both.

Starting with the Blues trade, Faulk didn't work under Rod to begin with. That's why he was traded to St Louis. Nikishin isn't eligible to sign his ELC until the end of the year, so you HAVE to have Orlov. Especially because he's been SO good. I'd not trade Orlov for Faulk 1 for 1. Buchnevich would be a great fit, but he's not worth moving Necas AND adding to. Necas is more valuable because he comes with 8 years of control where Buch is a pending UFA. Just keep Necas and not make the Blues move.

Habs decline, you can get a much better player than that with that package. Necas is good but his career high is 71 points (last year) and he isn't even gonna get anywhere near that this year. Look at his point totals over his career (36, 41, 40, 71, 52 so far but on pace for 55) which one is the outlier? He is a 40-50 point winger that will occasionally put up 65-75, are you really giving this much up for a more consistent Drouin?! I am not!

If Waddell actually bagged MTLs pick for Necas, he ain't trading it.

Not sure a 7-8mil Necas has the same value to the canes as Buch with 3 mil cap hit, assuming they want to win with this core i would think the cap hit would factor into the decision somehow. That being said that package is pretty meh aside from the habs 1st. would imagine it takes a better prospect than farrell and a 2nd inside of of the 6th. Armia has been looking much better in his last 20 games but not sure if that would be a positive or negative addition to the package.

1 year of Buch at 3 million, or 8 years of 25 year old Necas... you look at cap hit, but don't factor in term here. If the Canes were to extend Buch, how much do you think he's going to want?

fair i misread his contract though he had 2 years left on it. I would assume Buch coming in at or below Necas AAV. So would give one year to load up with the assets gained in a Necas. But the only reason to make any trade involving Necas is if theres an issue in contract negotiations and he doesnt want to be there long term so would need to be another factor before canes consider anything like this for sure.

If he's coming in at an AAV below Necas, why not keep Necas? That should be a solid indication Necas is the more valuable asset

because you dont make asset decisions in a bubble. Sometimes it can important to make the difficult decision move on from the younger player, add a comparable if not better point producing player whose only 5 years older, gain assets that can then turn into multiple pieces for further runs and go on cup runs. Again like i said dont think theres a need to move Necas is you are the canes unless theres issues with contract negotiation and pricing.