there is also hutson on the left side who looks very promising.

Sharks don’t need you to retain on Armia. They’re going to have to add a decent amount of money this offseason just to hit the cap floor. Take out the retention and lower the pick to a 6th or 7th or some non prospect and I think you have a deal.

I know how stupid this sounds but lowkey I'd rather we keep Armia and move Andy or Gally if possible (unlikely), if not then don't sign marchessault. Armia has been probably the best he's ever been lately and can be a 3rd liner at this level easily. As bad as he's been, Anderson can't continue being this unluck, and I think if nobody wants him now (which I doubt anyone does) then keep him, no need to dump him and his value only goes up as his contract nears end

Isles are already 3 deep on RHD so there isn’t really a need for Kovacevic at the moment

pretty easy no from the habs. thats a crazy price for a 25 year old who hasnt broken 60 points Beck alone could be a better player in a few season, not to mention hes a center who plays a complete game and fits their timeline better. I dont see the appeal to that deal in any way from the habs. Also how would he want 9 mil? lol Necas going to probably extend in the 7-8 mil range and is a much better player.

Problem with that is that while I like the Armia of the past month, I can't remember Armia from the past 3 years other than one good month per season. Hence why I would trade him out while he's able to bring something in instead of nothing if goes back to is old self around TDL..

Barron couldn't hack it with the Avs, no take backs. Maybe you can trade for Colton, but you don't have the pieces available to get Mitts

LMAO! 3 deep on RHD... Yeah.. this year.. And Aho isn't helping, Bortuzzo is also not a great one, 35 and UFA at the end of the season, and Isles have 2 RHD in AHL.. Do you know the value of RHD in the NHL?

Do you know who Patrick Roy is? Do you know how he values effort and RHD Dmen who can play good in an lower than average team like the Habs right now?

Saying they don't need a player like Kovacevic who's not at his full potential and already providing something to the bottom Habs is like saying you don't need a puck to play hockey. Isles need RHD's at low cost and good return on investment. Kovacevic could be a good fit for Roy's style.

Yeah, in 2 years, I don't see them bringing him in now. They'll want him to develop and sign him when others are into their first or second year of big pay days like Ghule, Reinbacher, Slaf etc.. So I have a feeling they don't want to rush it and let him finish school.

Montreal has Guhle, Reinbacher, Hutson, Mallioux, etc as young defenders, and prospects. With them being thin down the middle, i would have to say they should look at a center man this draft. Cayden Lindstrom, and Berkly Catton fits the bill imo.

Pulock, Dobson and Mayfield. That looks like 3 deep to me.

Yeah but he's been in Buffalo and he's getting accustomed to AVS plays.. He can easily break 70-80 pts with a center like Dach (if he can stop being injured). So I did the 7.85M$ for now. Beck is playing in the OHL, not AHL nor a division one Euro league. There is way too much talk about players before they get into the league. Mittelstadt is an NHLer who's been stuck in Buffalo county for too long. Given the right center, he could be way better than what he's shown.

About that 9M$.. Player's salary will go up as the salary cap goes up. Suzuki, if he continues on his track record, could be the best deal in the NHL in 3 years from now. But other players on the team will ask for more. Hence why he's probably worth 7 to 7.5m$ form now to 2 years, but may be more down the line. Who knows. With a healthy Dach who was actually able to make other better, he may be the other winger they need down the road.

Not disagreeing, I think it's a valid point. I just wonder where and who'll be available and what the top level feel like they actually need. We talk about the depth of the MTL blue line, but really... Are they all top 4? Ghule, yes Reinbacher, to be seen but most likely, Mailloux, dunno yet.. AHLer yes, NHLer to be proven.. So if there is a top 4 ready blue liner in the draft who's available.. Do you pass on him and then make move to pay the front line with UFAs like Marchessault?

Another one is Eiserman, depending on which list you look at Bob McKenzie (TSN) list, he's putting him at no 4. Bob ain't crazy, he's the guy who was saying Wright could be a bust and Slaf was the way better option.. A year later.. We can agree to Bob's mumblings.. Then Lindstrom, Catton and Helenius ..

I did an AGM for draft, My preferences would be for the first picks starting at #4 depending on where MTL goes and who' available:

1. Dickinson - While another Defenseman, he's a big guy who moves the puck and gets in the pluses; You can't skip over a player like that. You get another Reinbacher type player who'll be a major decision maker during games. You suddenly have Ghule, Reinbacher, Dickinson, Mailloux, Matheson, Xhekaj.. Harris, Struble as being interchangeable with Xhekaj when needed and in your farm or development you have Barron, Hutson, Sobolev, etc.. So you have the Top 6 you always wanted, plus other you can trade out.
2. Eiserman - seems more like an offensive guy able to play both ways and is at a bigger stature than Connelly with a whopping 40lbs more for almost the same height. He also defends better in the corners and is able to use his quick shot for goals. We get another Cole Caufield but on the right wing, at a bigger size. You suddently give Dach some power offense to his left side.
3. Lindstrom - another forward at center with offensive potential but with size compared to Catton;
4. Catton - He's a good player, center and would need 1 year in Laval, but would be another forward with scoring potential they need;
5. Helenius - Another forward with lots of offensive potential.

But DIckinson's stats are impressive this year. Way off the charts, even for an OHLer..
Sam Dickinson
Defense
Born Jun 7 2006 -- Toronto, ONT
Height 6.03 -- Weight 204 -- Shoots L


--- Regular Season ---
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2023-24 London Knights OHL 68 18 52 70 30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current statistics as of 2024-04-03

There's some good choices there. Personally, I like Lindstrom, and Catton's game as a whole over Eiserman's, but if you want a pure goal scorer, then you go him. Dickinson is good, and im happy to see someone if valuing him right with how much top LHD there are in Silayev, Dickinson, Buium.. but i would say that Dickinson is the best out of all three of them. Silayev is good, especially if you want a guy that is 6'7 on our blueline. No matter who you pikc out of those you listed, you are going to get a good player, it just depends on what they want. For me, a center man makes perfect sense, but defensive depth never hurts either. Lets not forget that they have 2 1sts, and 2 2nds this year, so they may even be able to pull a few strings, and get a good defence man, and forward.

Exactly.. it's what they view as a must. they have Dach for the center, is he out on LITR for treatment and much need rest like they did with Monahan.. No rush to come back.. Take all the time you need to recover at 100% or is he really not able to play at all. If he's still a risk next year, the shift may well go for a Center like you said.

I Passed on the Russians, too much risk with everything going on right now. Players being held in the KHL, a father suddenly killed when his kid was a foot away from the NHL.. You don't want to recruit and let them rot over there.

If they do go for Dickinson, while he's got points, he's also keeping his plus minuses .. 70PTS but a freakish +56.. No matter how good you are, keeping the high + is hard.

Agreed. That's why i think Dickinson is the best all around LHD of this draft. He is insane! We will see who they take, and no matter what, unless they take a dumb huge reach, it should be a good pickup. They also very well could be hoping that they get Hagens next year, so that would help fix that as well. With Mallioux, maybe ti would be smart to get a good guy in Dickinson, and trade guys like Hutson if they must down the road. Having too many prospects is better than not having enough. Realistically, i could also really see them taking Lindstrom depending on where they pick. It will be easier to guess once we know for sure where teams are picking at.

While I appreciate the concern for the Avs cap situation, they traded for Mitts specifically for him to fill the gap at 2C moving forward; no chance they trade him for pieces they don't really need. They may have to move other players to flesh out the roster but they plan on having Mitts in the fold for the foreseeable future.

Isles pass, no interest in him

Firstly the Habs don't give up all those pieces. Secondly, none of those pieces work for the Avs. Mitts was brought in for one reason.......2C. There is no 2C in the pieces coming back. Therefore it's a simple no for the Avs on that alone.