Necas wouldn’t be too big of a needle mover for MTL and he definitely isn’t worth giving up on Hutson

Necas does not change the dynamic of this team trading Huston for him with the thought that Xhekaj is the reason you're doing it is foolish. At the end of the day the habs need a real #1 C and two of Guhle Reinbacher or Hutson to hit big.

I would not think this would interest Carolina at all

I think Hutson has what Guhle and Xhekaj don't... that's why we keep him.

We can find a "Necas" on the market - finding a Hutson is INCREDIBLY rare and they go for crazy prices.

I think the top 6 is going to look like this in the next 3 years:

Slaf - Suzuki - 2024 first round pick (I think the starts are aligning for Eiserman)

Caufield - Dach - Newhook/Roy

And the D core will look like this in term of playing time:

Guhle - Mailloux
Hutson - Reinbacher
Xhekaj - Savard (resigned at cheap)

or
Guhle - Reinbacher
Xhekaj - Mailloux
Hutson - Harris/Struble (moble two-way D)

He is the same age as slaf he definetly is part of the window. Even if we are a contender in 2 years, he could already be a big piece for the team and the next 5 years where we hopefully look to compete.

Hughes didnt take that look to develop, 2 years after being drafted he was already a big part of the Canucks.

He fits right into the top 4, infront of Xhekaj who should be on a 3rd pair.

Newhook would be fine on a 3rd line long term.

Well Suzuki is on pace for 75 pts and is an amazing two-way center playing some of the hardest minutes everynight... but yeah, the habs' biggest need is a #1C.

Honest question, why is Necas so highly regarded on this site? He has been around for 5 years and put up more than 60 points once (last year) and isn't likely to hit it this year. That one year in 5 seems like an outlier, I wouldn't be willing to trade a potential Makar/Fox/Hughes type for a winger who averages 50 points. I would be hard pressed to pay a top 20 pick for him, maybe the Jets pick and a 3rd but certainly not more than that.

Funny enough, Hutson probably doesn't interest Carolina. He's a worse Nikishin... easy no

Montreal should not do this, and Carolina will not do this. Both teams mutually retreat.

I'm going to disagree with with statement. And believe me, I'm a fan of the Holland MI native! I hope for his sake and MTL, he turns into a Quinn Hughes! The single EASIEST prospect to find these days is the undersized puck moving Dman. And that's BY FAR the easiest. Is he special amongst that group. I'm more agreeable with that...AND...is this situation in MTL perfect for his development. Yes absolutely. So maybe this is a technicality, but it's not easy to find Necas. It is easy to find an undersized puck moving dman. For his sake and MTL I hope he turns into a Quinn Hughes, but he could just as easily turn into a Ghost, Barrie, Erik Gustafsson.

Great dialogue.

I’m not saying Wifi is the reason you trade Hutson but I am saying that building Stanley Cup contenders with small Dmen is very dicey.

Hutson’s age is not the problem obviously, it’s that a small dman developing sufficiently to not be a liability in the defensive zone is asking an enormous amount of him.

I just personally don’t think the juice is worth the squeeze with these stud QBs that anchor your third pair come playoff time. They are amazing AMAZING reg season pieces that are almost too painful to bear come playoff time.

I liked the responses that Necas just simply isn’t worth it. I like big fast forwards like Kempe and Necas. I get that his points don’t pop off the page. I think he could anchor a top six line as a centre much like Elias Lindholm was forced to do for the Flames.

Left Canes as a winger, similar career path.

If it’s not Necas, I just wonder out loud which centre with top six potential that plays a strong defensive game with speed is out there to dangle Hutson for? Maybe a team with cap constraints. Maybe a team desperate for a QB that is ok with the playoff liability. It’s a fun thought experiment.

If I can think of another besides Necas, I’ll post it.

Actually maybe Anton Lundell and Spencer Knight are an interesting package to target. That would be a blockbuster and a half. Gallagher or Anderson at half retained would sure look good down there as part of making the cap hits closer.

This is the thing that makes GMing in real life so so hard. The 10% chance that he’s Quinn Hughes is why you hold him. But then his first two to four years really hurt you either way. And the 80% chance he’s decent but a defensive liability is just too high a percentage to ignore. Especially with so much talent coming on that Montreal blue line. Logan Mailloux would be the kind of stud future QB that most fanbases would be drooling over. And he’s almost an after thought in the Habs’ team design.

I would be targeting Necas personally. But any big fast forward that is in the right age bracket that is cost controlled for years is a good enough piece to grab for Hutson IMO. This team is right there as a contender. So close. Such great pieces. I wouldn’t gamble on the 10% chance that Hutson is Quinn Hughes. I wouldn’t even do it if it’s a 49% chance.

If it’s a 75% chance like most Habs fans seem to expect than yeah, I’m way out to lunch!

Suzuki is very good but teams that are consistently playoff contenders usually have two first line Cs or 1 very elite and several other very good wings

Lets give Dach a chance, then we'll speak.

He's not a top 10 first C - but he is one.

The thing is that some teams are hoarders of 1#C (EDM with Drai and McJesus - Crosby and MAlkin)