If the Canucks move him ideally they get a similar aged top 4 d or top 6 forward but Montreal doesn’t really have one that would be a fair trade. So I’d say maybe the Winnipeg 1st + Barron/Harris + another piece (maybe Evans or a mid round pick) would probably be around fair value

I think the Canucks will end up signing him though

How about a Matheson for Hronek swap?

Interresting, but that's can put Xhekaj as our 7th Dman, but a line-up with Hronek can be that :

Matheson-Hronek
Guhle-Mailloux
Hutson-Savard

That's means that Hronek will gonna take the spot in the Habs D-core when Reinbacher will gonna be NHL ready.

I can't see the Canucks trading Hronek honestly. Finding top pairing right shot D is the hardest thing in hockey. Giving up a first and second round to acquire him was a steep price but honestly his play has in my opinion increased his value from when he was in Detroit.

Not to mention the Canucks are looking to contend while Demko is under contract for the next 2 seasons. Even trading for a top RD prospect doesn't fit their window. I just don't see a fit unless the package is unreal.

Nah... Matheson wouldn't get PP1 time behind Hughes and Hronek is also 5 years younger. The big reason the Canucks paid the price for Hronek was getting a D partner for Hughes and Hronek age fits the team and it's contending window.

Canucks wouldn’t have interest in Matheson because of his history with Pettersson

Plus he’s 4 years older and wouldn’t get the PP time or top pairing minutes that have been huge for his offensive production in Montreal, so he’d likely be a 30-35 point dman who struggles defensively for us. Not the right fit

Here and requires Waivers
Matheson
Savard
Kovacevic
Harris
Struble in like 14 games?

Players that dont require Waivers but have a year or a less then a years worth of games.

Guhle
Barron
Xhekaj

Players in the NHL or AHL now succeeding or Joining this year

Mailloux
Hutson
Reinbacher
Engstrom who's waiting in the SHL Finals for his opponent after a 4 game sweep in the ECF. Regardless of the Finish he said he'll join Laval on their Playoff Run

Players set to join us in 2 seasons +

Kostenko who after a decent KHL outing as a 19 year old he went to their AHL league version and became a top 10 D in that league .
Konyuskov is a 22 year old Captain of a KHL team playing 22+ minutes a night and became a consistently offensive player especially on special teams.

We need rid of our Veterans TBH
Xhekaj-Mailloux was a hell of a pairing in Laval , i expect that will continue in the NHL
Maybe keep Kovacevic around and re-sign him cheap to help Guhle and Xhekaj lead the team

I’d be willing to include Guhle. For us I think it doesn’t make sense to keep both Matheson and Guhle since we have Hutson coming up. But again he’s primarily a LHD though he has played a bunch on the right this year. He is younger though and may help the Canucks cap in that way. Probably really about what $ hronek is willing to settle for though.

I would love to get rid of our veterans I just don’t believe that management does.

Unless some team offer sheets, Hronek, Canucks are going to resign him even to a one year QO, so I never understand why fans says "If the Canucks can't resign him":
I really don't how much trade value Hronak. If he wants UFA, money, why would teams give up a whole lot for him, when they can use that money on a UFA.

Even Big Game Dave was surprised he survived the TDL and said Hughes was very open about it.
That said Kovacevic it doesnt appear he really talked too much with either cause their wasnt a market or he see's Slafkovsky's and Xhekaj's Best Friend as the right mentor.
Matheson i think he'll move but he'll wait til the final year and RS if its what is required to get a 1st plus a valuable Prospect as is his style

Im more Worried the fact he coached Harris and Struble as kids and they mentored his and MSL sons in NCAA years later will have an impact on us being willing to move them.
Harris cant grow in this system at this point even if we removed all the Vet's it would simply save Struble not him.
Strubles like 14 games from requiring Waivers and is a bottom pair special teams Dman or at best #4-5 D like Alzner was before he left WSH and his life fell apart

Decisions have to be made though as Engstrom is Wirey and while he listens to Coaches overall very well when it comes to slowing down , enjoying the ride and living his life outside hockey/training he ignores them. It got to the point they locked him out of the Training Facilities i believe it was last fall? Dude never stops training and shows up before the staff 6-7am and leaves last. If he does that for Coach Houle in Laval he'll rise quickly as Houle is that "you earn your minutes" Coach who was about to send Mailloux to the AHL before Xhekaj saved his season.

I’m not super worried about Kovacevic/Harris/struble and I think a few will probably be traded. I’m mostly concerned about Hughes’ relationship with Matheson and screwing over Guhle because of it. So if he’s insistent on keeping Matheson I’d rather they just trade Guhle this summer for some good assets (hopefully a vet RHD or some high end prospects/pick).

We could end up with:

Matheson - vet RHD
Hutson - Reinbacher
Xhekaj - Mailloux/Engstrom

Montreal paying Vancouver the price to acquire Hronek, and then paying Hronek his asking price would certainly be a choice considering they have Reinbacher and Mailloux in the pipeline...

I don't think there would be a deal to be had here to be honest. Montreal really doesn't have anything of quality that is NHL ready and of the quality prospects they do have it's not going to be of much interest to Vancouver as we aren't looking for futures. Ultimately moving Hronek leaves a huge hole in Vancouvers Dcore and does not make sense to him unless there is an offer we cannot say no to available

Well of course he is, its his former Client
But the Goal was always putting him in the best place to succeeed
Once one of these guys is capable of 25+ a night whether Hughes likes him or not MSL will reduce his minutes and play

Its just from a business POV next TDL to the TDL after is your window on Matheson to get a maximum return.
To me i'd say next TDL would be the smarter call if you're looking for Draft Capital in bulk or at the Draft for Quality
IF you want more of a player for player deal thats a summer time thing or after camp when teams have trouble with Waiver depth

Plus we kinda Forgot about Sobloev the Alexi Emelin on both Nick Suzuki's Memorial Cup Run and Florian Xhekaj's Playoff run this year.
He's 21 i believe now and physically more then ready to play his role at the NHL Level Blocking Shots and laying Predatory but legal Grey Area Hits
I have no doubt he'll catch someones eye at camp for the same reason Pezz did and Xhekaj did as he punches above his Weight Class

Matheson if im Hughes has to be moved to a place he's going to succeed which makes it harder in a lot of cases to find a fit
But with so many D pending UFA's it create's possibilities after July 1st that arent there today
I dont think its that he's unwilling to move him just that he's trying to maximize his return on Petry to turn MB greatest Burden into a trade tree the eclipses MB best.
Its the type of statement move that defines a career early on

The answer is similar to why Hronek will get 8M plus on his next long term contract; because he's a RHD that can play in your top 3. He's a unicorn in the NHL right now. Look at the UFA market over the next few years and count how many top pairing RHD are due to become available. It's a really short list.