Probably would need to add a top 8 protection, and take Harris instead of Struble

Agreed. The deal could work but I would need some assurance that 2025 pick doesn't become another top pick. Given that the Habs aren't exactly poised to become a contender over night, pick protection is a must.

The existing conditions on the Calgary pick were too complicated…so I included the other one. But I am sure there could be some arrangement where it is one of the 2025 picks, but protected if they end up in lottery pool.

Yeah, Montreal's not moving their 2025 1st in a deal like this unless its got pretty hefty protections. That's likely a top-10 pick.

…which is being traded for a…top-10 pick

I don't see why Montreal is in a hurry to trade a pick that is likely of equal value next year, plus a late 1st, plus an NHLer level defenseman, plus a 4th (not a big deal, except already 3 serious pieces)

Montreal gets pick 10

NJ gets pick 10-13 (likely), plus pick 27, plus NHL defenseman, plus a 4th?

We can't trade Calgary's in the off chance they aren't picking top 10. Same reason as listed above.

So if the conditions would have to be:

2025 Florida Panthers 1st round pick OR 2026 Montreal Canadiens pick.
Harris, Kovacevic or Struble
*Conditional 4th based on having to receive the 2026 pick.

And I don't know if that would work for what you are attempting here.

yeah, plus another 1st, an NHL defenseman and a 4th rounder. The value is way off, just for pushing 1 year

Yeah that CGY pick is worth a little less in trade as of right now because of that. As of mid year next year the value will be a little more certain.

As for the proposed trade. I think the 1st has to be top 10 protected. Problem though would be that if it pushes to 2026 due to being top 10, no way I would let it be unprotected either. Might be a difficult kind of deal to make. If it were me, i would be way more lenient on giving additional picks in place. Like two 2nds or something, etc. Not sure NJ would do that though.

2025 FLA 1st or 2026 MTL
Harris, Kovacevic or Struble
Conditional 4th

This just doesn’t come close to returning a top-10 pick.

Top-10 protected…bounces to 2026 unprotected.
Top-5 protected…bounces to CGY pick

I an sure there is solution.

(Or just send Guhle for the #10)

Yep I'm sure if someone they liked at 10 was available, they'd find a way. Don't think they'd do Guhle though. Future picks however should and would be in play for sure.

Guhle for 10 straight up?

and a top 10 pick, plus 27, plus Struble, plus a 4th doesn't equal pick 10.

i think we need known values here.

If Montreal pick is top 20 protected they might say yes

So why they adding so much on top

New Jersey does that, I’m sure.

The idea would be to trade back in 2024 and instead of adding a player or pick this year, we add a future pick or two that could be ammo at 2025 deadline or 2025 off-season. Maybe that ends up being later of two picks…or some conditional thing.

Many of the trade offers for #10 that we have seen on here can return a mid-teens puck along with 2nd, sometimes more. So dropping down to mid-twenties should probably return a 17-32 pick next year. And another piece.

Plus a late 1st and fillers.

There's no clearly defined opportunity cost benefit for Montreal since its all futures. They basically need to bet they'll be a playoff team next year (or close to it) for the trade to make any sort of sense, and that's a dumb bet that they wouldn't make.



I am very confident Montreal would not consider that trade.

Yep I could see something working (If It were me). The real question is how do we squeeze Josh Anderson in there?

Someone give this guy an infraction point pls

I don’t hate this lineup. Skeptical that Utah would let Vejmelka go for a mid rd pick that they don’t really have a need for however.

By adding Guhle or #5 perhaps.

The irony now with Anderson is that we could potentially use a size/speed guy now that Wood and McLeod are gone. (I always viewed Anderson as righty Miles Wood). It seems to be a missing element in our bottom-six. But at $5.5m we don’t have the space to put that in lineup.

The comp would be Vanecek trade to NJD (which also included a swap of 2nd rounders).

Josh Anderson could fill the miles wood role. But I wouldn’t be paying anything for him unless it’s with 50% retention. Down to 3 mill and I’d take him as a throw in with 0 value

I mean i was only kidding but if there is a deal to be made there, MTL should be all over that.

Since we're on it, would a deal of Evans, Struble, Anderson 50%, WPG 1st and Col 2nd be enough for the 10ov in your opinion?