Équipe: 2024-25 Canadiens de Montréal

Date de création initiale: 2 juill. 2024

Publié: 2 juill. 2024

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

I like where Montreal is at, especially with their top line locked up long term for reasonable amounts. I know many fans have probably already done this type of projection, but the team could look pretty good if they develop their prospects decently:

Caufield Suzuki Slafkovsky
Demidov Hage/Dach ????
Newhook Dach/Hage Roy/Mesar
Kapanen Beck Tuch/Heineman/F. Xhekaj

Guhle ?????
Hutson Reinbacher
A. Xhekaj Mailloux
Struble/Harris Barron

Montembeault
Primeau
Fowler

So there is a need for another top 6 forward and another right defenceman. They have 2 first round picks next year and the team is almost certainly a lottery draft pick team after the 2025 season again as well.

They have Matheson, Savard, one of Mesar or Roy, Harris or Struble, 2 first round picks next year to trade and there is free agency coming up with the contracts of Dvorak, Armia and Savard coming off the books.

So if they trade Matheson and get another first round pick for him (assuming he has close to the same year he did last year) they will have all sorts of draft capital to either make a big trade for a young player or move up in the draft and hopefully get Hensler or Tretheway in the draft to get that other right D-man or just keep the first round picks and take the players to fill the needs for a forward and a defenceman.

Then they could go after 1 big free agent (probably a top 6 forward) in next year's free agency class, but on the somewhat lower end of the expensive free agents (i.e. not likely a Draisaitl, Marner or Rantanen). Go after someone like Boeser, Konecny, Buchnevich or Verhaege or Ekblad (although he would likely be expensive too)

It does not guarantee a Cup in the future, but it looks pretty good.

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