You would have to add Artturi Lehkonen and a 2018 1st in order to get Claude Giroux.

The line chemistry of Giroux-Couturier-Voracek has been dominant, to say the least. Also, Giroux isn't declining despite popular opinion.

Very unlikely that we add Lekhonen in the deal, but other players who are not rookies might be added (Byron, Shaw ... but picks would need to be added to the mix)

The deal doesn't have any value for the Flyers if Lehkonen isn't in the mix. If he isn't, you would have to add some more high draft picks and some minor prospects.

I agree there would be some tweaking to the deal. Maybe a multi-player- deal

ill break down each of the deals...

buffalo: great trade for both teams
both minny trades: habs lose big time
Philly trade: flyers lose
pens trade: fair value
Calgary trade: habs lose

MTL not on Kessel’s 8 team trade list.

That ˆ and the fact that what MTL needs is a 1st line right-handed center (kinda like Giroux).

Scheifele (WPG) would be cheaper, but the results would be uncertain.

Buffalo says no thanks, ROR is 2 years younger and a better player defensively. We'd be trading a 26 year old, 2way, 55 pt guy for a 28 year old, lesser 2way 65 pt guy. Not really worth it for Buffalo, especially since it would help a divisional rival.

I'm the other way, I wouldn't want to trade Patches to Buffalo. Pacioretty on Eichels wing is a scary thought, 50g easy imo. I wouldn't mind ROR though.

Wild would pass on Staal for Patches. Center > Wing team needs.

Coyle for Patches could be the base of a trade, Wild would need to add (value wise). The only problems are the cap (Wild have none), and Coyle is a RHS. Wild have Stewart, Coyle, and Kunin (looks good so far, but should probably be in the AHL) as the only RHS FWDs. Patches > Coyle, but Coyle is the better fit for the Wild (cheaper, RHS, extra year on the contract).

LMAO. Wild could only dream of getting Patches for that cheap

Staal > Patches for both MTL and MN. Staal fills a 1/2C need on both teams. Patches isn't needed by the Wild, they have plenty of wings an no problem scoring even with all the injuries. FFS what should be the Wild's pressbox and 4th line wings have 10g combined so far this year.

It'll be nice when Staal get's a top-6 wing healthy. Ennis, Foligno, Stewart, random callups aren't really top-6 material.

Come on wabit, Staal is 33 years old. Most players start to decline right about that time. Pacioretty is still in his prime and has been the 3rd highest goal scorer in the league over a 5 year span. Just looking at it from a value perspective and not team needs, Habs would be insane to move Patches for Staal. Staal had a really amazing year last year but i think most people would agree he probably won't sustain that level of scoring for the remainder of his contract which isn't that long anyway. not too mention that even if he did, he'd command more money then the Wild should be willing to give which would mean the resign-ablility between the two is higher with Pacioretty who will be in his prime for longer than Staal would be.

As for the two trades, Girous and ROR are the only two guys I would trade Patches for. Trading a good winger for another winger is pointless. WE NEED CENTERS!

Decline is an issue, but so far Staal looks as good as last year. Does he have a considerable dropoff next season? (maybe)

Patches is a 1LW (top end), Staal is a 1C (lower end). Centers are worth more than wingers. It's not far off straight value-wise. Same contract length, Staal is $1m cheaper, both are UFA's at the end. Anything beyond the current contract is speculative, so a moot point for me. Both should be good for ~65p a year.

You really can't dismiss team needs. Staal adds more to the Wild than Patches likely would. They are stacked with LW's; not quite the same quality as Patches, but not a huge dropoff with Granny, Nino, maybe a healthy Parise. The drop-off from Koivu/Staal/JEE/Cullen to Koivu/JEE/Kunin/Cullen is huge quality wise for centers.

You're more qualified to say if Staal would help MTL more than Patches does. I think Staal would help more, just because of the lack of centers MTL has. The two teams don't line up well for trades.