TheDriveFor25

Montreal is a top 3 team in the Division. It'll come down to Montreal, Toronto, and Tampa. I expect Buffalo, Detroit, and Florida to be the bottom feeders, Ottawa to fall back to earth, and Boston to be the mediocre team they are in the middle of the pack. The top three is a toss up for me. My heart says Montreal wins the division, but my brain screams look out for Toronto. A good young team one or two moves away from being a top contender.

Two things: Backstrom for Pacioretty isn't even close. You take Backstrom 100% of the time. Pacs is great, Backs is elite. Even with the 2 first round picks, it's still a very easy trade to make. BAcks is signed for a year longer as well. Honestly, Ovechkin for Pacs is a lot closer than Backs for Pacs. Also, McDavid's contract does not kick in until next season so no need to trade RNH now. (Unless a team really wants to overpay) Unless an injury occurs and they have a big need to fill, they're better off keeping him for depth and insurance. I could see him being moved for a Dman, but that's not happening with Montreal. If you want Edmonton to move anybody, you take a run at Lucic. I think they are already regretting the big contract. Just an opinion, but I believed they'd consider Shaw, Pleks, and a prospect/pick. Saves them 2.1 million when the McD contract kicks in and they'd fill a similar role. I'm not suggesting the trade should happen, the contract is gross, just that it's more likely then a Nuge trade.

I'm thinking they might want to give Pavel and Nico some time at C. Plus Boyle is probably their #2 or #3 C. Just looking at their roster, RW seems to be a weakness. Maybe Pleks and Gallagher plus a prospect for Henrique and a pick

I'd target New Jersey.. get Henrique.

I love the idea of Lehks and Drouin playing together... prefer Galchenyuk between them though. Pacs and Drouin have been spending a lot of time training together in the off-season so I wouldnt be surprised to see those two start together.

Giroux (2 mil per season retained) for Pleks, 2nd Round Pick, Prospect. Pacs - Giroux - Drouin Lek - Galchenyuk - Gallagher Byron - Danault - Hemsky

RNH is a better option at centre than anything on the Habs roster. He's not a third liner, he's a solid 2nd line centre. He'd be great with Pacs and Drouin. Let Chucky centre Lehks and Shaw. (Maybe Hudon if he's ready.) Third line of Pleks, Byron, and Hemsky is decent.

A trade of Gallagher for Nuge would be a big win for Montreal. I'm guessing we'd have to add a pick - probably a 2nd. Pacs - Nuge - Drouin Lehk - Danault - Galchenyuk Byron - Pleks - Hemsky

Lots of room if you move Pleks.. I'd love a trade for RNH out of Edmonton top 3 Cs as Galchenyuk (or Drouin?) RNH, Danault

With Rad gone, Chucky has to be a top 6 player. Still think something needs to happen to add a top 6 centre. Right now I'd guess.. Pacs - Drouin - Chuck Lehk - Danault - Gallagher

In today's NHL.. you need a top Center to win. More important than D. More important than a goalie. Teams have won with a mediocre goalie that got hot. Teams have won with beat up d. Nobody wins the Cup without a strong middle. Period. It's been Montreal's issue for years. And unless MB has a trick up his sleeve (Draisaitl, Tavares) it'll be the thing that costs us this year too.

The addition of Drouin only makes sense if they kept Radulov. I loved the Drouin trade because I figured the team would be much better offensively next year, but that is not the case now. MB essentially is bringing back a very similar team and lost the best prospect we had. Unless something else happens - trade Pleks and offer sheet Leon - then it's still a likely early playoff exit.

I've tried to support MB, defend him on here, but this is a big error.. The Hemsky signing is fine. A mil for one season. But losing Radulov wastes the rest of the moves made... You trade Sergy for Drouin, but now Drouin just replaces Raddy so you've lost Sergy for nothing. The Drouin trade made tons of sense with the thought of Raddy also coming back. The team would be better offensively. Now, you're even again and down your best prospect. I'm guessing Galchenyuk stays now, but if they continue to misuse him then the season will still come down to how far the 84 million dollar goalie can carry the team.

One million bucks..

I don't mind the term, I was just hoping for a number closer to 9. More $$ to spend on some upgrades the team obviously needs.