TheDriveFor25

The analysts have also said Point was the initial target and Point said no. Is that MB’s fault? MB went after what many believe was a cheap owner and it just didn’t work. Again, Free Agents have to want to sign here. People can argue all they want that taxes don’t play into it but they certainly do. So does weather. So does media. There are lots of reasons why a player might not sign in Montreal, can’t blame MB. The point I was making with the Aho sheet was that ownership is not being cheap. It could have been more. The fact that Mb has cap space doesn’t meant they’re cheap or not trying.. it’s impossible to know what was offered to who and why people didn’t come to Montreal.

You can’t say to MB - hey, Domi and Tatar has good seasons after you acquired them but it was likely a fluke so you’re fired. He’s done a good job filling the cupboards that looked extremely bare just two years ago. The Domi trade was a win. The Tatar and Suzuki trade might be a homerun. Missing the playoffs is the biggest problem so I think he gets this year to fix that or he’s gone. And you can’t say Molsen doesn’t want to spend money - they submitted an offer sheet that would have paid a guy 21 million in a calendar year. You cant totally fault a GM for players signing elsewhere - more factors than how good the GM is. Again, it’s been a decent offseason and I’m sure more is to come before opening night. Give the Fire MB chant a rest for a few weeks.

Great signing.. 2.4 per year for 2 years.

Tatar - Danault - Gallager Drouin - Kotkaniemi - Puljujarvi Lehks - Domi - Armia Byron - Cousins - Thompson/Weal/etc.. Are we concerned with bumping Weal or Thompson or Weise from the lineup??.. I'd rather have three really good lines and if he finds his game and is a fit in the top 6 it only gives you more trade chips to get the LD. His salary is not a problem. And if Poehling or Suzuki earn a spot then again - more trade chips to add to the D. Plus, a trade will likely include one of those forwards going out anyways..

What? Not a risk? This is the exact type of risk MB should be taking.. he’s a young kid with tons of potential who looked like a beast a couple years ago.. he’d be a reasonable cost, and would fit into the team window.. It’s a low risk with the potential to be very rewarding..

Unless you have some inside information or some hidden recording device, it's hard to fault any GM for not signing Free Agents. There is just too much that goes into a decision on where to sign by a FA to blame MB for not landing one.. Money, term, taxes, media, family, weather, etc. etc. etc. I can guarantee there have been several Free Agents over the year that MB has tried to sign and lost out on because the FA has chosen to go somewhere else.. If he was dropping the ball in trades then I would get the criticism, but he is above average in that category.

Nylander just went for a decent defensive prospect and he was picked 8th and has been worse than Puljujarvi. Hudon is not getting us JP. Maybe Juulsen and a lower pick?

Back to trade proposals.. Puljujarvi for Byron and a pick... Yay? Nay?

Maybe I'm wearing rose colored glasses but I am excited for this year... Kids like Poehling and Suzuki might get to play and the D should be a little better with Chiarot in for Benn. With CP31 you always have a chance to win the game. I also expect better years from Drouin, Lehks, Kotkaniemi, and Byron. Armia and Byron missed 20+ games last year. So did Weber. Weal was good for the 15 or so games we had him. WE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS BY TWO POINTS. Danault has become a great two way centre.. Domi was great last year and Tatar was a surprise. I still think a top three finish in the division is possible.. but I'd be very surprised if the HABS don't get in this year. They are definitely a playoff team.

Time to move on.. what happens next? A sheet or a trade for Laine? Marner too much. Point doesn’t seem interested.

Seems like a 2nd pair guy.. So is it.. Mete Weber Chiarot Petry Kulak Juulsen Rielly?

The term isn't crazy.. 3 years.. but 3.5 seems a bit high. I don't know much about him though so hard to say..

3 years at 3.5 per Guess that's the answer to the LD hole

Montreal and Carolina cannot make a trade directly involving Aho. Carolina would have to decline to match and Montreal then sends assets for something else. Like Suzuki, Juulsen, and a pick for a 5th rounder. No Aho in the deal.

And Nylander for the full 82 instead of the 50+ he played last year. Toronto will absolutely finish with more points than they did last year.. their top end talent is good enough to make up for the bottom 6.