Habs Fan in Edmonton

Brendan Gallagher will be 29 when his contract expires. There will be a lot of miles on his body by then. If he is looking for 6 years or more in his contract then I think he is being unrealistic. It was his decision to sign a 6 year contract 5 years ago, it turned out great for the Habs but it could have gone the other way if Gallagher ended up being just a 4th line energy guy scoring 12-15 goals a year. There is risk on both sides when a long term contract is signed. What makes Gallagher such a great player is his heart and determination, those same qualities will make him a tough negotiator for his next contract. I think 5 years at around 6.5 - 7 million a year is the highest MB can go. I hope they work it out as I love Gallagher as a Hab but I am not optimistic.

I also like this move more than the Anderson one which is a bit of a roll of the dice. Elite snipers are hard to find and nobody is giving them away in their prime or you have to pay 8 million\year on the free agent market, you need to develop your own, hopefully that is Cole Caufield. Toffoli had one bad year (2018-19), other than that he has been pretty consistent.

Yup, Vancouver has 10 forwards making 3 million a year or more, Montreal now has 7 with Toffoli signed. Vancouver has no flexibility, MB kept some powder dry and finally used it for a good deal.

When you think about it, 4.25 million\year for a guy who has averaged goals in the mid twenties, plays a 2 way game and we get him before his prime years expire (28-31), he will just be turning 32 when his contract expires and he has been pretty durable. It looks like a pretty good deal to me.

I like Toffoli playing with Suzuki, should get an absolute minimum of 25 goals playing with a guy that can pass like Suzuki. MB has been criticized in the past for not spending to the limit for cap room, now he has and he has done it smartly, 4.25 million for Toffoli is a good deal in my opinion.

I found this great write up on Tyler Toffoli, I am liking this. https://www.nucksmisconduct.com/2020/2/23/21132879/toffoli-scouting-report

Good point. LOL I never thought Buffalo would be the destination of choice but life is full of surprises. Maybe 1 year with Buffalo then he will try Detroit for a year or two.

I hear you, I misunderstood that point.

No doubt it had to be the biggest 1 year offer. A free agent does not take less money to sign with the Sabres. It should make Eichel a little happier.

We never know for sure what goes on in the dressing room. No question that Julien lost faith in Max but you can't replace a coach every time a player doesn't buy in. It is about the team. I guess one of the positives here is that the development of Suzuki and KK (hopefully it continues) has allowed the Habs the flexibility to trade Max for a piece that hopefully bolsters a position where they need help. As tomh009 says the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Time will tell.

TSN is saying Taylor Hall to Buffalo??? I did not see that coming.

Good points, you can't be spending $3-4 million a year on 3rd and 4th line guys like Vancouver did and not get squeezed. No rush for MB to do anything, wait and see what bargains show up.

I know everyone has been talking about the bad year Max had last year (44 pts. in 71 games), certainly a drop off from the year before. Josh Anderson's best year was 47 pts in 82 games. I know everyone is excited that Josh is big and strong and brings grit and these are elements that Habs need on the wing but he has to stay healthy. I really hope it turns out but I am not convinced yet.

Signing Hall only to lose Dubois is not a good plan. I would think they have a plan in place. Dubois is not going anywhere, he is just too important to the future of the franchise.

The year Max scored 28 goals he demonstrated a terrific wrist shot, certainly no lack of shooting strength. That was more goals than Anderson has ever scored. Max is also an excellent passer. Obviously there are some other deficiencies or the Habs wouldn't have made the trade. Hopefully Anderson is a better fit as a scoring winger with size and grit is something the Habs need. I am cautiously optimistic on this trade at best, hope it turns out.

Don't see that happening as the Habs don't have the cap room to make any big offers plus Columbus could easily match as they have cleared a lot of cap space although they may plan to make a run at Hall with it.

I was satisfied after they signed Brandon Braddock, anything else is a bonus.

I think his contract might be tough to move, MB will have to be a little creative.

No doubt, he has certainly been at the right place at the right time although by now winning the cup might be getting a little boring for him.

Well put. Although every coach needs at least one player who will test their patience.

I think everyone here feels the same way, hope he can stay healthy so he can prove one way or another whether he is an NHL player. He has had some tough luck, kid needs a break.

No. In 7 years Anderson will be just leaving his prime, in 8 years Gallagher will be well past it. I am thinking 5 years for Gallagher.

Unlikely there will be any big free agent signings by the Habs now which is likely a good thing. Most teams overpay on free agent day (ie Alzner, ouch), the Anderson signing is a risk but one I am comfortable with assuming his shoulder is fine. He was trending toward a high quality power forward before the injury and we have him locked up for his prime years. Hope it work out.

That isn't going to happen. No way he gets 8 years. Love the guy but in 8 years he will be 36.

Agree 100% with your comments. It wasn't going to be cheap. If he has a godd year the price tag would have been high when he became a UFA. They must be convinced his shoulder is sound.