Habs Fan in Edmonton

I assume you meant AHL and I would agree, a player has to earn a spot at the NHL level. Show the team you really want it and are ready.

I think it's almost make it or break it time for Roy. He has spent 2 full years in the AHL and he hasn't impressed me at all during his stints with the Habs. I am much higher on Beck and Kapanen. There is a spot open at training camp, time for one of them to step up.

Didn't ZZ top write a song about him "I'm just looking for some Tuch"

In a perfect world an organization could go hard for the cup without sacrificing a bit of the future but in reality you can't do both.

Yes, there will come a time when the Habs are a serious playoff contender (maybe in 2-3 years) and Hughes will be looking for that extra player to push them over the top. It may not work but the goal is to win the cup so you have to take a shot when the time is right.

I understand what you are trying to say. Teams like Tampa and Florida and Toronto have traded all their 1st round picks recently and into the near future. They did this to make a run at the cup, Florida has been successful but this strategy of short term gain will undoubtedly lead to some longer term pain as their prospect pools start to dry out. So far Hughes has been very strategic trading picks. I trust he will continue to be strategic and build a team that will be competitive and fun to watch for years to come.

That's the key, Dobson is 25, Bolduc is 22. Hughes has been receiving players back who fit the age of their core while selecting players in the draft (ie. Demidov, Hage etc) who have high end potential. Not every move will work out but Hughes is sticking to the plan. I expect the Habs could pass the Leafs within a couple years as their back end will be so much better.

I didn't have much interest either. Not good enough for top 6 but not a grinder either, better ways to spend 2.75 million.

Ehlers signs with the Canes, no big surprise. Carolina Hurricanes sign former Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers to six-year, $51 million deal | TSN

Yes, otherwise we will eventually end up with players having 3 digit numbers.

That is correct, a team might just decide to stand pat instead and save the cap room for the trade deadline. I know Commandant has mentioned Roslovic before. I wonder if the fact he is unsigned means a lack of interest or he is asking too much. I think he would be a marginal upgrade but maybe on a 1 year deal?

The danger with that is that one team might get tired of waiting and say "screw it" and go in a different direction, then he is left with one choice. I don't think with Ehlers that it's all about the money.

Interesting that Ehlers hasn't signed yet. You would think he wants to go to a contender that obviously must have cap room. Carolina fits the bill, so does Winnipeg. I thought the Leafs would take a run at him to replace Marner but they would have to do some juggling to have enough cap room.

If Ken Holland is trying to turn the Kings into the oldest team in the NHL then he is well on his way. Looks like desperation to me.

No good ones anyway. No point in trying to put a square peg into a round hole.

Excellent post, agree 100%. There just wasn't the right 2C available so why waste assets on a center that will make you marginally better. Hughes used assets to substantially upgrade the defense and this will pay long term dividends. Rome wasn't built in a day but we are getting closer.

I very much doubt it and not interested. Don't want to overpay for a winger who is talented but not overly physical. Also not really the cap space to pay him without moving other assets.

I would also love to see them get a left hand center to complement Suzuki but Duchene resigned in Dallas, Tavares resigned in Toronto and my personal favourite who I think would be perfect, Bo Horvat, was not likely not available or cost too much. Hughes just played the hand he was dealt. Maybe a surprise to come.

That's what it's looking like and I think that was always in the back of Hughes mind that if he can't make the right trade then Dach will get another chance.

And then that bag of pucks turned into Lane Hutson. Very nice asset management although some might disagree. Lol

I also checked the Blues fans reactions and certainly many were upset. Part of that is that they liked Bolduc but I also think part of it is they are not very knowledgeable of Mailloux's potential. I like the trade especially after getting Dobson but I also recognize that if Mailloux improves his defensive game then it could turn out well for the Blues.

Shocking that Hughes didn't match the Flyer offer of 5.4M. Shocking! Seriously Hughes hasn't done anything stupid the last week. He continues to be patient and strategic, spending money and assets to get quality. Nothing wrong going into the season with some cap space

I think Hughes has been very strategic regarding picks, moved up in the draft last year to get Hage and also moved up this year to get Zharovsky. When the opportunity presented itself to get a top paring RD who is only 25 he used two mid 1st rounders. The chance of getting a top pairing RD with a mid 1st rounder is slim. You have to balance the long range future with the mid to shorter term and I think Hughes has done an excellent job. Dobson is 25, Bolduc is 22 so Hughes is not sacrificing the future.

Exactly. Hughes assessed the market, determined the right 2c wasn't available or not for the cost he would have to pay and took the opportunity to improve the team in other areas. I like that Hughes is patient. Dobson was a huge addition. I liked Mailloux as a prospect, the fact we got Bolduc for him indicates the Blues valued him as well. Bolduc is a good player and only 22. The addition of Dobson turned Mailloux into a trading chip with Reinbacher on the horizon. Hughes has improved the team and with players that are young.

That's a good observation although I think Mailloux will have a longer career than Barron. Bolduc has progressed nicely.