GHT120

I have seen reports that KK's father has had cancer surgery (seem to be several Finnish sites reporting it) ... may explain his not being signed ... KK may have other priorities at the moment ... assuming it is true, best wishes to Mikael, Jesperi and the entire family.

So too is Byron ... so over $9 million ties up in those 9th/40th forwards ... all nice players but IMO, cap-wise, bad to all three.

I look at 5-on-5 TOI when considering how players are used in terms of "lines" ... until this past regular season, AL had been top 9 in that stat every year with Habs (minimum 10 games played) ... he was 4th (19-20) and 7th (20-21) in his post season appearances ... IMO he just isn't more of a scorer than his historical 15g/82gm .

Think MB is as well.

Perhaps ... or maybe the plan is to let him go as a UFA after next season to make room for one of the youngsters in 22-23.

Agreed ... Chiarot would be the piece to move ... and while I won't say it is high, his value should be the best it has been after these playoffs.

McNiven goes to arbitration ... can't see that he could get a contract that is in any way a problem ... others are: Vince Dunn (Kraken de Seattle), Adam Pelech (Islanders de New York), Juuse Saros (Predators de Nashville), Jakub Vrana (Red Wings de Detroit), Neal Pionk et Andrew Copp (Jets de Winnipeg), Ross Colton (Lightning de Tampa Bay), Jason Dickinson (Canucks de Vancouver), Zach Aston-Reese (Penguins de Pittsburgh), Adam Erne (Red Wings de Detroit), Zach Sanford (Blues de St. Louis), Dante Fabbro (Predators), Dennis Gilbert (Avalanche du Colorado), Nikita Zadorov (Flames de Calgary) and Adin Hill (Sharks de San Jose)

1. Price was announced as out 10-12 from his July 23rd surgery ... so he is supposed to be back on-ice with Habs somewhere from a couple weeks before the Habs first game to a couple of days after ... Primeau likely will back up until Price completes his own training camp ... trade only needed if Price is out longer 2. Very refreshed, reformed TBD 3. Possibly, but even if he does will he take the full time he should? ... easy experience makes me think it is unlikely 4. I'm not certain whether Wideman or Kulak is the 7D ... whichever, they need another legit NHL quality D 5. I expect that a trade(s) will be made to add a legit 4/5 defenceman and/or a 2/3C ... OR ... to obtain and/or make room for Eichel () ... not because players are beaten out in training camp ...

Was one of those "Evans"s supposed to be Armia?

That was allowed when the player was finally healthy in the last week(s) of the season ... after the trade deadline ... not certain it works for a player who is healthy at New Years ... think the habs would have to become cap complaint once Byron is deemed ready to play ... and after the Kucherov situation this season I expect the NHL will be watching LTIR to ensure no healthy players are being hidden. The key is in clause 50.10(d)(iv) of the CBA: ... provided, however, that when the unfit to-play Player is once again fit to play (including any period such Player is on a Bona Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception Conditioning Loan to another league), the Club shall be required to once again reduce its Averaged Club Salary to a level at or below the Upper Limit prior to the Player being able to rejoin the Club.

To my understanding, since he will be healthy to play around the New Year there is no real cap benefit ... the Habs would have to get back under the non-Byron-LTIR upper cap limit when Byron returns

He is expected back around Christmas/New Years ... then (as I understand it) if placed on LTIR the Habs would have to be able to take back his full $3.4 million AAV onto the cap ... I believe this injury just screws the cap.

I completely agree with the need you identify ... but this is the Internet ... there are people who disagree that the sun rises in the east.

If Norlinder started the season with the Habs but wasn't getting enough icetime to justify his being kept (i.e., not supporting his development),could he go back? Does the "10th game" factor into it the same as it does a junior player in terms of it counting as using up a season under this ELC?