GHT120

Not that I've changed my mind on Galchenyuk ... but If MB were to resign him the Habs could have a third line of third overall picks ... Galchenyuk-KK-Drouin ... of course that then requires a 2C be added.

Don't in any way disagree ... I was responding to the statement that with Toffoli and Gallagher as his wingers, KK would immediately/automatically show he is ready to be the habs 2C ... KK's performance had him sitting to begin and, despite his production being tied for the second most goals on the Habs for the playoffs, the end of the playoffs ... as for Anderson, I would say Anderson was performing well, and his production was good as well (tied for second most goals with KK and two others) ... when I say performance I mean the things that are within a players' individual control ... their effort, being defensively responsible, etc.

Doesn't mean he is NHL ready ... but doesn't mean he's not either NO IDEA what he is being asked or responding (other than "powerplay"), but he seems a very composed, confident and mature young man

Think that is a bit of an apples to oranges comparison ... MB has consciously signed C-E-S and built the top two pairings with three of the same type of defenceman (big, slow and minimal puck-moving ability) who will be expected to play 20+ minutes per game (not 15+) ... Crosby-Kane-Ovi is a $28.7M AAV pipe dream. BTW ... IMO, ideally two of them would be top 4, paired with Petry and another puck-mover ... and I would also include Chiarot in the right trade.

Morgan Reilly ... similar goals/82gm ... 30% more assists Morgan Reilly's agent:

Can't say I am as certain ... players production can certainly be dependent on linemates but performance is individual ... he played his way onto Laval in 19/20 (and might have last season if the Habs had a legit option at 3C) and then off the roster to start and finish these past playoffs ... he shows splashes of legit 1C/2C play but no consistency, and is oft-cited as being weak in his own zone ... he needs to improve his own performance, regardless of who his wingers might be.

But will KK show he is ready to slot in as Montreal's 2nd line centre?

Don't necessarily disagree ... but Kulak is making about twice what he should for that role ... and not certain that if S/C/E are truly overpaid that they are anywhere near as far overpaid.

A tad pricey for that role at $1.850M ...

The best ones don't ... but don't know that Luke Fox is one of the best ... or even one of the better

Stastny is a pending UFA who turns 36 in December ... that PLD didn't push Paul out of the top 6 is a negative for the youngster, not in any way a positive reflection on Stastny ...

Good organizational goaltending depth IMO

As disappointing as PLD may have been in Winnipeg, I doubt Cheveldayoff would be OK with turning the return he got for Laine and Roslovic into Drouin and a 3rd.

Well you are making up for me ... never touch the stuff ... my addiction is iced tea.

THIS should be fun

BTW ... Canada tied for 9th (w/Luxemburg) at 14 pounds

Chucky played his way out of the centre position, and off the team, with the Habs ... even with Arizona he was 3rd in TOI amongst centres ... then he bounced from Pittsburgh, to Arizona, to Ottawa and to Toronto ... playing less and less centre ... I would look at Evans, Poehling, Zajac (rumoured likely signed with NYI), Filppula, Bozak, Paquette, Belzile, Brossard, Perrault or even Staal as the 3C before Galchenyuk.

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. EDIT: Journal de Montreal confirms

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 ...