GHT120

Undoubtedly he would ... but more for the fans than the management

That may well be true ... and I hope it is ... it would be nice to have that option/opportunity ... but IMO it will take a couple of years of winning (and depending on how the playoffs go this season may or may not be a true start) to build that UFA interest ... meaning it won't be a tool for the near future to build the team needed around Price (33 next Sunday) and Weber (35 on Friday)

What was "right" related to in the context of your "Right ... It surely will not be easy to beat the Flyers ..." post ... seemed to most closely link to my saying I wasn't putting down Price, as though you thought I was lying.

Agreed ... he could now go out for a beer with the boys when in Philadelphia if the teams weren't all a bubble

Looking at the concept ... Petry has a 15 team NTC so there is no guarantee he would agree to the deal ... plus I would rather re-sign Petry ... think Jeff's nect contract will likley be reasonable (he seems to very much like Montreal) and will likely be effective for at least another 5 years ... as for the return, I don't see Lehtonen as great value ... 26 yr-old "rookie" signed for 20/21 then a UFA next summer.

True ... I expect the Leafs will retain the 2020 pick even if they don't win the lottery as they would undoubtedly would not expect to have the chance to select in the top 16 next season EDIT: Wasn't Laffs option ... it was 2020 protected if it was in the top 10 ... so Hurricanes get the pick ... MY BAD

Which would be why I said I don't see Nylander moving unless a defenceman is the return ... there is a difference between what I think MB might try and what I think is a reasonable/possible trade

Agree about the importance/value of both Weber and Gallagher ... but they are also perhaps the classic example of whether it is better to trade a player too soon rather than too late ... but Tavares wouldn't be my target ***IF*** the Habs were to trade either ... personally I wouldn't even look at the Leafs, unless the #1 overall was PART of the return ... not a fan of Nylander (talented player, but someone close to me knows this father very well and fear the son may not have fallen far from the tree), Tavares has the NMC and Matthews isn't going anywhere ... Marner would be a nice "add", but is just a tad overpaid for my taste (not certain he is a 90+ points player without Tavares, Matthews and Nylander)

And not only because Bergevin unlikely to trade Price (unless Carey "demands" one ... from what we know of Carey it would be very polite and done in private) ... but Tavares has a full NMC ... if he agreed to waive it because of two disappointing seasons in TO then I wouldn't want him ... but Tavares, Suzuki and KK as a top trio of centres would be amazing (in theory). BUT ... Tavares is the only of the Leafs "big guns" (maybe better described as reputed "big guns") with no-trade protection, let alone no movement ... so I expect Nylander and one of these three - Kerfoot/Johnsson/Kapanen - to be dealt to create cap space to improve their defence, not necessarily in one deal. I could see Bergevin trying to swing a deal built around Domi and Nylander (or two of the "three") as the core pieces ... but while some combo of the "three" may be moved to create cap space I expect it would take a legit top 3 defenceman to get Nylander.

If Molson doesn't want a "hockey guy" between him and Bergevin on the depth chart maybe Tallon, with a prior working relationship with Marc, might be a good hire as a consultant.

Good thing John Scott isn't the Habs GM

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100% agree

I am for a rebuild but the Laffs winning a Cup would be a HORROR

Mete is almost making the argument for replacing him in the lineup ... physical and tough is not exactly his raison d'être

Wasn't putting Price down ... just noting that Hart has played well

Absolutely ... those two need to get going (hopefully Gallagher can heal up in the down time) ... but it wasn't just them ... Domi and Armia (3rd and 4th in goal scoring in the regular season) were blanked as well ... on the other hand, Philly won its games without any of their top 5 goal scorers from the season getting any either ... these teams are in VERY similar situations that way

I agree it is a valid approach ... however, I see it as difficult for the Habs to get top-end UFA talent (and retain any elite talent) without overpaying which as you point out is a no-no in the modern cap world ... making that model more challenging for them It will be interesting to see how MB approaches the offseason ... there are some teams in cap trouble, but not certain the "payoff" to taking on a bad contract would be much of an upgrade on what the Habs already have in terms of the current roster, more likely to receive picks and/or a good prospect ... having broken the silent-pact by making the Aho offer sheet, curious to see if he tries again ... will at least keep the board hoping

Respond however you wish ... I've made my views clear ... I accept that you don't accept them ... also accept that you feel there is a right and wrong choice between our views ... so be it

Challenge for this series, unlike Pens, might be the Flyers goaltending ... in the play-ins (minimum 2 games) Price had the best Sv% (.947) and 3rd best GAA (1.67) ... but in his three games in the round robin Carter Hart had a .960 Sv% and a 1.00 GAA ... would be a good time for Drouin and Tartar to break out

I'm not a Weise advocate, so to me it looks like Weal versus Poehling choice to join Domi and Belzile ... would love to have a perspective from someone who has seen the TC and practices to see it Poehling has shown anything to merit dressing.

He did seem to have issues when moved to the wing earlier in the season but didn't see anything but 100% effort against Pens ... but hard to move him up at the moment ... would be ideal if Hudon hadn't seemed to wear out his welcome as he has better scoring skills than the alternatives ... but haven't read/heard that he is making it hard for the habs to not dress him by his play in TC/practice ... in slightly fewer games Belzile had twice the production Weise had in Laval this season, so I see him as a slightly better option ... Weal and Poehling a bit of a toss-up IMO ... the former is more experienced and the latter bigger and stronger (with perhaps more scoring potential) ... Weal hasn't produced with Domi so might be worth giving Ryan a shot ... as long as he hasn't just lolly-gagged his way through TC and practice

Totally agree ... it is a 2/3 year process to target a draft and a multi-year process to build with the youth drafted and prospects acquired ... then selected veterans can be targeted in trades when the cupboards are full youth ... would never suggest a rebuild is a one year process ... but this season was a unique opportunity as the Habs had a shot at the #1 overall without having to intentionally tank or truly rebuild ... the team just had a horrible season

Like the idea of seeing what Poehling can contribute ... also agree Max is a winger in the longer term ... just don't see Domi moving to wing on the 4th line ... What I can't comment on is whether Poehling has shown enough in the "training camp" and practices to warrant the chance over Weal or belzile

Very much liked what Juulsen showed two years ago, it will be interesting to see what he can do in 20/21 ... Fleury showed great promise IMO this past season and could develop into a sold 2nd pairing RHD ... Josh Brooks seems to need another year in Laval to see if he has NHL potential ...*** if *** the Habs were to choose to move out any veterans RHD could be a target for prospects in return as well