GHT120

I expect the ESPN just wants a "weekend to its own" ... Frozen Four would get overshadowed by Final Four amongst the more casual viewers.

6th

Smilanic was a throw-in and Heineman as a very secondary piece in the trade for a conditional first ... only Barron was a central piece in a deal ... I expect it was the best deal available for a player that, if I recall, Bergevin had essentially "forced out" by choosing to re-sign Armia the previous summer, leaving no cap space to re-sign the pending RFA.

Averaging his Elite Prospects rankings (throwing out high/low and Central Scouting) he seems like a consensus 8th overall pick.

Correct

MSL did not pursue a post-retirement coaching career ... I am not certain it was ever a be-all and end-all for him ... other than a stint as a consultant to Torts with the CBJs he was out of the "NHL hockey world" for several years ... a unique opportunity presented itself in an environment (city and management personnel) that interested him and he took it ... but he walked away from the NHL once for family and I would not be shocked if he did again ... NOT PREDICTING anything, just a possibility ... one HuGo need to at least be considering.

My thought is not an NHL regular but a 7/6 D, primarily the spare ... but there is always a need for such players ... not a guarantee, but seems like a very smart/mature player who could handle such a role.

I think Trudeau is another player who could have a decent career as a 7/6 defenceman. I thought Reinbacher played well, as witnessed by his time on the PK and playing regularly throughout the game, but have to admit he made a couple of gaffs ... what impressed me was his skating and how he recovered from the gaffs to neutralize them, or at least try to.

I suspect that Farrel is a "quiet" / "smart" player who won't stand out if he makes it to the NHL but who could (if he makes it) have a decent career, but I don't expect him to become a Top 6 forward in the NHL (at least on a playoff/Cup contender) ... maybe a 3rd liner.

For once, ClickBait30 raises a valid question (I-M-O) ... will the recent health issues with MSL's son cause him to reconsider whether he wants to spend the season in Montreal and/or with the team on road trips? ... although I expect he sneaks in a couple/few of visits to see the family. It is a very fair question ... if he and his wife would consider moving the family to Montreal, I expect they would already have done so. NOTE: Apologies if I missed this having been discussed previously.

The Rocket taking a few too many penalties for my liking, but a good sign to see Reinbacher getting a fair bit of time on the PK ... they obviously have confidence in the kid.

That is the obvious proximate cause, but it didn't seem so bad as to provoke such a stupid decision by Guhle.

Not only the number of games, but both played on 100+ point teams ... which does mean they played on very good teams but it also means there was pressure/expectations for them to perform and win, unlike with the Habs this season.

Clean history and relatively mild "slash" likely mitigated the penalty ... but a STUPID move by Guhle ... might there have been an issue between them earlier in the game?

I expect they would be thrilled to get him at that price.

I expect this will be more than a fine ... absolutely no relationship to a "hockey play".

KK had a career year last season ... the idea (I-M-O) would be to give it a year and see what MSL can do with him ... *** IF *** necessary, a buyout next June would be 10 years, with 7 @ $841,333 but years 3,4&5 would be $461,333; right where an extra $380K could prove useful. The 'Canes have $30.7M to fill out 9-10 roster spots next season ... but they may want to re-sign Guentzel (especially if they have a good playoff run), their 2nd (Skjei), 3rd (Slavin) and 6th (Chatfield) leading TOI defencemen are UFAs, up-front, their #2(Jarvis) and #4 (Necas) scorers are RFAs and #6 (Teravainen) is a UFA ... that $30.7 may not go as far as one might think ... perhaps the proposal could be modified/expanded and bring one of the RFAs, or one of their young NCAA forwards and a lesser pick into a deal.

ClickBait30 proposing a KK and a first rounder to Habs ... given that they could take advantage of the under 26 buyout next June (and June 2026), it might be worthwhile if either they can move Dvorak, and let KK and Evans fight it out for 3C/4C, or if they think KK can play wing.

Montembeault AND Primeau in Prague/Ostrava come May?

I think by "quiet" he meant in terms of what we old-timers remember form the BBBs and Chelios vs. Hextall.

Two Top 7-8 picks, although a Powerball-ish longshot, could be worth a 5-year "ban" to accelerate the rebuild ... two "birds in the hand" are better than two future, potential "lottery wins in the bush".

Hope other teams like him too ... he is likely HuGo's preferred trade bait this summer (***if*** a D is traded) with Matheson, Guhle, and Xhekaj ahead of him currently (on the left-side), and the "great offensive hope" Hutson joining the organization soon ... by next summer they may be willing to part with Matheson if the youngsters progress ... they will also have a better idea of where/if Struble, Bogdan Konyushkov and Adam Engstrom fit into the mix for 25/26 and beyond (assuming none are traded) ... a further complication is the possibility that they take another D in a defenceman deep draft in June. EDIT (1): clarified above that I was talking about the LHD EDIT (2): Forgot Harris, he is likely (I-M-O) in a dead heat with Struble EDIT (3): Forgot that Bogdan Konyushkov is a RHD BAD night for the old brain cells