Habs44

To begin on a general note I would have this approach as the new gm if I were rebuilding the Habs. I would prioritize acquiring young 19 and 20 year olds to accelerate the rebuild. The first picks that will be available will be by playoff bound teams so the first picks will be low first round picks but not against having a few though. Some teams won't have desireable young drafted players available I think we can get very good returns for our players if we take on salary Petry and Gallagher at 4.5 m a year become very good contracts to digest Price this year or the next at 5.5 m is also a good contract to digest. This would mean that we would carry 10 million on our books for the next 4 years but since we are rebuilding we won t have many big contracts to carry and as we go the cap will grow again Toffol's contract is very tradeable this year or the next for a good return Chariot no salary issue for trading Lekkonen is a hard worker so a good example and a restricted free agent, so no rush to trade him unless we get a really good offer like the equivalent of a second round pick and a third We can probably get something for Kulak and Perreault. I would aim for picks the following years. I would try to get a 2023 or 24 first pick from a team trying to make the play-off and that I think is on the way down Now let the trading game begin....

Thanks for this update

So not sure anymore how the taxi squad works, if Biron's salary does not count on the cap while on the taxi squad we can keep him there then until the play-offs right?. Would we be able to use him during the play-offs without affecting the cap? Does it no longer count during the play-offs?

Yes it is a steep price for Savard but he is a top four Defensemen who can take some of Weber's minutes and is not a rental. Has another year. Built for a long run in the play-off Not crazyabout giving up Armia because he is another big body with skill built for a long run too. If I am Columbus, I don't want a rebuild so I need more than a first pick that is 4 years away to make an impact, I would want a youngster that can come no later than 1 year from now. Ekholm I agree would be a better fit for this year with a smaller cap hit (3.750) . He will still cost us a first and second round pick and a D prospect (Struble or Harris) for a play off run. + getting rid of a salary (Lekonen) and asking Nashville to take a 1.275 m off Ekholm alary Would Colombus go for a similar deal?

Yes you are right about that. Too bad its not an option

Yes you guessed right, I want Savard to take some minutes away from Weber this year and the next. I like Savard because he is mobile but also big, so built for a long run. afraid vatanen would not do the trick. You are right about my offer for someone to take Biron is maybe a bit weak, but I would be ready to sweeten the pot to a second round pick and a 4th plus pay a million off his salrar for the rest of his contracty. For this though I would need a taker for lekonen or Armia which I think we can get a pick in return while also freeing up space

I would go for David Savard who is a RD, if I can't get Ekholm. He has another year on his contract and can take on some of Webers minutes to spare Weber for the play-offs. That sets us up well for next year as well with Romanov moving up to the top 4.

I think if the Habs are all in they need to get a talented experienced Rd and be ready to pay the price for cap space and talent. I think they should be thinking all -in this year and next year. In this case my first choice would be acquiring the following player: David Savard (30 yrs old) who has the balance of this year and next year at a $4,250 m cap hit Not sure if Columbus would be ready to give him up though. He is a big mobile guy and usually plays against the best opposing forwards I would first trade Lekonen or Armia for a pick (3rd or 4th) and free up space Trade Biron for cap space and give a second round pick 4th round pick + pay 1 million on the cap this year and the next For Savard give them a first round pick, a choice of Struble or Harris plus a choice of Fleury or Mete. The other best option would be Vatanen RD, mobile but not big at 5'10'' and would cost less Then there is Hamonic a RD who would be a better than Mete to replace an injured D . Since he will be a free agent hthey might take Mete and a 5 round pick? So what are your thoughts?