John B

I was really surprised by this return. I thought the Habs would get less considering all that has transpired in the Pacioretty saga. I wish the Habs could have gotten an additional 1st rounder in the 2019 draft (because of it's depth), but Suzuki and a 2nd will do (plus the Habs weren't getting a 1st and Suzuki in a trade like this). I like Tatar as well. He may not be as good as he was earlier in his career, but I still see him as a serviceable 2nd liner (maybe 1st liner on this team). Hopefully he has a really good season and gets flipped for a good return (1st rounder 2019 ). Overall, I'm fairly happy with deal. I voted that I liked it on the home page (I would have voted that I loved it if that 2nd rounder was a 1st).

Apparently the Flames have placed Troy Brouwer on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buy out according to a few sources (Sportsnet and The Globe and Mail).

I thought the Habs should have tried to trade for Mascherin from Florida prior to the draft. They probably could have had him for a song considering he wasn't going to sign with them. McCarron for Mascherin would have been a good deal for the Habs. As far as Pacioretty to Dallas, I like the ideal. I would try to move Pacioretty (with some salary retained if it gets a the Habs a better deal) and take Spezza back (again if it gets the Habs a better deal).

I'd add Juolevi and Hughes to your list of targets. However, like Pettersson and Boeser, I'm guessing they're untouchables as well. I'm right there with you on DiPietro having also seen him guite a bit. I don't see him as main piece of a trade, but I'd be happy with him as part of a package where he would be a secondary piece.

I'd be OK with a deal like that. I liked Hutton when he first came into the league. I'd be willing to give a little more if need be. A prospect that doesn't look like he'll amount to much or something. McCarron or Rychel if need be?

Good deal. Fair cap hit and term. Glad he's locked up.

I'm curious what teams are interested in Pacioretty and what the Habs will get in return. I have very little confidence that I will like the return. I don't think teams are going to give up a whole lot. Bergevin's back is against the wall. If he wants to move him, he has until the trade deadline at which point he will be forced to move him for whatever he can get or lose him for nothing. I'm hoping for the best (Duchene type deal where Sakic looked like a genius for waiting), but preparing for the worst (Vanek type deal where Snow got shafted).

Welcome back Plekanec. Nice to see him back. I don't have an issue with this one. 1 year deal with a fair cap hit. If the Habs suck again he can once again be moved more pick(s) and or prospect(s). If the Habs are decent, he gives them good depth down the middle and he's a solid shut down center.

dlbalr posted the rumor about the Habs being in on him so no surprise. Laval bound I assume and some depth for the big club if needed.

Peca has decent upside. I'm curious to see how he does in a full NHL season. Doubt he's a top 6 guy, but should be solid depth. I don't think he's any relation to Michael Peca (usually eliteprospects.com lists bloodlines and they don't with him).

That's too bad. I was hoping they could retain salary (or not) and flip him. I've always hated the idea of buying out players and prolonging their cap hit (albeit a smaller cap hit) over more seasons.

I'm not fond of what would have to be given up to get O'Reilly or his cap hit. However the Habs need an established center if they are thinking about making the playoffs this season. O'Reilly is probably the best one available aside from Tavares (who has shown no interest in Montreal). Rumor has it that Bergevin is pursuing O'Reilly. If the rumors about the deal with Blues is true I guess Bergevin will be out of luck.

You're right it definitely depends on what kind of contract Stastny signs. However, it's hard to know if he would have signed the same contract with the Habs or some other team. He might have wanted more or different terms. If he resigns with Winnipeg, he's resigning with a good playoff team. He might be willing to make compromises to stay with them that he would not be willing to make with the Habs. As far as value for taking Mason's contract goes, I would have wanted more. At least a 2nd or 3rd rounder over the 4th. Mason is completely useless to the Habs because the Habs already have depth in the crease. They got Armia and a couple picks (4th and 7th). Armia has probably hit his ceiling in the NHL. There could be a slight uptick in his production depending on how he is used by Julien. He has some skill. I always thought that he would be a top 6 guy in the NHL, but it never happened. He'll be entering his 5th NHL season (he only played 1 game in his first). I guess we'll see if he has hit his ceiling next year.

If it happens the Leafs will need to shed salary. Time for Bergevin to pounce for one his famous bargain bin deals (not being sarcastic). They don't happen as often as they used to, but he's has to be due for a good one.

That's one way to look at it for sure. We are helping other teams retain players that we can use. On the bright side though, Bergevin will not be overpaying (cap wise) for Stastny. He was set up for a big pay day (1st line center money for a 2nd line center at best). The other thing to consider is that Stastny may not have wanted to sign with the Habs. Does anyone know if the Habs interviewed anyone from the free agent pool during the interview period? Perhaps Stastny told the Habs no right off the bat. So instead of letting another team (possibly the Bruins who are trying to get Tavares) get him, they're helping Winnipeg keep him.

Armia was a guy that liked quite a bit in his draft year. He hasn't done as well as I thought he would in the NHL, but I still like this pick up. Mason is an interesting one as well. I hope they hang on to him to be honest. He's one of those goalies that has a good/solid season, followed by a bad season and then a good/solid season again. There could be some trade options for him out there. Buffalo - Ullmark is the only NHL experienced goaltender signed in Buffalo right now. Lehner was not qualified and Johnson is a UFA. Calgary - Could be looking for an upgrade over Rittich. Carolina - Darling is the only NHL caliber goaltender under contract in Carolina right now. Dallas - Only has Bishop and Landon Bow under contract as of now. Desrosiers is an RFA. Detroit - Jimmy Howard is the only NHL goaltender under contract. Not sure if they plan on playing Rybar as the backup? Los Angeles - Could be looking for an upgrade over Campbell or Budaj. Minnesota - Could be looking for an upgrade over Stalock. Islanders - Could be looking for a platoon goaltender to play with Greiss. I'm thinking they're looking for a legit starter though. Rangers - Lundqvist and Mazenec are the only two NHL experienced goalies under contract. Mason would be an upgrade over Mazenec. Pittsburgh - Not sure if Mason would be an upgrade at the backup position or not. DeSmith did alright and Jarry is challenging him. Mason would bring more experience though. St. Louis - Hutton is a UFA and will likely look for a starting job somewhere. Binnington is an RFA and the only other goaltender with NHL experience (He played 1 game). Washington - Copley (2 NHL GP) is slated as the backup. Maybe the Caps look for a bit more experience to defend their title. There are quite a few notable goaltenders in free agency as well. Most of them have either lost their starting jobs or have not been up to the task. They're in a similar position to Mason. Some of these teams will clearly fill the holes through free agency and some will go with youngsters. However there could be some teams that are interested in a cap retained Mason as a backup.

Would you say that it's too much for Pacioretty? Maybe a prospect that's not quite as good as Kunin is more appropriate?

Quoted dlbalr's post here because I like where it's going. I'm wondering if we could do a 3 way deal with Minnesota or maybe another team to get O'Reilly. I'll go on record as saying that I'm not a huge fan of paying the high (but fair) asking price for O'Reilly. However I see the value in adding him to the team. Since I don't want to give up a potential lottery pick for him this is what I came up with. To Minnesota Max Pacioretty To Montreal Tyler Ennis Kunin ? 2019 1st 2019 or 2020 2nd My reasoning for this is Pacioretty on his own is likely worth a 1st and a good to top prospect (not sure if Minnesota would part with Kunin or if he's fair value in a trade like this, hence the question mark). Taking Ennis' contract is likely worth a 2nd. Pacioretty has about the same cap hit as Ennis, but obviously is the better value. So not much cap savings for the Wild, but more bang for their buck. There were rumors at the deadline that Minnesota was interested in Pacioretty. And then To Buffalo Kunin Min's 2019 1st Min's 2019 or 2020 2nd To Montreal Ryan O'Reilly Matt Moulson Since the rumor is that Buffalo has no interest in Pacioretty, the Habs trade them the return they got for Pacioretty. Sabres are reportedly looking for a 1st rounder and second rounder (which they get) and a top prospect (which they get with Kunin if he is fair value in the Min-Mtl trade). As a bonus the Habs take Moulson's contract for the year (which has to be worth something despite the fact that they seem content leaving him in the minors). Help me out here guys. Does this make sense at all? What changes would you make to this deal to make it work? I'm not sure I have the values right here. Looking forward to hear other people's input and changes.

How come just an invite for Galipeau? Is he just testing the waters in Montreal to see if he likes it? I would have thought the Habs or some other team would have offered him a contract. Regardless, I'm glad he's coming to the Habs camp. I hope the Habs make a good impression on him and he makes a good impression in camp as well.

Agreed. Didn't particularly care for the Romanov pick. I'd add Akil Thomas, Jack Drury and Jonny Tychonick to your list as well. Filip Hallander and David Gustafsson were chosen after Olofsson, but I would have even taken one of them ahead of Romanov. You never know though, Romanov could surprise us all and become a decent NHLer.

I have mixed feelings about this draft. There were some reaches IMO, but still some good prospects chosen. Hopefully these kids develop well over the next few years.

I can see this happening. Bergevin is desperate.

Pacioretty for O'Reilly straight up is something I would do in a heart beat. I doubt it will be that simple though. Habs are probably going to have to cough up more. I'd be OK with MoLG's proposal/guess as well. Anything more than that and I would be disappointed.

What if the Habs traded for pick just outside the top ten. Islanders have the 11th and 12th picks. Veleno and Hayton should still be there. They are not Kotkoniemi, but they should be two good/solid top 6 centers at the NHL level. Do the Habs have anything that the Islanders would be interested in enough to part with one of those two picks?

Domi O'Reilly Gallagher Byron Drouin Lehkonen Hudon Danault A. Shaw Deslauriers De La Rose Scherbak McCarron Johnson Weber Price Mete Petry Niemi Alzner Juulsen Reilly McCarron and Scherbak will not clear waivers, so they'll both be on the team unless one or both are traded. I can see Pacioretty being dealt as part of an O'Reilly deal. Not sure what the other pieces would be. I can also see both Benn and Schlemko moved out in seperate deals. I doubt whoever we draft with the 3rd pick will be in the lineup, if we even still have the 3rd pick by the draft.