Rumours, Innuendos and Flat out B.S.: 2021-22 Edition

GGpX said:

The salary cap waves and says hello.

You could realistically just get one of the two unless you think getting rid of Danault is a good idea, an idea I don't subscribe to. Let's say ROR for argument's sake.

ROR will cost assets. Something similar to what he was traded for before, so think about something like Lehkonen + Josh Brook + 34th overall pick.

He also costs $7.5M on the cap. We have $61M spent on the cap next season. Add him, we're at $68.5M.

Danault needs a new contract. I don't think he's going to be extremely expensive, so let's say $3.5M or so. That makes the cap reach $72M.

You also need a replacement for Lehkonen since we've traded him and we need to sign or trade for an NHL caliber left D since I don't know if we have one on the roster.

With the upcoming draft, you'll address one of those two needs with either Zadina or Quinn. They'll be on an ELC and the caphit will be $1M. That makes it $73M, with the ceiling being $75M. If you draft Quinn, one of Mete or Rielly (or maybe even both) goes to the AHL next season and you still have two forward spots to fill. You now have $2M to spend on those two holes, $2.75M if Rielly is sent down. Plus the need for a backup goalie. So Lindgren at $750k is the backup, we now have $1.25M (or $2M) left for two forwards.

Point is, getting both players isn't feasible.

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GGpX said:

The salary cap waves and says hello.

You could realistically just get one of the two unless you think getting rid of Danault is a good idea, an idea I don't subscribe to. Let's say ROR for argument's sake.

ROR will cost assets. Something similar to what he was traded for before, so think about something like Lehkonen + Josh Brook + 34th overall pick.

He also costs $7.5M on the cap. We have $61M spent on the cap next season. Add him, we're at $68.5M.

Danault needs a new contract. I don't think he's going to be extremely expensive, so let's say $3.5M or so. That makes the cap reach $72M.

You also need a replacement for Lehkonen since we've traded him and we need to sign or trade for an NHL caliber left D since I don't know if we have one on the roster.

With the upcoming draft, you'll address one of those two needs with either Zadina or Quinn. They'll be on an ELC and the caphit will be $1M. That makes it $73M, with the ceiling being $75M. If you draft Quinn, one of Mete or Rielly (or maybe even both) goes to the AHL next season and you still have two forward spots to fill. You now have $2M to spend on those two holes, $2.75M if Rielly is sent down. Plus the need for a backup goalie. So Lindgren at $750k is the backup, we now have $1.25M (or $2M) left for two forwards.

Point is, getting both players isn't feasible.

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Krustchev said:

He’d be the ideal 2nd line center on this team, with Danault as your 3rd line center. Still need a no. 1 center, however. This is where Bolduke usually chimes in with “It doesn’t matter, we need a total rebuild . . .” but we know that’s not going to occur here so might as well try and retool properly.

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Habs53 said:

The cap will be higher than that and players like Max could be gone. We should have tons of cap space

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GGpX said:

Okay, let's say we trade Max and, say, Petry. Frees up $10M in cap space.

Who's our #1 winger now? Who's our #2 RHD d-man? There's nobody within the organization that will do the trick. What assets, exactly, do we have to trade so that we can acquire replacements? MaxPac isn't getting traded for a younger NHL-ready player. If he gets traded, it's for a 1st round pick. Petry similarly, but probably something like a 2nd + a B prospect.

Then said capspace will be spent having to replace players at similar (and maybe even greater) salary via free agency.

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Purple Haze said:

Galchenyuk - Stasny - Gallagher
Hudon - ROR - Drouin
Byron - Danault - Shaw

Something like that in terms of top 9 if you have to trade Lehkonen for O'reilly.

Just playing with what as been said before tho, not pushing for this idea, just discussing what would be feasible.

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wiseguy1 said:

Seems like the asking price for O'Reilly is too high right now and Tavares doesn't really want to come here. Brassard would also cost the team and it seems like Montreal is on his no movement list. Therefore the best plan is to keep the draft picks and make smart choices. Trade Max for the best offer and sign a centre or two from free agency. The last move may not be popular with tank nation , but there is no way they can go into next season without some improvement at centre . Especially when the team has available cap space. The fans, the players won't stomach it. Whether its Statsny or Bozak or whoever, they just have to get the best deal that isnt too high on term and salary.

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GEEMAN said:

We need to be elite at the draft table and development , we dont have a choice .

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wiseguy1 said:

Yep and at the same time MB has to avoid mutiny from his own players and fans. Has to keep the team reasonably competitive until the picks are ready to contribute. If Weber is healthy, then they have two decent Dmen (Weber and Petry) and two OK prospects in Juulsen and Mete, that should hold the fort. Then add one or two decent centres for a reasonable price.

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GEEMAN said:

We have very few prospects that may help us down the road with some impact . We need to nail this draft , especially the second round .

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Altair said:

Minimum 3 NHLers coming out of this draft.

3rd overall, and half of the second rounders and that is a success. If we get more, gravy.

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Habsy said:

Mark Hunter has left the Leafs by mutual agreement. He still has some time on his contract and agreed to not work for another team until after the draft.

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GEEMAN said:

We have very few prospects that may help us down the road with some impact . We need to nail this draft , especially the second round .

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wiseguy1 said:

For sure, everybody knows we need more elite talent, that will take time. However, in the mean time MB has to put a team on the ice that will at least compete hard and not be embarrassed. It's just the reality of the market the Habs are in.

The guy who seems to be caught in the middle of all of this is Julien. You gotta think he goes home everyday and tells himself at least the money is good.

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