2025 NHL UFA/Trade Thread

[lecoqsportif]

At this point, and keep in mind that they both have one more year to change my mind, I'd be more inclined to re-up Laine on a reasonable deal than Dach. Super flawed player but he's been a game breaker for us, and would be on pace for about 35 goals on a full season. Dach has been a vacuum for way too many games.

Yeah. Minimizing flaws. I’m not sure where I land on that.

 

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

Only the poor go to Bellis Fair now, real Quislings go to Bellevue Square or Seattle Premium Outlets

Fixed.

 

[GEEMAN]

I remember that episode. With the Habs getting better and more ambitious, there will be fewer top 6 roles up for grabs and less patience. Demidov is gonna take up a lot of oxygen and TOI next year and there will be less tolerance for bonehead hockey by veterans.

His one out might be to replace Laine, who I suspect won’t be with the Habs after his contract expires.

Laine is gonzo , useless 5/5

 

[Habsy]

I would be interested in signing Quinn Hutson. A forward with Denver NCAA in the frozen four. 50 points in 39 games. Start him in Laval.

 

[Krustchev]

Laine is gonzo , useless 5/5

Gotta see Laine next season with Demidov and a year post-knee injury before making any decisions about him. And that’s what HuGo will do. Wait and see.

 

[Habsy]

He is fairly useless at even strength. Never seen a guy that big lose so many puck battles. He just doesn't even try hard. It's annoying.

 

[Krustchev]

He is fairly useless at even strength. Never seen a guy that big lose so many puck battles. He just doesn't even try hard. It's annoying.

As I said, gotta see him after a full year post injury. He was never this slow before.

 

[Habsy]

Nothing to do with his speed.

 

[Rolex]

i wouldn't re-up him at his actual cap hit, but we will miss his PP goals.....sure Hutson is amazing, but who's gonna be our Ovechkin once Laine is gone.

Demidov will pad Laine's stats next year (and vice-versa hopefully).....so i'm expecting Laine's agent to ask for 8 years at very high cap hit

 

[Habsy]

Cole was doing fine there.

 

[Rolex]

Cole was doing fine there.

Laine's accuracy seems legendary.....even with goalies square and ready for his shot, they can't stop it....the guy's shot comes in with much more velocity than Cole...

 

[Habsy]

Yep. Doesn't change the fact that Cole was doing fine there.

 

[Rolex]

Yep. Doesn't change the fact that Cole was doing fine there.

Agreed.

And doesn't also change the fact that HuGo won't overpay for the difference between Cole and Laine contribution on the PP.

I wonder if Demidov will be at the point with Hutson on the PP......with Cole-Suzuki-Slaf.

 

[Habsy]

Cole-Suzuki-Demidov might be lethal

 

[Krustchev]

Cole-Suzuki-Demidov might be lethal

It’s fine to spread the wealth if you have the wealth to spread.

 

[Krustchev]

I'm ok with that although I would have liked to move Dvorak out with the price Centers have been going for.

Thankfully we didn't. He's been one of the keys in this run.

 

[Krustchev]

To be fair, Armia has played pretty consistently this season. He doesn’t do much offensively but he doesn't hurt us and unlike Anderson he doesn't take dumb penalties.

If we had a more productive 2nd line the 3rd would be fine.

It's been fine anyway.

 

[Sal_Butera]

The more I think about it, I’ve come to believe Habs are at the point where they need to pull off their equivalent of a Delino DeShields for Pedro Martinez type deal the Expos executed to address that high end 2C missing element

For those unaware, Mtl media & fans were furious when the deal was announced… in hindsight it was tremendous player evaluation by GM Dan Duquette at the time - DeShields was traded at his peak value, and Pedro was an immensely undervalued asset.

Not sure who the Habs equivalent of DeShields is Slaf? Caufield? Guhle?

Nor who that Pedro equivalent is?

 

[Krustchev]

The more I think about it, I’ve come to believe Habs are at the point where they need to pull off their equivalent of a Delino DeShields for Pedro Martinez type deal the Expos executed to address that high end 2C missing element

For those unaware, Mtl media & fans were furious when the deal was announced… in hindsight it was tremendous player evaluation by GM Dan Duquette at the time - DeShields was traded at his peak value, and Pedro was an immensely undervalued asset.

Not sure who the Habs equivalent of DeShields is Slaf? Caufield? Guhle?

Nor who that Pedro equivalent is?

None of the three guys that you mentioned can be traded for a 2C, that would just be dumb. The Habs D is infinitely better with Guhle, Slaf is much needed size, swagger and skill, and Cole is a pure sniper. I don’t see a Delino equivalent - a player we can afford to trade on this roster. You failed to mention that the presence of Mike Lansing is what allowed the ‘Spos to trade Delino. The Habs don’t have a Lansing equivalent for any of those three players.

 

[Sal_Butera]

None of the three guys that you mentioned can be traded for a 2C, that would just be dumb. The Habs D is infinitely better with Guhle, Slaf is much needed size, swagger and skill, and Cole is a pure sniper. I don’t see a Delino equivalent - a player we can afford to trade on this roster. You failed to mention that the presence of Mike Lansing is what allowed the ‘Spos to trade Delino. The Habs don’t have a Lansing equivalent for any of those three players.

Which is why I said “Not sure who the Habs equivalent of DeShields ”

As for Lansing, one area of “prospect strength” is LD…

Perhaps the solution is packaging Matheson + 1st for that 2C .. but again don’t know how much MM has increased his market perception / value with his growth in play this season, nor who the 2C target would be