Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 24, 2024
Check out the most recent Canadiens speculation in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
SPORTSNET: Eric Engels reported Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes hopes to accelerate his club’s rebuilding timeline during the offseason. He knows that his roster still needs work, especially their need for scoring depth.
Engels noted that Hughes has plenty of assets to draw on for trade bait this summer. He has plenty of promising young defensemen, four first-round picks and three second-rounders in the next two drafts and plenty of salary-cap space.
Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes (NHL.com).
At this stage, Engels doesn’t see them pursuing expensive aging veterans in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan reported Jeff Gorton, the Canadiens executive vice-president of hockey operations, indicated that his club is always looking to add and to improve the roster. He said the Canadiens are “always looking for a trade” that would help move their rebuild along.
THE ATHLETIC: Arpon Basu also took note of the Canadiens’ depth in young defensemen. He believes this summer gives them a prime opportunity to flip some of those blueliners for help at forward.
Basu noted the Canadiens had done this before. During the first round of the 2022 draft, they shipped promising Alexander Romanov to the New York Islanders for a first-round pick that they sent to the Chicago Blackhawks for Kirby Dach. They did so because Guhle was in their system and would crack the roster the following season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Basu pointed out that David Savard was not moved at this year’s trade deadline but could be traded during the offseason.
THE SCORE: Josh Wegman listed what he believes are the five priorities facing the Canadiens in the offseason.
Wegman feels they should weaponize their $19 million in cap space to continue stockpiling draft picks and prospects by targeting cap-strapped clubs looking to shed salary. Such teams are usually willing to add sweeteners to move out players. As long as it’s a short-term contract, it could help them add a prospect or draft pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have experience in that department, most notably their acquisition of Sean Monahan two years ago from the Calgary Flames. They could continue to go that route. However, recent remarks by Hughes and Gorton suggest they’re focusing on adding a player who can help them accelerate their rebuild.
The Canadiens should also sign Juraj Slafkovsky and Kaiden Guhle to long-term extensions this summer before it becomes more expensive to re-sign them. The duo have a year each remaining on their entry-level contracts.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Agreed. There’s a risk that they might not play up to the expectations that come with such contracts. Usually, however, such deals turn into long-term bargains if they continue to develop as projected.
Wegman believes the Canadiens should make a modest splash in this summer’s UFA market to bolster their forward depth. Options could include Boston’s Jake DeBrusk, Edmonton’s Warren Foegele or Detroit’s Daniel Sprong.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It could be worthwhile provided they don’t overpay for the privilege. However, they could be more interested in finding a forward in his mid-twenties who would have a bigger impact and fit better within their long-term plans.
Wegman also thinks they should shop a veteran defenseman like Savard or Johnathan Kovacevic. Both are a year away from UFA eligibility. He also advises against buying out Brendan Gallagher or Josh Anderson as it would hurt the Canadiens’ long-term salary-cap flexibility when they project to be contenders again.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gallagher and Anderson each have three years left on their contract. It’s better to hang onto them for another couple of years and go the buyout route in the final season when the cost will only be spread out over two years.
Since this is a Montreal press release I wonder when the retool or rebuild will show results as in making the playoffs?IsSt. Louis honeymoon period over as coach!
Sr. I was very vocal about my displeasure on St Louis but I now think he was the perfect fit to help the young kids grow. I do not see him being there when the team finally makes the playoffs. We Will need a defensive coach to step in and finish the young kids development. But we are at least 2 years away I am guessing. Just my thoughts
No. Making the playoffs is not the goal nor should it…maybe as a stepping stone, sure but the goal, never. Is a rebuild successful if the team cannot move on to win the cup? No, right?
As for the Habs, they need more of the type of players that be nightly threats like they used to have in their glory days. If they draft or trade it will take a bit of time to build up that kind of depth/skilled players…with the cap I’m sure it will happen fast. 😜
Stockpiling draft picks at this point is not the way for the Habs to go. They have had plenty of picks in the last couple of years and quite a few more this year and next year. Unless they plan to flip the picks for young players, it’s best to pick up young NHLers who haven’t hit their stride yet. Like they did with Dach and Newhook. They should look to target solid young players who may be available for various reasons. Martin Necas possibly.
I agree that it’s best to avoid UFAs who’ve hit their 30th birthday. Of the three players mentioned by Wegman, Debrusk is the only one I’d go after.
I agree that buying out Gallagher or Anderson would not be helpful now. And there’s no need to open up their cap space for at least another two years. Good idea to lock up Slaf and Guhle now.
Succinctly and well said, Howard, except for Debrusk. His performance is far too uneven to take a chance on. We already have Gallagher’s and Anderson’s overpaid/underperforming contracts, and don’t need more ballast in our bilge.
Carolina can not afford to sign all of their free agent forwards. My take on the order of importance of signing their top free agent forwards is 1) Jarvis, 2) Guentzel, 3) Necas, and 4) Teravainen.
If Carolina doesn’t sign Guentzel then the other three are probably resigned.
If the Canes re-sign Guentzel, they may have to trade Necas. That would be a guy who would interest the Habs.
I don’t see the Habs going after Teraveinen. Solid player but 30 years old. Not the guy to go after.
I would sign Necas over Guentzel simply due to the age factor.
Guentzel is about to hit 30 and is said to be looking for $10M with term.
Let someone else make that mistake!&
Pretty sure Anderson could be traded for a 5th with 1/2 salary retention rather easily.
The Habs already have over 4 million in retained salary for next year. Adding Anderson to that would be foolish on its own and an impediment to trying to sign both existing UFAs and trade for players under contract.
Agreed LJ. Habs are not at the point where they have to dump salary to free up cap space. Better to keep him and hope he can bounce back
un joueur comme Nicolas Robertsson de Toronto m’ intéresserait grandement. Il est pris derière un top 6 pour longtemps. Je ne sais pas ce que les Leafs demanderaient mais moi je tenterais ma chance avec ce joueur,
A junior commi Nickolas Robertson of Toronto wears interesting garments. Illest prick dragging down their top 6 in long John’s. Jenny says pass me what the leafs demand of me as tentacles my chance of Juice?
I think I speak French!
Ghyslain, I’m French too. Out of respect for the people on this site, I suggest that we speak their language.
I don’t think that Nic Robertson is what we need. Necas would be nice ; Dawson Mercer ; even an Alex Turcotte would help, as a bottom-sixer.
We could have up to 12 defensemen at camp who are close to NHL ready : Matheson, Guhle, Xhekaj, Struble, Hutson, Harris on the left side, Savard, Mailloux, Reinbacher, Barron, Kovacevic and Engstrom, on the right.
Something’s gonna have to give, and we can expect surprises.
Young players I’d like the Habs to look at are Arthur Kaliyev, Alexander Holtz, Kent Johnson as well as Kotkaniemi with 50% retained.
2 young guys that would be nice but are too far in development to acquire with picks and prospects are Necas and Pinto
Nicolas Robertson is too small for this Habs team
The Canes would be plain crazy to retain 50% on KK ; a buy-out would be way cheaper.
HF30! KK Redux?
He is an epic funk this year: 1 goal in December, February and March, and 0 in January. How could he possibly help the Habs?
I don’t mind the suggestions of Necas and Holtz, but KK is shipping’s version of the Mary Rose.