On the first 3 I completely agree. Truthfully I think MB wants to sign all five, I really do. Not what I'd necessarily do but what I believe MB would. Gallagher, specifically, I can see getting overpaid for being a good soldier. Petry, I'm not sure they have anybody to replace him adequately so I see him being signed as well. Everybody else I can see arguments both ways but it largely comes down to contract term and dollars desired vs trade return and those are massive unknowns.
- Takemedrunkimhome

if they trade Byron they could have the space for Armia. it would suck to let him go as he's our only big winger. so yes MB probably wants to keep him too.
too bad for Tatar, he's been our best LW the past 2 years. but the team needs to get bigger. that won't happen by keeping the same players. you can't sign them all imo.

if they trade Byron they could have the space for Armia. it would suck to let him go as he's our only big winger. so yes MB probably wants to keep him too.
too bad for Tatar, he's been our best LW the past 2 years. but the team needs to get bigger. that won't happen by keeping the same players. you can't sign them all imo.
- fidopro

Alzner will also be bought out next off season

if they trade Byron they could have the space for Armia. it would suck to let him go as he's our only big winger. so yes MB probably wants to keep him too.
too bad for Tatar, he's been our best LW the past 2 years. but the team needs to get bigger. that won't happen by keeping the same players. you can't sign them all imo.
- fidopro

I like Byron but hated that contract from the second it was announced. Tatar is the same player Vegas realized wasn't a playoff performer so he was a salary throw in on the Suzuki trade, the Habs just learned this first hand. Armia scored at a 22/23 goal pace over 82 games this year but he'll be 28 at the end of next season. Will Armia sign for 4 years at a reasonable price? To me that's his deciding factor

I like Byron but hated that contract from the second it was announced. Tatar is the same player Vegas realized wasn't a playoff performer so he was a salary throw in on the Suzuki trade, the Habs just learned this first hand. Armia scored at a 22/23 goal pace over 82 games this year but he'll be 28 at the end of next season. Will Armia sign for 4 years at a reasonable price? To me that's his deciding factor
- Takemedrunkimhome

I don't have a problem with Armia staying long term, unless a team insists on him to complete a trade Bergy really wants to make... but a Lehkonen/Danault/Armia 3rd line seems pretty good to me!

I don't have a problem with Armia staying long term, unless a team insists on him to complete a trade Bergy really wants to make... but a Lehkonen/Danault/Armia 3rd line seems pretty good to me!
- obie

I agree. All 3 can move up if needed in a pinch or to be the defensive balance for a Suzuki-Drouin or a KK-Caufield line (just as examples)

I like Byron but hated that contract from the second it was announced. Tatar is the same player Vegas realized wasn't a playoff performer so he was a salary throw in on the Suzuki trade, the Habs just learned this first hand. Armia scored at a 22/23 goal pace over 82 games this year but he'll be 28 at the end of next season. Will Armia sign for 4 years at a reasonable price? To me that's his deciding factor
- Takemedrunkimhome

meh. it's not that bad a contract. 3.5M for a 20 goal scorer is the going rate. that's what Armia could expect imo.
the problem with Byron is not his contract, but his size on a team with already too many small forwards. on a team like WPG or WASH he'd fit perfectly. he's a PK specialist, brings speed... package him with Domi Tatar and Mete.

Well, I had to argue rather strongly with my doctor that xanax and paxil aren't the same thing, but he changed my prescription. Hopefully for the right thing.

I don't have a problem with Armia staying long term, unless a team insists on him to complete a trade Bergy really wants to make... but a Lehkonen/Danault/Armia 3rd line seems pretty good to me!
- obie

yes

I agree. All 3 can move up if needed in a pinch or to be the defensive balance for a Suzuki-Drouin or a KK-Caufield line (just as examples)
- Takemedrunkimhome

and yes again

I agree. All 3 can move up if needed in a pinch or to be the defensive balance for a Suzuki-Drouin or a KK-Caufield line (just as examples)
- Takemedrunkimhome

Just a lot of question marks or decisions to make on this roster over the next 12 months... if he plays his cards right, we could be looking at a pretty good team for the next little while

Well, I had to argue rather strongly with my doctor that xanax and paxil aren't the same thing, but he changed my prescription. Hopefully for the right thing.
- jugkope

unoh

Just a lot of question marks or decisions to make on this roster over the next 12 months... if he plays his cards right, we could be looking at a pretty good team for the next little while
- obie

Depending on who improves, yeah.

Well, I had to argue rather strongly with my doctor that xanax and paxil aren't the same thing, but he changed my prescription. Hopefully for the right thing.
- jugkope

just make sure the imprint hasn't been just scratched off of the pills...

I like Byron but hated that contract from the second it was announced. Tatar is the same player Vegas realized wasn't a playoff performer so he was a salary throw in on the Suzuki trade, the Habs just learned this first hand. Armia scored at a 22/23 goal pace over 82 games this year but he'll be 28 at the end of next season. Will Armia sign for 4 years at a reasonable price? To me that's his deciding factor
- Takemedrunkimhome

so you think he just can't be the same Tataaaaah we've learned to love during the regular season?

Well, I had to argue rather strongly with my doctor that xanax and paxil aren't the same thing, but he changed my prescription. Hopefully for the right thing.
- jugkope

Hope you feel better dude.

I recommend cocaine for the upper and weed for a soft landing and nice sleep.

works all the time.

meh. it's not that bad a contract. 3.5M for a 20 goal scorer is the going rate. that's what Armia could expect imo.
the problem with Byron is not his contract, but his size on a team with already too many small forwards. on a team like WPG or WASH he'd fit perfectly. he's a PK specialist, brings speed... package him with Domi Tatar and Mete.
- fidopro

Between his age and size and where the Habs were as a team, I didn't like it. I accept it and it's not like the Habs need the cap space but for 3 more seasons on the 4th line it's not a good deal

just make sure the imprint hasn't been just scratched off of the pills...
- Pat1993

Pills here come in the pharmaceutical company's package, not in a little bottle.

Hope you feel better dude.

I recommend cocaine for the upper and weed for a soft landing and nice sleep.

works all the time.
- WaterBoy

Paxil works nicely, it's just that the doctor wanted to switch me for no reason just because that's what they mostly use in Poland.

Hope you feel better dude.

I recommend cocaine for the upper and weed for a soft landing and nice sleep.

works all the time.
- WaterBoy

sleeping is for the weak

meh. it's not that bad a contract. 3.5M for a 20 goal scorer is the going rate. that's what Armia could expect imo.
the problem with Byron is not his contract, but his size on a team with already too many small forwards. on a team like WPG or WASH he'd fit perfectly. he's a PK specialist, brings speed... package him with Domi Tatar and Mete.
- fidopro

Domi, Tatar, Byron & Mete in the same deal?

Domi, Tatar, Byron & Mete in the same deal?
- obie

that'd be very surprising
but all on their way out if it was up to me

Just a lot of question marks or decisions to make on this roster over the next 12 months... if he plays his cards right, we could be looking at a pretty good team for the next little while
- obie

I'd like to see a coherent plan. For a few years now there's been a lot of nice pieces but they didn't come together in a way to complete the team puzzle. Going into another year with a roster that still looks like an unfinishes puzzle would be disappointing. Doing so with a boatload of unused cap space would be frustrating to the point of wondering why Price and Weber don't want to bail.

Cap space. 14 picks. Tradable assets in Tatar, Domi, (Drouin although I'd wait on that unless somebody wants to pay for his ceiling rather than his present), Mete, Poehling (again if somebody thinks he's last years hat trick guy vs what he's shown but his shine has worn off largely for me - be happy to be wrong here) Byron, etc. All in a year with a flat cap that will force teams to make moves just to be cap compliant and likely limit a lot of teams in FA. If MB can't make this roster into a competitive team for next season I'm not sure he ever will

Pills here come in the pharmaceutical company's package, not in a little bottle.
- jugkope

oh good, less chances of getting scammed by dr. Nick

that'd be very surprising
but all on their way out if it was up to me
- fidopro

Weird to say it but I agree

2 separate trades, 1 for a winger and 1 for a D

And I see you've changed your mind on Tatar... much like I did on Petry

so you think he just can't be the same Tataaaaah we've learned to love during the regular season?
- Pat1993

Detroit bad years no playoffs although had a couple ok runs early when Dats and Zett were still the main guys, Vegas benched in playoffs, Montreal one good game out of ten in the playoffs. He played at a 70 point pace this passed regular season so why not try and sell high on that? Not saying he can't perform in the playoffs but am saying he hasn't proven he can either