Seattle won't touch Tatar or Drouin.

You may want to keep our D intact, but fido wants to keep Allen. We have to chose, that's the point.

We will either lose Allen or a top 4 D. Picks or no picks.

Unless we protect 4 D? Who do we protect upfront?
- deadpoulet

Allen will be the pick unless there is a trade. Tatar is UFA.

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/canadiens

Allen will be the pick unless there is a trade. Tatar is UFA.

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/canadiens
- AGalchenyuk27

May want to keep Allen and let them pick Chiarot, depending on how it goes make a pitch for Ekholm

May want to keep Allen and let them pick Chiarot, depending on how it goes make a pitch for Ekholm
- robdavies91

Chiarot will be exposed, mostly because he has 1 year left on his deal unlike Edmundson.

So will Allen.

It's most likely one of the two being gone.

Some writer mentioned yesterday on a trade proposal to get Matt Tkachuk in exchange for KK, Drouin, Lekhonen and 2nd round pick in 2022. Would you guys do it?
- robdavies91

Yuck. His next contract is going to be ugly too

Chiarot will be exposed, mostly because he has 1 year left on his deal unlike Edmundson.

So will Allen.

It's most likely one of the two being gone.
- Scabeh

yep, just don't trade with Seattle. That's how Vegas became a contender right away.


If we can't protect 4 D (I would look into this at this point), then be it.

You don't protect Tatar or Drouin anymore. Don't have to protect Caufield either.

yep, just don't trade with Seattle. That's how Vegas became a contender right away.


If we can't protect 4 D (I would look into this at this point), then be it.

You don't protect Tatar or Drouin anymore. Don't have to protect Caufield either.
- deadpoulet

Again Tatar is a UFA so gone. Drouin will be traded or retire. If traded I would imagine the Habs may have to eat salary.

You go through that Tampa lineup and there isnt one Caitlyn Jenner fan if you know what I mean. No metro sexual party boys. Real men. Bolts in 4

Seattle won't touch Tatar or Drouin.

You may want to keep our D intact, but fido wants to keep Allen. We have to chose, that's the point.

We will either lose Allen or a top 4 D. Picks or no picks.

Unless we protect 4 D? Who do we protect upfront?
- deadpoulet

Yes, I know we're "stuck" with Tatar and Drouin.

Out of those, I'd rather lose Allen than any of our 4 main D's ... or we give them a pick (or 2) in order to keep our back end intact.
It took us a few years to build it up and I'm not sure our rookie D's can carry the load next year.

Backup goalies are a lot easier to replace in my book.

Most likely scenario


Protected players Contract
F Josh Anderson $5.5M (UFA 2027)
F Jonathan Drouin $5.5M (UFA 2023) Not sure about this..
F Jake Evans $750K (RFA 2022)
F Brendan Gallagher* $3.75M (UFA 2027)
F Jesperi Kotkaniemi Pending RFA
F Artturi Lehkonen Pending RFA
F Tyler Toffoli $4.25M (UFA 2024)
D Joel Edmundson $3.5M (UFA 2024)
D Jeff Petry* $5.5M (UFA 2025)
D Shea Weber $7.857M (UFA 2026)
G Carey Price* $10.5M (UFA 2026)

Exposed players: F Paul Byron, D Ben Chiarot, D Brett Kulak, G Jake Allen
Exemptions: F Cole Caufield, F Nick Suzuki, D Alexander Romanov
UFAs: F Joel Armia, F Phillip Danault, F Corey Perry, F Eric Staal, F Tomas Tatar, D Erik Gustafsson, D Jon Merrill

Some writer mentioned yesterday on a trade proposal to get Matt Tkachuk in exchange for KK, Drouin, Lekhonen and 2nd round pick in 2022. Would you guys do it?
- robdavies91

Yes, I know we're "stuck" with Tatar and Drouin.

Out of those, I'd rather lose Allen than any of our 4 main D's ... or we give them a pick (or 2) in order to keep our back end intact.
It took us a few years to build it up and I'm not sure our rookie D's can carry the load next year.

Backup goalies are a lot easier to replace in my book.
- Garfield512

How are we stuck with Tatar?

He's leaving as a UFA in a few weeks.

There's no way to know what will happen with Drouin. He'll be exposed but it would be a surprise for Seattle to grab him.... he's an interesting gamble but I don't see it at his pricetag.

We could trade him, but we'd get almost nothing for him, even if we eat a big piece of his salary.

The most unlikely scenario? Him ever playing for the Habs again.

I still think Drouin will be in the NHL next year just on a different team. Also if he still hasn’t talked to coach yet about playing against TB in this series (not saying we will put him in) he is gone. Prolly if it doesn’t work on his next team then Europe is the next stop
- robdavies91

I don't mean to be insensitive but who would want him (and his problems) on their team?

The defense that will win the cup!!

way to lose it over fat maroon
- Pie

I didn’t lose it ove pat maroon. It’s St. Louis pride man. Happy to see a local boy doing well and maybe a 3 peat. I’m rooting for the Habs. (frank) all that noise. Go Habs Go

I don't mean to be insensitive but who would want him (and his problems) on their team?
- Garfield512

Well IF (conditional because I don't actually know) his problems are related to the pressure of playing in Montreal.

Maybe a team sees him as a nice gamble who could bounce back with less pressure elsewhere.

But said gamble would have to cost them almost nothing.

Yes, I know we're "stuck" with Tatar and Drouin.

Out of those, I'd rather lose Allen than any of our 4 main D's ... or we give them a pick (or 2) in order to keep our back end intact.
It took us a few years to build it up and I'm not sure our rookie D's can carry the load next year.

Backup goalies are a lot easier to replace in my book.
- Garfield512

We are not stuck with Tatar as he is UFA, he is gone

You go through that Tampa lineup and there isnt one Caitlyn Jenner fan if you know what I mean. No metro sexual party boys. Real men. Bolts in 4
- GodIsaCatholic

FORE !!!

How are we stuck with Tatar?

He's leaving as a UFA in a few weeks.

There's no way to know what will happen with Drouin. He'll be exposed but it would be a surprise for Seattle to grab him.... he's an interesting gamble but I don't see it at his pricetag.

We could trade him, but we'd get almost nothing for him, even if we eat a big piece of his salary.

The most unlikely scenario? Him ever playing for the Habs again.
- Scabeh

Let’s hope COL trades for Drouin to reunite him with MacKinnon

You go through that Tampa lineup and there isnt one Caitlyn Jenner fan if you know what I mean. No metro sexual party boys. Real men. Bolts in 4
- GodIsaCatholic

holy (frank) you're pathetic

How are we stuck with Tatar?

He's leaving as a UFA in a few weeks.

There's no way to know what will happen with Drouin. He'll be exposed but it would be a surprise for Seattle to grab him.... he's an interesting gamble but I don't see it at his pricetag.

We could trade him, but we'd get almost nothing for him, even if we eat a big piece of his salary.

The most unlikely scenario? Him ever playing for the Habs again.
- Scabeh

You're right we are not ... I could have written this better.

As for Drouin, I don't think we'll ever see him in our uniform again ... we're winning without him in the lineup and he isn't missed at all.

The defense that will win the cup!!
- Scabeh

I don't mean to be insensitive but who would want him (and his problems) on their team?
- Garfield512

His problems maybe just due to pressure of playing as a Québécois in MTL, if that’s the case he should still get another chance

Let’s hope COL trades for Drouin to reunite him with MacKinnon
- robdavies91

Nate already has Landy and Rantanen as his wingers. Drouin could definitely use MacKinnon. But Nate doesn't need Drouin. Besides Sakic has to plan for the next 3-4 seasons. Landy's raise. Grubauer's raise. Makar bridge deal. And Nate's big raise. Eventually Byram's second contract.

- Pat1993

John Merrill was the key. You're welcome. 😊

John Merrill was the key. You're welcome. 😊
- gergeswillems

the true cornerstone of that D core