- I bet Weber plays one more year and calls it quits

- The investments up front will hopefully go to Kotkaniemi, Suzuki & Caufield, and by hopefully I mean because they would have earned it and played up to big contracts over the next 2-3 years.

- You really believe Bergy would cough up a 1st just to get rid of Byron's contract? I highly doubt he would.
- obie

This year is not a good draft year, the players have barely been scouted and that 3.4M would come handy a lot more than another middle of the pack first round pick who could turn out to be the next mccarron, sherbak, tinordi etc...

Well that was too easy, I'm sure we can find something to argue about...

- Drouin is the Habs' best player
- obie

Most skilled

Most skilled
- Takemedrunkimhome

But still can’t score

This year is not a good draft year, the players have barely been scouted and that 3.4M would come handy a lot more than another middle of the pack first round pick who could turn out to be the next mccarron, sherbak, tinordi etc...
- Karine Hains

If we were going to use it, wouldn't unloading Drouin be more valuable? If somebody wants to take him anyway then sure, but I can't see anyone in their right mind wanting to take him.

This year is not a good draft year, the players have barely been scouted and that 3.4M would come handy a lot more than another middle of the pack first round pick who could turn out to be the next mccarron, sherbak, tinordi etc...
- Karine Hains

Or it could be Max Pacioretty or Jeff Carter or Ryan Getzlaf...

I still don't see it, he won't have to anyway... ideally it would be Drouin but he can fit both Tatar and Danault in even with the prior two still on the payroll... we're talking around the same amount as Armia's contract coming off the books in raises for both

Weber and Price are both from B.C., I don't think either would mind finishing their careers close to home ?

If we were going to use it, wouldn't unloading Drouin be more valuable? If somebody wants to take him anyway then sure, but I can't see anyone in their right mind wanting to take him.
- apex123

there's always a gm out there thinking that HE could make Drouin become a good player. look at Toronto and Galchenyuk. its 6th or 7th team...

Weber and Price are both from B.C., I don't think either would mind finishing their careers close to home ?
- Benny Blanco

Most skilled
- Takemedrunkimhome

I don't know about that but "skilled" has a fairly wide range in definition


Tatar has pretty bad ass hands, just sayin'

there's always a gm out there thinking that HE could make Drouin become a good player. look at Toronto and Galchenyuk. its 6th or 7th team...
- fidopro

He's on league minimum though

I don't know about that but "skilled" has a fairly wide range in definition


Tatar has pretty bad ass hands, just sayin'
- obie

Skill only goes so far but on a minimally skilled team like the Habs, Drouin probably is the "most skilled". He seems to lack enough in other areas of his game for it to matter much unfortunately

Or it could be Max Pacioretty or Jeff Carter or Ryan Getzlaf...

I still don't see it, he won't have to anyway... ideally it would be Drouin but he can fit both Tatar and Danault in even with the prior two still on the payroll... we're talking around the same amount as Armia's contract coming off the books in raises for both
- obie

I think Tatar could sign for the same amount. +/-. we pay 4.8M, but his contract is 5.25M. (Vegas retaining 500k I think) so not a big raise for him imo.
yes, Danault will be probalby double his salary. +/- 3M in raise.
let say 4M extra for both of them. not that complicated to find.

I don't know about that but "skilled" has a fairly wide range in definition


Tatar has pretty bad ass hands, just sayin'
- obie

I want to have a discussion earlier debating if Habs will make the playoffs next year if they get back to the Atlantic division with 16 teams in the playoffs is it too early to answer this ? or yay/nay?

Skill only goes so far but on a minimally skilled team like the Habs, Drouin probably is the "most skilled". He seems to lack enough in other areas of his game for it to matter much unfortunately
- Takemedrunkimhome

I hear ya, but like I said, wide range...

Shooting the puck is a skill, as is speed and in both Anderson is far more skilled...

How do you define Drouin's skills? What are his strengths?

I want to have a discussion earlier debating if Habs will make the playoffs next year if they get back to the Atlantic division with 16 teams in the playoffs is it too early to answer this ? or yay/nay?
- habs88888

Too many ifs to give a decent answer at this point

I hear ya, but like I said, wide range...

Shooting the puck is a skill, as is speed and in both Anderson is far more skilled...

How do you define Drouin's skills? What are his strengths?
- obie

his wifi

I hear ya, but like I said, wide range...

Shooting the puck is a skill, as is speed and in both Anderson is far more skilled...

How do you define Drouin's skills? What are his strengths?
- obie

I guess I'd argue if you put them all through the old team or all star team skills competitions I'd consider Drouin the favourite

I think Tatar could sign for the same amount. +/-. we pay 4.8M, but his contract is 5.25M. (Vegas retaining 500k I think) so not a big raise for him imo.
yes, Danault will be probalby double his salary. +/- 3M in raise.
let say 4M extra for both of them. not that complicated to find.
- fidopro

They're not paying Danault 6.8 million dollars my good friend, that's straight up insanity, 3 million dollar raise my ass!

Tatar will go from 4.8 to 5.5
Danault from 3.8 to 5.5

That's 2.4 million in raises.. Lehkonen's salary!

his wifi
- fidopro

I guess I'd argue if you put them all through the old team or all star team skills competitions I'd consider Drouin the favourite
- Takemedrunkimhome

Favorite in terms of which skill in the competition ?

I guess I'd argue if you put them all through the old team or all star team skills competitions I'd consider Drouin the favourite
- Takemedrunkimhome

Really?

Anderson destroys him in the speed event, shooting accuracy and hardest shot hands down


Toss up for a breakaway competition... Anderson would snipe, Drouin would deke


I think Tuna would also do well in accuracy and breakaway, probably the best hands on breakaways on the team

Favorite in terms of which skill in the competition ?
- habs88888

Cumulative

They're not paying Danault 6.8 million dollars my good friend, that's straight up insanity, 3 million dollar raise my ass!

Tatar will go from 4.8 to 5.5
Danault from 3.8 to 5.5

That's 2.4 million in raises.. Lehkonen's salary!
- obie

Danault is making 3.8M? I thought he was making 3M.
so yes, let say 2..4M in raise for both, that's even easier to find.
replace Lek and Armia by Poehling and Caufield and there you go.

Really?

Anderson destroys him in the speed event, shooting accuracy and hardest shot hands down


Toss up for a breakaway competition... Anderson would snipe, Drouin would deke


I think Tuna would also do well in accuracy and breakaway, probably the best hands on breakaways on the team
- obie

Your argument for Anderson isn't off. Still think cumulatively Drouin would be the guy. Doesn't translate either way.

This whole discussion is a damning indictment of the Habs skill as a whole

If you do get rid of Weber though, it’s worth thinking about how this team is built... spending so heavily on defence is not necessarily wise, replace weber for cheaper and invest more up front.
- Karine Hains

no one is taking weber without massive sugar being added.