I might as well tell you as I think when I leave: unless you go to the fire, the Canadian must not rebuild. Either way, it seems to be mathematically impossible. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes may have the best intentions in the world, but they can’t do it alone. They need other general managers to benefit from it.
Do they have essential ingredients for certain teams to succeed in the window of opportunity for the Cup? Without a doubt.
Are these centerpieces numerous? Not badly less than what the proponents of the final sale may believe.
Ben Chiarot has superb value. Besides, it’s surprising that he is still with the CH. If the explanation is that we don’t want to undo the fine balance of Martin Saint-Louis and we are waiting for Joel Edmundson to enter the scene, I can understand.
Otherwise it is worrying. This means that as interesting as it is, Chiarot has not so far brought in a return deemed sufficient in the eyes of Gorton & Hugues.
Artturi Lehkonen is another very interesting element. A deep forward capable of producing when given the chance, he costs just $2.3 million and will be a restricted free agent this summer. He is only 26 years old.
In fact in the case of Lehkonen I understand better that he is still in Montreal. Unless he gets a first-round pick for his services, his best value is with the Canadiens.
Suzuki, Caufield, Evans et Anderson
Consider that whatever the plan, the CH will work around Suzuki, Caufield and Evans, to which we add Josh Anderson, who would be very annoying to exchange.
The other attackers are not likely to find takers. Brendan Gallagher would cost a fortune in payroll deductions and it would limit management’s other moves.
Mike Hoffman at $4.5 million for two more years and Joel Armia at $3.4 million for three more seasons are next to impossible to move too.
We add Christian Dvorak at $4.45 million for 3 years, Paul Byron at 3.4 and Jonathan Drouin at $5.5 million, both for another year.
In other words, the Canadian has 10 attackers under contract for next season.
Four he certainly doesn’t want to move and six he has to deal with.
If we decide to also retain the services of Lehkonen, Rem Pitlick and Laurent Dauphin, the count of 13 is good in attack.
Assets that are difficult to liquidate
It would be perfect to be able to move Gallagher AND Armia AND Hoffman… Then Chiarot AND Petry in defense. For fun, do the exercise of trying to find a way to liquidate all these assets and their contracts…
In the end, you may come to the same conclusion as me.
The CH is not as bad as its performance before the arrival of Martin Saint-Louis; a few departures by March 21 and in the draft in addition to a few arrivals this summer could bring the team back into the discussion for the 2023 spring playoffs.
You have to start by taking Weber out of the balance sheet. Then you have to wish for a Carey in good shape and playing.
There is nothing clear…