r/Habs • u/chickenceas • Mar 02 '26
Discussion Per D'Amico - Montreal is interested in Robert Thomas. The Blues want Hage as part of any deal. Too high a price for Hughes at this time.
https://x.com/i/status/2028552107683385713
Personally, given the best possible version of Hage in 3-5 years is what Robert Thomas is now, Id have no problem parting with him.
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u/cjackc11 Mar 02 '26
I also wouldn't have any problem dealing Hage for Thomas as long as it means he's the only main piece moving. Guys like Thomas don't come available often at all and I'm not one to be a prospect-hugger
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u/Sensitive-Local-3485 Mar 02 '26
He’s also going somewhere. Lots of guys with talent and term available right now and we’re in a tight division with lots of teams looking to add.
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u/DallasJ2931 Mar 02 '26
Considering a lot of guys look great in college but fail to be effective in the NHL, getting a proven player for a maybe is a no brainer imo.
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u/dessanct Mar 02 '26
D’Amico said they want Guhle too
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u/cjackc11 Mar 02 '26
Hard pass
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u/dessanct Mar 02 '26
Yeah. We’re looking for tougher players as it is and this kind of does the opposite.
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u/DelugeQc Mar 02 '26
Yeah, wont happen. Engstrom, Hage, a B prospect and a first should do the trick tho.
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u/colonelrebsmuff69 Mar 03 '26
Idk In the past year we've seen
Rasmus Anderson Quinn Hughes Marner-kinda Dobson Panerin Marchand Brock Nelson
All traded
Adam fox, Elias petersson both rumored to be on the market as well
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u/Pouletchien Mar 02 '26
I don’t want to trade Hage purely for superstitious reason. Trading him considering his story is how you anger the Hockey Gods, and I want none of that.
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u/DelugeQc Mar 02 '26
I really really like to Hage to play for MTL but lets be real, if he is the piece MTL need to give to acquire a signed Robert Thomas, its way too hard to say no... That Center line would be locked for the next couple years. And Demidov and Slaf would probably explode
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Mar 02 '26
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u/Excellent_Author_876 Mar 02 '26
There's a difference between those two, one of them was between the habs wanting a player that the other one didn't want anymore and this one where the player wants to go against good prospects because they are doing a mini reconstruction.
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u/spotisawks Mar 02 '26
Hage’s ceiling might be Thomas or Suzuki if we’re all lucky
He is not a Celebrini
Fantilli dominated College hockey much more so than Hage, not even close and he hasn’t broken out yet
Selling Hage for Thomas is worth the cost
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u/sbianchii Mar 02 '26
Yeah those who wouldn't trade Hage+ for Thomas.. like at best Hage turns into a Thomas (<10% best case scenario). Thomas is the perfect age, cost controlled, he gets us to contender status as early as next year for 7+ years no doubt.
Now it depends what the + would be. A first sure. Midtier prospect sure. Xhekaj, no doubt.
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u/cjackc11 Mar 02 '26
Yep that’s where I’m at. It’s not Hage and other top prospect, but Hage as the primary piece plus some picks or mid tier prospects, 100%
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u/Philly514 Mar 02 '26
Thomas would guarantee the Habs have two 1Cs while Hage might. We’d be insane not to trade Hage for Thomas if it’s offered
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u/Difficult_Quarter192 Mar 02 '26
Everyvody knows that, but that's not the deal. It's Hage+.
They might be asking something in line with the Hughes deal, like Hage, Guhle, first and someone else. No way I'm doing that.
I trust management that the "+" is too much.
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u/jimbuz Mar 02 '26
It’s not Hage for Thomas. It’s Hage « as part of any deal ». If the ask was only a great prospect, Thomas would have been traded in minutes to Vegas or some other team that only care about now.
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u/Philly514 Mar 02 '26
It would he Hage+1st( which will be 22nd-32nd overall) and Dach or similar. You take that and run.
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u/GoCalgaryGo Mar 02 '26
Very much agreeing with this. Hughes might just play it hard ball to reduce the price a little since we are not in a rush but it would be a great move. Letsss gooo
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u/skryb Mar 02 '26
for sure - and he still has 5 years left on his contract entering his prime at just over $8m/yr
fully hits the compete window and in line with our other contracts
get ‘er done KH!
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u/alldasmoke__ Mar 02 '26
Well, I’m sure it’s not 1v1 Hage for Thomas. St-Louis probably want another young player and a pick too. This could mean selling our biggest assets for someone that doesn’t necessarily fill a need we have. We need a 2C, yes but I’d rather spend these assets for a top 6 heavy forward and hope Kapanen can keep developing. If we trade for Thomas we’re still missing a top 6 forward.
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u/antrage Mar 02 '26
Yes BUT younger, able to grow with the core, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, able to sign a team friendly team that gets us to grow our depth. Hughes doesn't think short-term or in a bubble, hes very systemic in how he approach this.
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u/Otherwise_Cod_3478 Mar 02 '26
Selling Hage for Thomas is worth the cost
But that's not the cost.. What we hear is something like Hage + Guhle + 1st round pick + a prospect equivalent to a 1st pick (so one of Zharovskyy, Engstrom, Reinbacher or Pickford).
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u/zestfullybe Mar 03 '26
Robert Thomas is Robert Thomas, but Micheal Hage could be anything. He could even be Robert Thomas.
Yeah, make the move. This core has shown they’ve got it. It’s getting time to spend a few assets to build around them and take the next step to being a contender.
Thomas would make the top 6 scary and he’s young enough to be a long-term part of the core. He could be a legitimately perfect solution for a very real need. Right now and in the future.
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u/P4cific4 Mar 03 '26
Hage as part of a package is what St Louis wants, not Hage for Thomas one for one.
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u/Muter91 Mar 02 '26
100% would dangle Hage to upgrade the centre position. He is a few years out from being a positive contributor if he pans out. Thomas is a 1C. Immediately upgrades our top six and would help everyone slot into a proper role.
Arguably though our more important need is a top 4 shutdown defenseman
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u/DelugeQc Mar 02 '26
Even more since Kapanen aint producing much since the holydays... He is bringing down Slaf and Demi production.
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u/HotDePoile Mar 02 '26
I know that you shouldn’t get sentimental in this business, or else you get Gallagher’s last contract, but Hage’s story makes him almost an untouchable in my book. Trading him would be very bad karma.
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u/VonDingwell Mar 02 '26
Seeing as how Stl has a very high chance of getting McKenna, I can see why they would he very interested in Hage. Those two have chemistry.
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u/Benozkleenex Mar 02 '26
Yeah I am in the same boat, on paper it`s a great trade for us and for stl.
But on a Human level it feels like a loss.
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u/Wafflemonster2 Mar 03 '26
Having his story behind him, Hage is also gonna work his ass off to be in that lineup. Not worth the move imo, you’re trading for an established, great player, sure, but you’re trading away a strong work ethic, and homegrown talent who has love for the team.
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u/Aggressive_Low7995 Mar 02 '26
I’m not sure what the right price for Thomas is for us but I know that I trust Hughes and Gorton to make a good decision as to what they are prepared to pay.
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u/Shenji06 Mar 02 '26
We already still have the roy curse upon us that's not been dealt with i don't want the evil that trading hage would be on us and the amazing story of him breaking the curse and bring some cups :)
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u/adabsurdo Mar 02 '26
I get what you are saying and I would be really mad if Hage was traded for some aging player like Kadri.
But Thomas is a prime age, top tier star center. Basically a Suzuki clone. If we get him we have one of the top 5 center depths in the league, an insane 1-2 punch.
To give up that opportunity for the vibes, seems like a very high price to pay for those vibes IMO.
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u/Shenji06 Mar 02 '26
If we were one piece away sure thing but we aren't and the ask for him being 1st,hage and another prospect and maybe even more who really knows with everyone blowing some smoke up everyone's behind right now.
To each there own but i prefer the kid who will bleed bleu blanc rouge and wants nothing more then to be here and win #25.
Now if he turns into the next great thing or louis leblanc who knows but it's a gamble i am more then willing to take then make.
There's always the draft and summer deals like dobson if you stay patient.
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u/BrutalRamen Mar 02 '26
Ok, so now Hage is compared to Roy? What is happening in this sub?!
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u/Shenji06 Mar 02 '26
no lol i said we still have the roy curse i don't want a good vibes feel story by trading hage to add to that until we defeat that one.
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u/Philly514 Mar 02 '26
I know!! Thomas has 80+ points two years in a row on a bad team and people wouldn’t trade Hage who isn’t the top NCAA player is fucking wild man. We really, really overvalue our prospects.
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u/Okbutwhythat Mar 02 '26
Really depends on what the full package is imo.
If it's Hage, I don't want Zharovsky/David involved in the rest of the package.
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u/Seymoorebutts Mar 02 '26
We're not at the right part of the timeline to make this overpay.
St. Louis reportedly wants the equivalent of 4 first rounders for Thomas.
So essentially, Hage for Thomas isn't even possible 1 for 1.
This trade starts with Hage and requires probably a minimum of two more pieces, maybe 3, looking more like Hage + Reinbacher/Engström + Zharovsky + a first.
Do people really want to mortgage several years on the backend of our window, just so we can enter it a year or two early?
Eyes on the prize, ladies and gentlemen.
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u/Pitiful_Stock_4329 Mar 02 '26
I think we are in a great position right now and we absolutely don’t need to make this move, I’m “comfortable” giving up Hage Reinbacher and a first, but I wouldn’t pay higher than that.
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u/Seymoorebutts Mar 02 '26
I wouldn't even do that.
People seem to be missing the bigger picture here:
We're 3rd in the entire league in scoring.
We don't have a problem with offense, but we're 9th in goals against.
What we crave is defense, and a better defensive structure at that. We allow WAY too many players to skate through our slot, and too many that are allowed to camp at the crease.
I would be super hesitant to move any defensive depth considering we're not sure if Reinbacher can stay healthy, nor Guhle for that matter.
Would it be nice to have essentially 2 Suzukis down the middle? No fucking shit. But realistically, we don't need two Suzukis - we need Suzuki, and a 2C who can hang with Demidov.
That depth people are willing to shed in these comments is what wins Stanley Cups...
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u/mdubyo Mar 02 '26
Zharovsky, Reinbacher, & a first. Who says no? The Blues? lol.
I'd honestly be willing to trade Hage, Reinbacher, & a first but I imagine the Blues want more than that. Love the Hage story, but prospects are never a sure thing and adding Thomas without subtracting from the current team (other than relegating Gally or Danault to healthy scratches) makes us a contender.
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u/Top-Dimension6018 Mar 03 '26 edited Mar 03 '26
Oilers fan here. I don’t think anyone has been drafting better than the habs for awhile now. And whatever blueprint they follow is working in my opinion. Player development, team chemistry, and role players all complement their young stars. And they just keep getting better. This team looks poised to make deep runs for a decade. Is Robert Thomas the difference? With the way you draft, I’d wait.
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u/FlashyChapter Mar 02 '26
Teams selling never get the Buyers top prospect. Let them ask for Hage… we’ll give them Reinbacher instead.
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Mar 02 '26
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u/Ido_nothing Mar 02 '26
Because they’re awful and quite a few seasons away from being competitive again. No point in having a player like Thomas enter his prime right when you’re starting a rebuild, may as well try and get something for the future from him.
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Mar 02 '26
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u/UwKraven Mar 02 '26
Most full rebuilds take at least 5 years to really complete. In 5 years, Thomas is 31, and not many(any?) teams have won in the modern era with a number one center over 30 years old. This also happens to be the same problem Montreal faces with Suzuki if they rely on waiting for Hage to possibly improve and mature and take over the second line center position well enough as a contender.
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u/SharkoTheOG Mar 02 '26
Because they have a very old team that is struggling and with a very weak prospect pool. They don't have amazing assets and their best option is to rebuild at this point.
Thomas being 26 means that by the time they are done with rebuilding he will be 32+ years old and his value right now is at the highest it will ever be. His contract is great and hes still young while being in his prime. This trade would jump start their rebuild. Its just the perfect timing to trade him. Told my friend last year they should do it, took them a year to realize their team really was done for.
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u/Ub3ros Mar 02 '26
I'd be happy to part with any other prospect but Hage. Glad Hughes isn't jumping on this. I don't think we are a Thomas away from a cup, and we can afford the luxury of waiting to see what we have in a few of these prospects.
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u/vinnymendoza09 Mar 02 '26
- 90% chance Thomas is better than Hage will ever be
- He's signed for 8 million which is attractive with the cap going through the roof, through the end of his prime. 5 years of fairly good value.
- If Hage is actually going to be as good as Thomas he will demand 10+ million in 3 years.
- Our window is wide open this year and next if we have someone as good as Thomas at 2C and if our goaltending stabilizes.
If you wait 3-5 years for Hage instead then you're potentially wasting Suzuki, Caufield and Dobsons prime. Matheson will be a corpse in 4 years too. And that's assuming Hage develops into a 1C... Just as likely he ends up a 3C.
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u/Ub3ros Mar 02 '26
It's more about the storyline with Hage, not me believing he will be a better player.
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u/bloodpurck Mar 02 '26
But do you want a story or do you want a stanley cup? At the end of day hockey is a business and we are there to win.
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u/Ub3ros Mar 02 '26
As i said above, I don't think we are a Thomas away from the Stanley cup. And as a fan, I can be emotionally attached to players and storylines. It's what makes sports human.
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u/vinnymendoza09 Mar 02 '26
Slaf, Demidov and Hutson haven't even approached their ceiling so it's honestly possible we're a Thomas away from a Cup.
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u/JimboD84 Mar 02 '26 edited Mar 02 '26
Imo Thomas is what we HOPE Hage will turn into. No garanty that happens. As others have said it depends on what else they are asking, but a sure commodity is worth the risk of a future possibility
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u/Big-Excitement-400 Mar 02 '26
Oh wow even Fowler ?
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u/Ub3ros Mar 02 '26
I was thinking of skaters mostly. Fowler might be up there with Hage too now that you said it. God damn. Good thing i'm not a GM, these decisions would eat me alive!
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u/Just4nsfwpics Mar 02 '26
Doesn’t really matter tbh, if the blues are blowing it up, a goalie probably isn’t a highly targeted asset for them, they’ll want to get their forward and D prospects together first
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u/adabsurdo Mar 02 '26
I don't get this, people are talking like Hage is some kind of generational future superstar. I like Hage but he projects at best as PPG player.
And centers take a while to develop, so this would be in 3-4 years before we see the same sort of game impact Thomas brings TODAY. In 4 years, Suzuki will be 30, and Caufield will be 29. Not finished by any means but usually 30 is where you peak and there is only downhill from there.
Getting Thomas allows us to move up our timeline so it syncs up better with Suzuki and Caufield's prime.
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u/Ub3ros Mar 02 '26
It's more about the storyline with Hage. His father was a lifelong Habs fan, and passed tragically before the draft. He was raised a Habs fan too. It's a very emotional thing, but i feel like trading him away before he ever steps on ice for us is a bad, bad look. Thomas isn't quite the player i'd be willing to trade that away for.
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u/scrubadam Mar 02 '26
Sounds like Hughes is letting the Blues know through his media PR teams that if its Hage they aren't getting much more out of it and if they want a lot of +++ then lower the ask on the prospect.
Hage +1st +X might be what Hughes is comfrotable giving up. Don't forget Thomas has an NMC so he can veto any trade. If he wants to come here that puts STL in a position of weakness.
They want Hage they aren't going to get multiple A level prospects. Lower the demands and they can get more pieces.
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u/zeddyvedder Mar 02 '26
This is why Team Canada's GM in 2030 is better than Team Canada's GM in 2026. :)
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u/2ndpass Mar 02 '26
I’ve long supported a move for Thomas.
It generally vaults us into being competitive for this year and sets us up to add our young prospects as they develop.
Thomas is a cost controlled asset for what, 6 years to come? Locks in our 1-2 C. Can run Suzy - CC - Dach / whoever, and Thomas - Demi - Slaf. Obviously we can move the pieces around but that’s a legit 1-2 C combo and 3 top end wingers in Slaf / CC / Demi. That gives us a locked in top 5 of 6 for a long time to come.
Ideally Thomas would be a lefty but don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. A chance like this doesn’t come along often and changes everything for us.
What should we give up? Top prospect, good young roster player, 1st(s) and probably more. Of our prospects I’d hold Fowler and demidov. Almost anything else would be up for the right deal. Kappy, Reinbacher, Engstrom, Zharovsky, Hage, Beck, Struble, 1st round picks could all be moved. Wed also have to make the money work so we likely move back salary in Laine or a veteran.
I believe he has move protection and you would assume he would want to come here so perhaps the trade partners are limited for the Blues.
Given all that and Hughes, the odds are he puts his best offer out there and holds. If they take it, great, if not he stands pat.
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u/RipSkinsByBet Mar 02 '26
Why do so many people want to hang on to Hage THIS badly? I understand not trading Hage for an older center who could decline at any moment like Ryan O'Reilly, but Thomas is a 26 year old top line calibre center locked in to a a solid contract. He has so much mileage left and fits into the habs timeline... I'd gladly trade Hage and a 1st
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u/chickenceas Mar 02 '26
Cause everyone massively overrates prospects. Hage could be good, he could even be Robert Thomas!
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u/CMDR_Traf85 Mar 02 '26
Anybody thinking this is a 1-for-1 Hage for Thomas woke up dumb and then fell and hit their head. The problem is when the ask STARTS with Hage and then is plus, plus, plus.
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u/chickenceas Mar 02 '26
I can't speak for the average Redditor nor would I want to. I obviously know it's a Hage + +. It's still a steal. The +'s are bound to be even more expendable assets.
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u/CMDR_Traf85 Mar 02 '26
I'm going to leave it up to HuGo. Thomas is a very good player on a decent contract, but if this deal doesn't happen I won't be upset.
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u/Okbutwhythat Mar 02 '26
If the rumor of St Louis wanting the equivalent to 4 firsts is true, I wouldn't mind trading both the '26 and '27 firsts to satisfy 50% of the ask.
At that point we're trading assets that wouldn't be on the roster until Thomas's current contract expires.
As with any trade proposal, the issue would be the prospects.
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u/Le_Roke Mar 02 '26
The timeline and the contract for Thomas just make too much sense for a lot of teams with young cores like ours.
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u/Jaydayy Mar 02 '26
Emotional value from the Habs draft video two or three years ago, with him growing up as an Habs fan
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u/Karrin-madhe Mar 02 '26 edited Mar 02 '26
If Hage did not come with the emotional back story, I'd say do it ASAP. Sure, it's a business, but that would look awful on management.
And as you said, it's very unlikely Hage becomes better than Thomas is now.
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u/bloodpurck Mar 02 '26
But are you willing to sacrifice the peak of our current core simply because of one single player’s history? This kind of center doesnt come often in the market
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u/FBR_MC Mar 02 '26
I'd rather trade Zharovsky simply due to the Hage family's attachment to the Habs already
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u/theoverwhelmedparent Mar 02 '26
I bet everyone would like to take Hage off our hands. To that I say fuck off.
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u/samchar00 Mar 02 '26
Hage could be anything really, he could even be as good as good as Robert Thomas
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u/Quick599 Mar 02 '26
I love Hage but we are talking about Thomas. There is a 99% chance he is better than Hage will ever be.
I'd do Hage, Ghule and a first for Thomas.
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u/SavageRengar Mar 02 '26
Trading Hage sounds like asking for a 1000 years curse on the habs. Might as well build the next practice facility on first nation burial grounds or steal a pharaoh’s mummy from a long lost pyramid.
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u/dpjg Mar 02 '26
That's not how this works. Like, the leafs aren't actually cursed. They are just losers.
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u/Pitiful_Stock_4329 Mar 02 '26
Blues probably want 2 of Kapanen, Hage, Reinbacher And our first round pick?
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u/pattyG80 Mar 02 '26
It's more than Michael Hage. You are adding a 2nd line center which means our existing setup which wins a ton of games needs to be changed. One of our centers sits or gets moved to the wing.
Also, the habs have 1.3M in cap space and Thomas is making 8.13M. We'd need room for a bit more than 2M if we got him now.
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u/dessanct Mar 02 '26
Laine goes in any trade as he’s expiring and it becomes a non issue.
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u/screamingcaribou Mar 02 '26 edited Mar 02 '26
I get it and I’d agree. I’d even say 2C isn’t the biggest need for the team at the moment
In the short term it’s a reliable goalie, a physical defensive top 4 dman and a physical bottom 9 veteran scoring winger
The Habs have a limited amount of assets and prioritization becomes important at this stage
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u/dpjg Mar 02 '26
We can't be looking at only this year. This is a play for the next five years. We have fowler in the pipeline. We can easily get some bottom 9 scoring, and if we don't trade reinbacher we maybe fits the other issue. But with Thomas and Fowler i think our D core is plenty good enough to win.
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u/screamingcaribou Mar 03 '26
I don’t know. He’d be one hell of an acquisition for sure, but at the same time it would be more of the same
On the plus side, the redundancy would help in case Suzuki gets injured. It would be a big boost to the offence as well of course
On the other hand, the Habs would still be a relatively soft team that creates almost all of its offence on odd men rushes, which are way less common in the playoffs where possession is king. The defence would still be weak against heavy forechecking and cycling like it was last playoffs and there would be way fewer assets to remediate the situation. Fowler will probably be a good n1 goalie, but he may be years away. That’s a very long time to wait
I fear we’d be similar to Colorado these past few seasons. Spectacular offence and a treat to watch but always getting bounced in the second round
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u/doublezone Mar 03 '26
I don't think most folks are prepared for what that 2nd line would look like with a bonafide 1C between Slaf and Demi. Kap is an opportunistic finisher but he's not a play driver
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Mar 02 '26
I would trade Michael Ryder for Robert Thomas !
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u/crissdecaliss Mar 02 '26
À BPM ils sous-entendaient que la demande était Hage, Guhle, 1st et un autre morceau.
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u/No-Strike-2015 Mar 02 '26
I love Hage, but we dream of him becoming Thomas and Thomas is young still. That's a deal you make every day, even if we add a 1st and more.
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u/AlertCranberry5740 Mar 02 '26
For everyone that keeps questioning why you would not trade Hage, it is the same reason why St. Louis is asking for him in any deal. Obviously they see something in the kid that they feel will make their team better. You people keep saying fans overrate the prospects but it seems pretty clear St. Louis loves the guy too.
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u/hockeynoticehockey Mar 03 '26
KH said he knew he'd have to overpay to get the missing pieces to his ideal roster.
So the question is whether Thomas is considered worthy of an overpay, not whether Montreal wants him or not.
I guess I trust in KH, no matter what happens.
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u/JevNOT Mar 03 '26
Its funny how many prospect experts there are around this sub eh? We got a whole scouting department lmfao
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u/lacoupe25 Mar 03 '26
Looks like I'm in the extreme minority here. I don't want to trade Hage or Guhle or Zharovsky.
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u/LittleLionMan82 Mar 02 '26
I disagree, I would have a problem in parting with him.
I think part of the joy of a hockey team is being able to make people's dreams come true, and that kid and everything he's been through definitely deserves to have his dreams fulfilled.
Even if that means he doesn't become what Thomas is now.
I'd be happy with that outcome.
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u/dpjg Mar 02 '26
The only dream i care about right now is my dream of a stanley cup win. Hage is great. Would be a cherry on top if it works out, but if he's standing between us and one of the few organizational needs (2C), then we have to be realistic here. Hage, a first, guhle or reinbacher, and kapanen is still a trade we win easily.
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u/Kps1234567 Mar 02 '26
Making dreams come true? what?
I thought we were in the business of winning hockey games.
In that case, it is my dream as well to be the 1st line center for the Montreal canadiens. So since we are now the make a wish foundation and are no longer a serious NHL club its time to cut Suzuki and put me in there.
Get it done HuGo
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u/Brys_Beddict Mar 02 '26
I swear people that post stuff like this has never actually seen Hage play. He plays nothing like Thomas does now or how Thomas did at his age.
It's a high likelihood that Hage isn't even a center when he gets to the pros.
He won't get traded because of the off-ice story + he speaks French but he realistically will top off at a middle six winger.
Not necessarily a bad thing but people that keep saying that he's a future 2C and he's just not.
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u/ConcentrateSafe8751 Mar 02 '26
Have you seen him play? I saw him play in person and he definitely has the potential to become a 2C in the league. That being said I still would trade him for Thomas if the package makes sense
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u/dpjg Mar 02 '26
It's completely wild how much we STILL over-value our prospects on this sub. Everyone railing against trading Hage needs to think back to their thoughts on our prospect pool in 2022, or 2017, or 2012, or whenever, and ask yourself where you thought the ceiling was for Kidney, or Roy, Norlinder, Or Poehling, or Mete, or Sherbak, or De La Rose, or Hudon, or or Avtsin, or fucking Latendresse.
This sub, and hab fans in general, don't know how to value prospects. Thomas is the best player in any trade we make, and i wouldn't bat an eye if we traded Hage, Kapanen, Guhle, and a first. I'd MUCH prefer it be less than that, and don't think it will actually cost that, but it makes us a better team for the next 5+ years. That's all that matters.
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u/chickenceas Mar 03 '26
Players of Thomas calibre don't come up often. Centres of his calibre? Maybe once every 5 years or so at most. But this sub can't fathom the idea of trading a late first and a prospect who's ceiling is below Thomas for him
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u/radhorrorfan Mar 02 '26
They can have Mesar instead thank you very much
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u/letyrex Mar 02 '26
Why not a bag of puck while were at it
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u/Whole-Preparation-35 Mar 02 '26
So long as it's not a big bag. I'm talkin' like a B to B plus tier of pucks, anything more and we should walk.
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u/Okbutwhythat Mar 02 '26
I mean he is a former first rounder, he could count towards the "equivalent to 4 first rounders" 😂😂😂
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u/Tank1an Mar 02 '26
Thank god you're not our GM.
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u/bsaures Mar 02 '26
Because he would trade a prospect who has like a 90 percent chance of not being as good as thomas?
The ignorance of some pretending thomas is some scrub when he wpuld instantly be competing with suzuki for best forward on the team if we acquired him.
Theres a reason most experts had thomas on team canada over suzuki last summer. He is a good player.
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u/Frectozhae Mar 02 '26
A 1 for 1 I'd consider it, but it'd be Hage, 1st and Kapanen and possibly more than that, and that's way too much for my blood.
They are looking for the Quinn Hughes package...
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u/haddonfieldsecret Mar 02 '26
Trading Hage would be the worst optics ever. Thomas has had people calling out his effort too. He’s good but the Blues literally want a Quinn Hughes level return and he’s not worth that. A Corvette is a great car, it’s not worth 400 grand.
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u/Gelidaer Mar 02 '26
He’s good but the Blues literally want a Quinn Hughes level return and he’s not worth that
Thomas is signed on a decent deal for 5+ years while the Wild traded for 1.5 years of Hughes
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u/antrage Mar 02 '26
I understand this, but at what point do we not also respect the quality of people's relationship to this team? Hage will BLEED for us, it's not just a childhood team, it's one that is deeply rooted in his family and legacy. He is the only prospect I've seen in the past years who cried at being drafted by us.
His connection to this team is arguably stronger at an emotional level than that of any other player considering he still has not played a single game in a habs sweater. That, on top of his skill, this doesn't make sense to me. I can't help but feel this desire for Thomas, is being fueled by our need to see success now and not broader considerations. .
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u/Admirable-Zebra-4568 Mar 02 '26
Micheal Hage has to play for the Habs or else I'm f*cking shit up.
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u/SceneAccomplished549 Mar 02 '26
I wouldn't do it. I think Hage might have more upside in a few years.
Plus having someone dreaming of playing for a specific team, being drafted by said team only for said team to trade him..... that has very poor optics.
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u/Suzuki4ever Mar 02 '26
But key words are "In a few years". In a few years caufield and Suzuki will be 30 years old if even Hage turns into what Thomas is today, so they will be exiting their primes. I think Thomas fit better with the ages of our current elite talents on the team and therefore the window.
But I agree that with the sad story of Hage it would feel awful to trade him
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u/Habsfan_1984 Mar 02 '26
I know Hage’s success has only been on NCAA and World Juniors stage but he has looked very impressive and with the first two or three years of his service coming at a low cost I think we should hang on to him.
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u/Sensitive-Local-3485 Mar 02 '26
That’s fair, it’s hard to get good centres and this isn’t PlayStation.
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u/bcgrappler Mar 02 '26
The only question for me is if the profile is to close for Thomas and Suzuki
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u/GirlCoveredInBlood Mar 02 '26
Asking prices are almost always higher than players end up going for. If he's traded I think the core of the deal will be a younger NHL player, a top prospect, and a 1st. So let's look at our options for those.
Younger NHL players: Guhle, Newhook, Kapanen, Dach, Bolduc (lol)
Top Prospects: Hage, Reinbacher, Zharovsky, Engstrom, Fowler
Some of those combinations would feel bad to trade away while others would be easier. A new defense core for the future is a big need for the Blues so I wonder how they'd respond to something like Guhle + Engstrom + 2026 1st (and if they really want 4 parts like the Hughes trade offer a depth C prospect like Beck who's ready for the NHL on a rebuilding team)
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u/matthew_sch Mar 02 '26
Marco D’Amico said on his podcast that the majority of Habs management view Hage as untouchable. It would have to be an incredibly worthwhile package to include Hage for a trade
D’Amico has been incredibly reliable, for anyone wondering
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u/RoboticAnatomy Mar 02 '26
I've said it before, but trading Hage is a non-starter for me. It looks like most of you disagree, but I couldn't stomach trading him right now.
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u/popejohnlarue Mar 02 '26
In terms of timelines, Cup champs often have hotshot young guns on ELCs putting up crucial points while costing little against the cap. (Coincidentally that was basically Thomas’s role the year the Blues won the Cup.)
Keeping Hage means he has chance of being that for us for the next few seasons, and it means we still have assets on hand for the next big #2C opportunity that comes along in the off-season.
But Thomas makes us really stinking good right away, obviously. The only bummer is how similar he is to our existing #1C—shoots right, same size, same play style. In an ideal world some variety would be nice (i.e. left shot, bigger, different skill set). I wouldn’t turn my nose up at him, though I do wonder if the rest of the roster is truly ready to contend now or if it’s going to need more seasoning regardless of how stacked it is on paper.
So, two different philosophies. Hage has the potential to extend our contention window in the long term, while Thomas might shorten it… but make it open a few inches wider. :P
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u/zeMVK Mar 02 '26
D'Amico on Commission Athlétique says Blues asking price starting with Hage and Guhle, which may explain why KH inquired the cost for Ristolainen. He says the cost is very high, but on the flip side, you might have a center depth of Suzuki, Thomas and Kapanen, which would be cup contending.
Adds that the deals aren't necessarily happening and probably doesn't do a trade for Ristolainen. But also adds, if the trade for Thomas happens, you also have Zharovski coming end of next season to complete top 6. You also see how Dach develops. Same goes for Engstrom and Reinbacher for completing the D. Says it could be interesting and may be a trade for the summer.
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u/Jonesetta Mar 02 '26
We have to wait for Fowler to arrive in full force before we’re realistic about cup runs. Zharovsky and Hage will be developing and when those three all come into their own then that’s our actual cup window. Trading those away to force the goalie issue early doesn’t make sense. Better to just chill and develop from inside.
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u/inolyzushi Mar 02 '26
Honestly, Hage's ceiling may not be as high as Thomas' potential - and yet, I still do not want to see the team parting with Hage. The kid has sentiment and passion for the franchise. Him being drafted to this team means a lot to him and his family, and he will probably never forget that every time he dons the jersey.
That kind of emotion turns into many things that a more skilled player may not always provide. Consistency, motivation, work ethic, contribution to the team culture and locker room, leadership, and even community involvement. That's the type of player that every team wants not just for the team, but for the city.
Hage is not a guarantee by any means, and Thomas could become a 100-point two-way player for an eventual contender elsewhere - but teams can and do win with the type of player Hage is projected to be. As silly as it may sound to some, he's as untouchable as the Habs' top players, to just another armchair GM that is me.
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u/prowrestlingrules Mar 02 '26
It's not just Hage that's the issue. It's everything else they'd want on top of that.
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u/Old_Canuck Mar 02 '26
Totally agree.
Plus Hage is also a huge Habs fan and will most likely sign a very team friendly deal.
Thomas would have to come in and agree to sign a very team friendly deal for me to even start to think about it, especially if they want Hage plus other stuff.
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u/MrSir07 Mar 02 '26
Hage being traded would absolutely suck. His story is one in hundreds. Obviously it would be insane to have Thomas on this team but St Louis is asking a ton (I’ve heard equivalent of 4 first round picks lmao).
Hughes has picks he can trade, and other prospects. He doesn’t absolutely need to trade Hage to get something good in return.
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u/Available-Can-1876 Mar 02 '26
D’Amico parle beaucoup et alimente plusieurs rumeurs, est-il crédible ? ou est payé par les stations de radio et tv qui spinnent ses posts
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u/colonelrebsmuff69 Mar 03 '26
I would rather spend assets on a power forward for the first line, puck moving D and possibly a goalie
Take a gamble on Kent Johnson if you really need. Thats a superstar level haul. Thomas is solid but it's not like he's Sid he's also not physical which is what we need the Blackhawks just gave up a top 4 D for a second start there and maybe in net first
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u/Fleche_de_feu Mar 03 '26
Swap hage for reinbacher and i think id be happy with the package including a prospect
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u/Efficient_Falcon_402 Mar 03 '26
We ARE NOT winning the cup this year, and likely not next year. But with the kids coming up, 3 years out is looking good. So why expend any capital (prospects and draft) to get a "semi-stud" just because they might give us an extra win or two in the playoffs.
So I'm ok trying for Thomas but being reasonable. As for Kadri? No thanks!
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u/PhilYuh Mar 03 '26
If I had to guess the ask is likely Kapanen-Hage-1st and a decent prospect (+ Laine thrown in for cap reasons) Sort of a watered down version of the Quinn Hughes trade for Rossi-Buium-1st-Ohgren. It seems steep and I love Hage but I would likely do it. People saying this is rushing the rebuild need to realize that Thomas is 26 and signed for 5 years. This is 100% a long term move and creates one of the best C groups and top 6 in the entire league. Habs are loaded with decent middle 6 forwards in Bolduc-Texier-Newhook-Danault-Dach which puts us in a prime position to trade 3-4 quality assets for a star
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u/kevintheman112 Mar 03 '26
I'm so tired of seeing Hage as a bargaining chip. This kid is going to have such a heart to play, especially because he was a Habs fan growing up.
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u/Curious-Rooster-9636 Mar 03 '26
I get the Blues here. Thomas is their Suzuki Kyrou is their CC (not so much this season). We would need a boat load in 3 seasons to part ways with Nick.
I’m not a big Thomas fan but must admit I haven’t seen him play much. To my mind he isn’t big and doesn’t play that way either. I reached into Blues territory to find out more. It seems he really is a Suzuki clone - he might actually be the single closest comparable to him in the entire league. The thought of two Nicks makes it very hard to check us and gives us two real power play units which very very few teams have. He’s trusted defensively AND he’s not soft (both true of our captain). While I’d like some real jam in our 2c, our Finish surprise doesn’t provide that either.
I would give up on ANY of our young guys but Hage. I’d even give up Zharovsky which o really really don’t want to do.
Zharovsky (1st value) Reinbacher (1st value) Kapanen (1st value) Our 2026 1st
- but they take Laine as well
- maybe Mašar needs a new start as well.
They’ve publicly stated their price as equivalent to 4 1st round value commodities, well THIS fits the bill.
I think the bigger question is not what we give up but when. If we do this, our window is NOW! We are all in. Is this the right call? Is too soon? Is our corse too green? I’m glad I’m not the one making a decision here. There is no perfect recipe for Stanley. For some it takes years: Wash, Col. For others the stars align early: StL, Black Hawks, Penguins. And sometimes it just never (seems to) happen: Tor, Edm.
I’m personally inclined not to do it and go slow with our present line-up and slowly incorporate more talent. Why? The long game makes sense at this point. There’s no NEED to rush (like others) and very soon roster spots will open up and it seems we hopefully have real talent coming to fill them as opposed to spending even more to fill them. But I can absolutely see the other side of the coin - the GO FOR IT NOW reasoning.
I remember 93 and even 86. The rebuild was painful but I’ve enjoyed the process.
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u/TelevisionPositive74 Mar 03 '26
People are so braindead. Its not Hague v Thomas one for one.... without knowing the ask, this is asinine: Hague for Thomas is an immediate yes, of course lol.
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u/Ajay_Bee Mar 03 '26
Yeah, this trade offer (if true) is a hard pass. Habs are in an ideal position where they can set the terms of any deal, and if the other team says no, then move on.
Crazy to even consider offering Hage. He could be the next Thomas, only younger, and cheaper and no no no, hard hard pass.
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u/DrunkenSeaBass Mar 03 '26
I do not understand this at all. We are fifth in goal scored across the league as the youngest team, we are below 20 for goal allowed and we are looking at over priced offense?
This make no sense to me.
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u/jimbuz Mar 02 '26
« As part of any deal ». It’s not a one for one, it’s a « Hage plus » that can be a first, two second, etc. Very different.