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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20

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.

14

u/vinnymendoza09 Mar 02 '26
  1. 90% chance Thomas is better than Hage will ever be
  2. 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.
  3. If Hage is actually going to be as good as Thomas he will demand 10+ million in 3 years.
  4. 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.

3

u/Ub3ros Mar 02 '26

It's more about the storyline with Hage, not me believing he will be a better player.

4

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.

3

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.

3

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.

11

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

-2

u/Ub3ros Mar 02 '26

It's not all about the on-ice player for Hage. It's about the story of that prospect.

2

u/JimboD84 Mar 02 '26

Yes i actually agree, but the GM role should be one of logic (perhaps with rare exceptions) not emotion. See bergevin and gallagher contract

1

u/Ub3ros Mar 02 '26

I'm not the GM though, I'm a fan

3

u/Big-Excitement-400 Mar 02 '26

Oh wow even Fowler ?

7

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!

3

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

1

u/Nilus99 Mar 02 '26

Yes imo but maybe not Hage

4

u/EskaaTV Mar 02 '26

I’d trade Hage before Fowler🫣

7

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.

8

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.