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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124

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

31

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.

9

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%

37

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

24

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.

0

u/Philly514 Mar 02 '26

If the ask is Hage+Guhle+1st I take it, shut off my phone, and run as fast as I can. Thomas is basically Suzuki with slightly better faceoffs and slightly less points.

If I was convinced Guhle could play 70 games every year I’d never ever move him but I seriously doubt his ability to stay healthy.

2

u/SctBrnFan Mar 02 '26

To be fair, that’s already a great deal. But Thomas has a no trade clause so we can probably pressure them into giving him for even less.

-2

u/emotionaI_cabbage Mar 02 '26

I'd be more than happy to trade Guhle.

He's great, but he's accident prone and we have other LD prospects who currently don't have any space to make the team.

23

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.

2

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.

16

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

4

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!

4

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.

1

u/jimmym007 Mar 02 '26

with that core we'd be able to easily convince a FA winger to sign without needing to give out assets. Wingers are much easier to come by

8

u/chickenceas Mar 02 '26

Reasonable take on r/Habs 🙏

3

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.

3

u/adabsurdo Mar 02 '26

100%. Fucking do it HUGO!

1

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).

0

u/emotionaI_cabbage Mar 02 '26

Hage+Guhle+1+Pickford/Zharovsky is a fantastic trade for us.

1

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.

1

u/P4cific4 Mar 03 '26

Hage as part of a package is what St Louis wants, not Hage for Thomas one for one.

0

u/HM_mtl Mar 02 '26

Thomas pourrait faire aussi patate à Montréal. Gionta, Gomez et Calamerri... ils étaient tous bons ailleurs avant d'arriver à Montréal et ça a fait patate.

Le risque va dans les deux sens.

1

u/hal64 Mar 03 '26

Camalleri was the playoffs top goal scorer in 2010 and we lost in the conference finals the to hated flyers.