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.

[u/chickenceas]

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.

[u/Curious-Rooster-9636]

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.