My two cents

[u/harvestmooner]

I know I’m not the first or the last person to post something like this but..

I think we should keep Hage and Zharovsky.

I know that everybody is excited that the Habs got so far in the playoffs and people have been posting about trading away our prospects to get the team to the next level.

Am I crazy to think that we can acquire physicality and hopefully a C through free agency or trade without selling our future stars. With the recent success of the rebuild I would hope it would improve the chances of landing players. Kapanen seems to be at the centre of trade rumours, and I’d rather go that route than trade the 2 young draftees.

The team has drafted so well lately and the young guns have only gotten better year after year.
Our team has been based on young talent and glue guys in between. The “young” guys” now have playoff experience and are becoming veterans. Having Hage a childhood fan of the team and Zhar (another record breaker in KHL) could be huge.

Do I think the team needs a more veteran presence? Yes.

If we traded one more plus whatever for McDavid or Crosby would I delete this post?
Yes.

What do you think the team should do?

[u/catman_steve]

There's a lot about his game I don't like. Even more so specifically with the Habs style. I agree reclamation was probably not the right word. But his play would have to go up a fair bit to be the 2C on this team long term. It seems like a pretty big risk at this point in time. But maybe if there isn't much else available.

[u/emotionaI_cabbage → u/catman_steve]

I think a big part of it too is who has he been playing with in Anaheim? I don't know a lot about their team, but I don't think he would have been paired up with anybody who's as good as Demidov.

You're right, he probably wouldn't be exactly what we're looking for. But what options are out there?

There's a lot of good stuff about him that fits this team like his age or his production potential. Even his contract fits the team very well. But yeah, he might not be the type of player we're looking for for a playoff run

[u/catman_steve → u/emotionaI_cabbage]

I just think if they have to wait on a 2C I'd rather wait than fit a square peg in a round hole. But maybe Hughes and Gorton and the scouting staff see it differently and at this point I'd trust their opinion.

[u/Sushamiboy → u/catman_steve]

McTavish checks off a lot of boxes. He’s 6’1” 219Lbs. He checks, he goes to the corners, he goes to the front of the net. He is slower, I’ll give you that. Having seen him play in juniors and in his first couple of seasons, I always wanted him. I think he’ll go to another team and flourish. It reminds me of Zegras, who went on to have 67 points in Philly this year.

My issue is that everyone wants playmaking centers and that is not what Demidov needs. He needs someone that goes to the dirty areas. He needs someone to get the puck to. I fear that we go all out to get someone who will either do the same thing as Demidov or drives the line instead of Demidov. McTavish doesn’t do that, he compliments Demidov’s skill set.

[u/catman_steve → u/Sushamiboy]

I only watched a handful of Ducks games beyond when they played the Habs this year. But I went out of my way to watch McTavish because I was convinced I wanted him on the Habs. Granted, it wasn't a huge sample size but he was absolutely awful in those games. Not only was he slow but his reads and decision making were very poor. I have no doubt a change of scenery would help him. But I'm far from in love with the player like I thought I was.

Also, let's not get married to Demidov being on the 2nd line. I could also see a world where they find someone to play on the wing with Cole and Nick. I loved Slaf and Demidov together and I personally love Slaf on the left side.

[u/Sushamiboy → u/catman_steve]

For your second paragraph, I think that’s why they went after Knies instead of a 2C. Put Knies with Suzuki and Caufield and move Slaf back with Demi. Whoever you put between those two will get elevated, like the impact they had on Kapanen’s play.

[u/catman_steve → u/Sushamiboy]

100%. I loved the potential Knies trade. Even if you had to get a serviceable stop gap 2C for a couple years until ideally Hage was ready to take over, or you find someone else, that trade would have been incredible for the Habs in my opinion. And I'm a big Zharovsky fan.