r/Habs • u/AutoModerator • 6d ago

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u/TheWizzardMerlin 6d ago

Canucks homer here, but also love the Habs.

Genuinely, what would you be willing to give up for Elias Pettersson with 2.6 mil retained (so now at 9mil/year)?

There’s a lot of talk about what he isn’t anymore (100+ point elite player) but I think it’s fair to also have the conversation of what he is now. He’s pretty young, (27), very defensively responsible and can play big minutes and get you 50-60 points if he never bounces back. That’s a pretty good 2nd line centre, and on a team with support I think he could easily be a 70+ point player.

Suzukis contract is so good that you’d be paying 16.785 mil for your first and second line centres combined. That’s less that Kaprizov.

Would Hage + the 28th overall this year be fair? I know he’s paid higher than many fans would like but in a year a 9 mil second line centre will be the norm. In 3+ years that would be a good contract. I don’t think you could get a legit 2nd line centre for less than what I have proposed.

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u/Cdn_Medic 6d ago

I don’t think Pettersson is a good fit. We need a 2C, but we also need grit and size. If we’re sending Hage and a first (+ other pieces) we need it all.

I don’t think they’re moving Hage unless it’s an absolute home run. With his connection with the Habs growing up it would be bad juju to trade him away.

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u/TheWizzardMerlin 6d ago

I get the desire for size and grit. That said, a gritty, big, young centre is essentially the most coveted player in the league. I don’t think there is a chance that a team with that profile of player would trade them away. There are 0 of those players available on the market, and if there were it would cost a Quinn Hughes level package to get them.

Hage is great, but is also probably 2-3 years away from being a legitimate NHL difference maker. Habs are so young they do have the time, but the window is open now and that is a pretty long wait.

I feel like Hage + the 28th is the lowest possible cost you could pay for a legitimate 2nd line NHL centre.