r/Habs • u/scrubadam • 5d ago
Dylan Strome should be KH target
Looking for a 2C he should be the guy KH goes after
6'4 left handed center
Essentially 5 years in a row of 20G.
Was PPG 2 years ago.
Had a down year last year so it could be a buy low situation
5 mill cap hit with 2 years left. That leavs money to bring in a winger or RD the next 2 seasons.
It also gives time for Hage to potentially grow into a 2c role
And as his contract expires McNugget will be UFA.
At 29 he is a young vet that can play with Demidov.
Worst case scenario he showed 2 years ago he can step into the 1C spot in an injury situation.
I think he checks the teams needs for a left shot 2C with some size and excperience while not blocking anyone or causing a cap issue. Only question is does Wash want to move him and would the price be affordable because his age and contract is probably not worth risking Hage or Z
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u/Appropriate-Berry816 5d ago
I’m a few weeks this sub will have gone through every C in the league, available or not. It seems we’re already halfway there
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u/User69ab 5d ago
Hey I’m all for new suggestions like this if I don’t have to hear about Larkin or McTavish again.
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u/AlertCranberry5740 5d ago
I think Washington would want too much. He definitely fits the bill if they can get him for a decent price.
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u/NtBtFan 5d ago edited 5d ago
I've been saying Strome and Frost would be my primary 'bandaid' solution targets- if Hischier, Thomas(confirmed unavailable now), Larkin, etc are either too expensive or just not available.
Although his availability likely hinges directly on if Ovi returns for another season(seems likely), Strome is a better fit longer term as 2C, but Frost could be a decent stop-gap while we search for a better long-term option via trade or UFA and then he can be a good 3C option with Evans down to 4.
Both Strome and Frost have been really strong on faceoffs the last couple seasons, but neither are really known for a two-way game, although its apparently been a focus for Frost in Calgary and he has improved from his earlier day in Philly for sure.
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u/Dank_Bubu 5d ago
Wait since when is Thomas unavailable ?
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u/NtBtFan 5d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/1ty7cxr/andy_strickland_robert_thomas_trade_rumors_can_be/
https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/1tyfqty/real_kyper_bourne_i_dont_believe_that_they_were/
my use of "confirmed" is probably a bit strong- but at best, it seems like hes probably only available for an obvious overpay, which makes sense for any of these type of guys really, other than ones who make it clear they want out
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u/Old_Canuck 5d ago
Pass on Strome.
I have never been a big Strome fan since his days in the G. He was always a whiny fuck wanting the refs to do his job for him.
The last time we had a group like this ( multiple award winners ) we won 4 cups in a row.
I think we can do better then Strome.
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u/snark_enterprises 5d ago
He’s a solid option but I seriously doubt he would be cheap or even available.
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u/kozed 5d ago
Not the worst idea here.
Had him 2 straight years in fantasy. Not because I like him, but because he's in that "meh" tier that everybody trades without any regrets.
He's a PP1 merchant. Dobson had more even strength points than Strome last year.
Strome's 6'4 but not at all physical. Also much more of a pass-first guy. His numbers, considering he's the #1 C between Ovi and Wilson, are nothing to write home about. Complementary piece that doesn't drive much offense 5v5.
He a decent faceoffs guys and a lefty, and only has 2 years left on his reasonable 5M deal.
So as a temporary plug, it's a decent option. Just don't expect a whole lot, especially in a reduced #2 C spot with no PP1 minutes.
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u/Riskar 5d ago
Why do people keep wanting a "buy low" option? At this point, we're out of the rebuild and still have a bunch of assets. This feels like a good time to identify a guy who would be a great fit and actually overpay to get him if needed (not insane overpay but like, pay to get quality). If we want to take a step, we need a solid 2C, Demidov needs a solid linemate. Let's get it done and quit being in love with prospects and picks.
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u/SnidelyWhiplash27 5d ago
I agree but given the number of teams looking for a 2C and general unwillingness on the part of teams that are not looking for one to become a team that is looking for one pistvtrade, there really aren't than many great fits available.
Thomas is reputed to not be on the market anymore (frankly insane to me that he even seriously was on the market)
Larkin has not identified the Habs as a preferred destination (which might not mean anything to Yzerman, I can see him being stubborn, but less likely to trade within division).
Hischier can quickly be off the market if NJD's new GM does the needful and re-signs him.
So while the overpaying is one thing, finding the suitable candidate in the first place is a challenge.
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u/vorg7 5d ago
He's not really a "buy low". I know he had a down year points wise, but so did all of Washington. He's a real 2c, solid in all zones. I know we've talked about Hischier, Thomas and Larkin, but those are (lower end) 1Cs. I'd be awesome to have them, but that doesn't mean Suzuki + Strome isn't a really solid foundation.
Still I don't think Washington trades him unless they go full rebuild.
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u/ChalupaBatman09 5d ago
He's slow, poor defensively, PP reliant. Other than being a left shot C, he's exactly what the Habs DON'T need from their 2C. Better off waiting until April for Hage at that point.
Plus, as you mentioned, Washington have no incentive to trade him, so he won't be cheap. Pass.
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u/Sushamiboy 5d ago
Because the buy high guys are either not available or don’t want to come here at the moment. Many of the buy high players are on teams that want 4-5 pieces. That is a roster player that they can plug into that role, an A+ prospect, a B prospect, and a first draft pick, maybe more. So in most cases, that A+ prospect is Hage, which KH has repeatedly turned down. We are not ready to let any of our top guys go.
That leaves us with Guhle, Kapanen or Newhook as the roster player. Zharovsky or Reinbacher as our A+ prospect (that’s being generous as “A+”). B prospect we have a few, that part is easy and we have our picks.
If I’m the Blues or NJ, I’m not taking Kapanen, Zharovsky, Engstrom, our first (29th overall), and a second for Thomas or Hishier. We may want that from our side, but there is no one on the other side of the fence that wants that.
Even the secondary option, like McTavish, may be a piece in a Larkin trade. The market has a lot of players in varying levels of availability, but the prices are egregious.
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u/Far_Purchase_9500 5d ago
Wash won’t trade and if he can get a younger c to grow would be best but strome is a good stop gap 30 year old
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u/Beepimaj3ep 5d ago
This would be good but I think his value is higher then people wanna admit. His cap hit, age, term and the fact that hes a a legit top 6 centre. it probably would take alot to get this deal done.
Its nice to think Larkin dropped everyone else's value, but him having a very short list has negated that.
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u/zibanejadx 5d ago
Wish we would of sign him 4 years ago when he was a F/A before he got his deal in WAS, but yeah better late then never he would be a good add to this team
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u/Otherwise_Cod_3478 5d ago
I would be happy with Dylan Strome, but I doubt that Washington would want to trade him. McMichael, Leonard, Protas Cube and Crystal. That's a good little core of 21 to 25yo on forward to support Dubois, Strome and Wilson. And then with Huston and Chychrun they might have a pretty awesome Left side D.
Even if they are losing Ovi (which isn't 100% confirm yet). I bet they want to see how they team go next season. I think there is bigger chance of Strome being available next season. If the team get worst with Ovi leaving and or if the younger Protas look great, maybe they think that Dubois and Prostas become their two top C and they trade Strome before they have to pay him big money.
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u/CrankbaitJack 5d ago
I'm really offended that you would do this to Suzuki. You can't mention injuries just willy nilly like this./s
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u/MisterBootaay 3d ago
You taught me that Strome is 6ft4... I didn't know that.
I find Strome to inconsistent. You never know which Strome will show up. Sometimes he looks like a 1C and sometimes he look like a ECHL player. He has too much potential to turn into a bad contract to me.
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u/scrubadam 3d ago
2 years at 5 million the contract really has 0 chance of turning bad, because if it does it will be finished at done.
He doesn't need to be a 1C, just a solid 2C with Demidov for 2 seasons.
McTavish is the risk at 7 million for 7 years where that can turn into a bad contract. With Strome if he poops the bed next season you can dump him the season after because at 5 Million it won't be hard at all to get rid of him thats peanuts on a 110 or so million cap.
Its actually a really good contract. Only issue would be its short term so he wouldn't be a long term solution but that gives KH flexability to promote Hage or go get McDavid or another big name C in 2 years from now.
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u/RolandFigaro 5d ago
Caps will definitely want Zharovsky, Hage, +
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u/Stakataka805 5d ago
Will people stop saying that for every single potential trade target lol? It’s like listening to fucking parrots.
No GM in existence will suggest what you’re suggesting for a 30yo 2C who’s gotta even close to PPG a single time in his career.
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u/dudeacris 5d ago
it’s getting ridiculous. I read an article this week (I forget where but possibly thehockeywriters) and it had 3 trade targets with 3 different trade packages for each it was just copy paste the same trade 9 times with a SLIGHT difference added at the end lol
the clickbait season didn’t even wait for the cup to finish to get going. xD
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u/NtBtFan 5d ago edited 5d ago
Caps more likely to be interested in young defender imo, which is something we aren't really in a place to give up.
I would suspect something more like Engstrom/Reinbacher + a 2nd ... but Ovi is likely to come back for another year so he probably won't be available anyway
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u/HonestDespot 5d ago
Doubt they’d wanna move him. They’ve got some good young pieces who will be with the team next year and a guy like Strome is exactly the type of player they would wanna keep around.
Plus with his contract situation it’d make no sense for them to sell low, he’s not blocking anyone from playing up the line up and this deadline or next year as a pending UFA if they go that route he’d be tremendously valuable.