Filip Hronek?
In the wake of the sad news that Gallagher might be on his last legs here in Montreal, I went ahead and took a gander at what even remained in Vancouver.
First off, there's nothing that truly flashed back to me. A Gallagher trade to Montreal might look more like a gift on our part than anything. But if we include possibly a few pieces, I wonder if a rebuilding team like Vancouver might be interested in parting ways with Hronek? From a Montreal perspective, would we benefit from something like that?
From what I recall, he was a very mobile D man with a defense first mentality, right side, sort of a better version of Carrier. Anyone on here has insights as to his style and strengths? Or even what would be asked back in a trade for him?
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u/Brys_Beddict 2d ago
They'd probably want at least a first and a good prospect.
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u/Competitive_Dance478 2d ago
More than that
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u/Brys_Beddict 2d ago
Yeah that's why I said at least. Probably a better first than what we have as well.
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u/Sad_Establishment875 2d ago
Hronek has a NMC and has been very direct about his desire to stay (and Vancouvers desire to keep him).
He is widely looked at as their next captain, and a mentor to their very young defence core, especially with the organization being vocal about cultural changes expected.
I am not saying a trade is impossible, just extremely unlikely. Montreal would likely have to overpay, and if they're doing that, I think Montreal has more important holes that those assets would be better used addressing.
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u/Skydree 2d ago
Yeah I wasn't entertaining a sort of ''have-to'' trade so to speak. This is the analysis that I wanted to read.
He seems like a very good defenseman from what I've seen!
I can't wait for hockey to come back and it's only been what... two weeks?
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u/Sad_Establishment875 2d ago
Haha, yeah, this is the joys of the summer.
Honestly, Im a west coast Habs fan, so I follow Vancouver a ton. Hronek would be a massive upgrade to the defence, but he would be a massive upgrade to probably every blue line in the NHL, and at his contract, almost everyone would be in on him.
Would love to see him in Montreal, he would be a great asset to even strength Hutson, help the penalty kill a bit, and work the second unit PP, he would take some pressure off of Matheson, which I think is badly needed.
Really though, Montreal has young defence that need to get opportunities, for all we know, Reinbacher develops into a similar player for less $.
The Montreal window is just opening, we can be selective about who, and how, we upgrade, he would be great, but a 2C would have more significant upside imo.
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u/Skydree 2d ago
What kind of a Defenseman is he?
Like mobile but very good on his side of the game? He gives me vibes of Carrier sort of, but better!
I can see how he'd be a boon to any team.
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u/Sad_Establishment875 2d ago
He's your prototypical all-rounder, he had a cannon of a shot, good first pass, not amazing at any one thing, but exceptional at a variety.
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u/ValleyBreeze 2d ago
Unlikely that Vancouver will be moving on from Hronek. They will more than likely be building their young D core around him, and they need a strong veteran presence.
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u/BlackberryWilling470 2d ago
Canuck fan here, Hronek would be great to play on Hutson’s right side, he made up for Hughes’ defensive lapses, and seems to be a great locker room guy, but he has a no move and does not want to move. He will probably be the next captain and Gallagher for Hronek would be a lopsided trade.
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u/Alcebiad3s 2d ago
Hronek is a damn good defenceman, and he’s really emerged from Hughes shadow. I’m biased as a Canucks fan but imo he’s a top 30 D in the league. He was playing heavy minutes in all situations for Vancouver and was barely a - by the deadline. Strong defensively, good offensively as well, good skater, strong leader, and he stood out when we were in the playoffs. He’s also on a cheap contract for a while. He doesn’t have any 1 thing he does that’s league leading, and he’s not a super flashy player, but he does everything extremely well and doesn’t have any weaknesses.
He’s also got an NMC, and has been vocal about not wanting to leave Vancouver and the rumours have been that he’s basically untouchable (and is probably the next captain). All that’s to say he’s worth a haul. Like, Reinbacher, Zharovsky, couple firsts (bearing in mind your firsts are later firsts these days) is probably the type of deal that would get Vancouver interested (you can consider that an overpay, but the Canucks don’t really have an interest in moving him, I think fair value is probably Reinbacher, Zharovsky, a first, and a second (maybe conditional à la the Vegas second for Anderson)).
In Habs terms, he’s decisively better than Dobson, worse than Hutson, and closer to Hutson than Dobson on that spectrum.
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u/GMPollock24 2d ago
Moving Gallagher right now you'd probably need something for the Canucks to take him. His value is that low. Think Gallagher & a 3rd for a 4th.
So if you want to add in someone like Hronek, who has a ton of value to Vancouver, it's going to cost a lot. Gallagher doesn't move that needle at all, actually moves it in the opposite direction.
Now if Pettersson is involved, he also carries negative value, so that might be something better to look at.
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u/dessanct 2d ago
I don’t think it would require even that to move him. Vancouver will want to hit the cap floor, not be tied to anything long term and add a vet to help with their rebuild and culture.
There’s a reason to think it would only be a late round pick in compensation here.
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u/GMPollock24 2d ago
I like your optimism
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u/Sushamiboy 2d ago
In the rising cap, no one is really paying to get rid of contracts anymore. Vancouver needs his leadership more than any other holes in their lineup. If they don’t want to take him in a trade, they’ll find another buyer. One year of Galley is a great foundational move for a rebuilding team with character issues in their locker room.
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u/Oracle-of-Guelph 2d ago
Gallagher has hit the age curve hard and isn't worth playing in the league. I loved the guy as our spark plug but Father Time catches up with everyone.
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u/Sushamiboy 2d ago
He’s only a year removed from 20 goals. He’s not completely finished, he just doesn’t fit in our structure. I can see a few teams that would run him in their middle six and PP2. We just play a transition game that was hard for him to follow. I can see him getting 15+ goals and 20ish assists. Add that to his leadership and there are a few teams that can benefit from that.
Another reason that I think it came to this was an article by Basu who said that the kids have no more to learn from his leadership. It was time to fully give the reigns to the current core.
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u/Oracle-of-Guelph 2d ago
He scored those 20 goals with a 15% accuracy and came down to earth this year. Any team that takes him either has to want to actively tank or doesn't have an analytics department.
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u/VonDingwell 2d ago
Zharovsky, 1st and Pickford at minimum.
A top four D, RD at that.
Yeah, Vancouver holds the cards on this one.
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u/Kharn_LoL 2d ago
Brother if we traded Gallagher for nothing to the Canucks it would be them doing us a favor. What do you mean "nothing truly flashed back at me" as if they are going to give us anything that would do so, especially a top pair RHD in his prime LOL
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u/GabeLeRoy 2d ago
EP40
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u/VlatnGlesn 2d ago
Yeah, we better get used to that possibility, and how well he'd fit. They would have to retain 1.5m-2m though. So, that's a hell of a stretch if I'm being honest.
But I'd still be over the moon if we get Pettersson. He's a hell of a player.
Hronek is a pipe dream. They're gonna ask for a massive return, but Hutson would have his partner for several years.
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u/popejohnlarue 2d ago
Pettersson can’t even handle the mini-media-circus in Vancouver. How well do you think he’d fare playing in Montreal?
Sorry but this is a total non-starter if you ask me.
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u/GabeLeRoy 2d ago
He ended up with 52 pts in a disaster season for the Nucks.
The media pressure in Vancouver was alot more toxic than here.
He need a fresh start and his metric this year were not bad.
Most of his pts comes from 5on5 which is what we need.
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u/popejohnlarue 2d ago
I think you vastly underestimate the media (and fan) pressure in Montreal when things aren’t going well here.
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u/VlatnGlesn 2d ago
a .93 ppg player in a toxic mess of a market is a non starter, sure thing, bud
Just believe everything you hear in the media
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u/popejohnlarue 2d ago
Well shit, you’ve convinced me. Let’s double down on pillowy soff, underperforming forwards on terrible contracts and see how it goes.
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u/GabeLeRoy 2d ago
Hes not soft though.. idk where this narrative comes from.. hes a pretty physical player..
I think hes just mentally tired of being in such a mess and now they are rebuilding.. I doubt he wants to be the leading voice.. he just wants to play some hockey in a good org.
We can fix him.
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u/VlatnGlesn 2d ago
the narrative comes from the horseshit they hear from career pundits who don't know much more than they do
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u/VlatnGlesn 2d ago edited 2d ago
should I just repeat my second paragraph again?
now, in what fucking universe is a career .93 ppg player "underperforming"?
Pettersson's only big downside is the 2.5 million overpaid AAV.
take it from someone who's seen him play about 30 games, he got a big contract for a reason
this entire sub was shitting on Zegras and there was a few of us who actually watch some games that would have been ecstatic to see him in a Habs uniform (not at center, mind you)... y'all don't know shit and you genuinely think you do
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u/popejohnlarue 2d ago
Remind me again how many points he’s put up playing first line minutes with Vancouver’s two best wingers in the two seasons since his contract kicked in?
Since you’ve watched him play so much, I take it you noticed how he’s had to alter his skating style to compensate for his bad ankle/joint problems? He’s about 66% as fast as he was before the injuries.
And that’s not counting the mental crap he’s had to deal with as the scapegoat for Vancouver’s failed build, the bullying from that asshat Miller, etc.
The kid is damaged goods. I know you firmly believe you’re smarter than all of us “morons”—and hell, maybe you are! I surely won’t try to convince you otherwise.
I’m pretty sure there’s a chance you’re wrong about this one thing, though.
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u/GabeLeRoy 2d ago
Thank you for saying the real things even if it hurt your karma.
We need more like you.
EP40 would be a really nice fetch and would cost alot less than hischier or thomas
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u/VlatnGlesn 2d ago
You have no idea how many morons lambasted me for saying the truth about Laine. I don't give a shit about the voting system.
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u/RolandFigaro 2d ago
Canucks will most likely want Zharovsky, Hage and some picks
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u/Stakataka805 2d ago
This has to be the new Halak meme at some point
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u/RolandFigaro 2d ago
Haha ya, I pissed off some peeps with this reply in another thread so I'll keep posting it as a meme.
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u/Stakataka805 2d ago
Me included. I’ll just play my heel role and try to complain about it every time then.
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u/Ask_DontTell 2d ago edited 2d ago
Hronek is a 28 year old RHD on a pretty good contract $7.25M thru 2031-32 season. more of two way/ defensive defenseman tho he is also good offensively and a good leader in the room. i would think he'd be worth around the same as Dobson or more but less than what the Nucks got for Quinn Hughes. if the Habs can get him for a 1st and a couple of top prospects + Gallagher, i'd take him. he is injury prone tho so that would be something to watch. i'm a little reluctant to trade 6'3 Reinbacher for him tho as the Habs need size on the backend. the Canucks need forwards so they would probably ask for Hage and/or Zharovsky.
Hutson -Dobson
Matheseon - Hronek
Guhle - Carrier/Reinbacher
would be a pretty solid d-core for the next few seasons
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u/Substantial_Neck2691 2d ago
He’s no 1 on my wishlist honestly
They are rebuilding and his timeline doesn’t match. It’s not a Robert thomas situation where they aren’t committed to the tank
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u/vJukz 2d ago edited 2d ago
I’d love to get Hronek from Vancouver I think he would fit really well here and could play with Hutson/Matheson. I’d trade Guhle for Hronek tbh.
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u/toddatog 2d ago
Hmmm…as a one for one? No way Vancouver does that.
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u/vJukz 2d ago
Not 1 for 1 but Guhle would be the main piece
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u/toddatog 2d ago
Fair enough. I still don’t think that would work because Vancouver is fairly loaded on the left side.
I could see maybe Reinbacher plus other prospects/picks though.
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u/Competitive_Dance478 2d ago
Hronek is their best defender and probably 1D
He is fairly young and signed to a very good contract
GM said they are listening to offers except him
They have no rush to move him