By Montreal Canadiens’ Discreet Expert
I’ve decided to take out my pen to create a balance between podcasts that want to see the Habs stay in a rebuild for the next 34 years and sites that throw trade rumors into the wind.
Still, it would be surprising if the Habs stripped for Martin Necas, Trevor Zegras or Patrik Laine, but I admit it makes for good discussion topics.
Martin Necas just had a less productive season than Jonathan Drouin
I love the podcast Sortie de zone presented by La Presse and 98.5, and I think I’m the most regular listener. I fell out of my shoes when Antoine Roussel said over and over again that he would trade Cole Caufield for Martin Necas.
Summary of our experts’ offers for Martin Necas:
- Alain Crête: Michael Matheson and more
- Jean-Charles Lajoie: Arber Xhekaj and the 26th overall pick
- Jean-François Baril: 5th overall
- Antoine Roussel: Cole Caufield
- Marc-Olivier Beaudoin: Mike Matheson and 26th overall
“The grass is always greener in the neighbor’s garden” – Conte D’Alphonse Daudet, 1887
In my psychology studies, I quickly learned the concept of upward social comparison… In short, human beings tend to think that everything is better in the neighbor’s garden… without remembering that appearances are always deceiving.
Jonathan Drouin: 56 points in 79 games +12
Martin Necas: 53 points in 77 games -9
Have you fallen on your face? Watch the Carolina games???? Here, I purposely brought out Drouin. Both comparables play for league powers and don’t necessarily get TOP-3 minutes when everyone else is healthy. You’re focusing on Martin Necas far too much… for some reason I don’t understand, other than to create content (whatever I’m doing right now)…… I’ll shut up.
Simple solution from the discreet expert: leave everything as it is, fish again and our healthy finances will benefit us one day to keep our youngsters or attack the UFAs.
I’ve even heard that Necas and his father want $8.8 million a year.
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Mike Matheson is the best bargain in the National Hockey League
I’ve never relied on advanced statistics because they’re far too complicated to decipher, and I have several careers in addition to being an expert on the Montreal Canadiens. As far as I’m concerned, all the statistics I need are in my Journal de Montréal. Goal, pass, more or less, let’s stick to the basics.
That’s why I threw down my cell phone when I started reading transaction proposals for Mike Matheson. We absolutely have to keep him, and here’s my plea:
- Quinn Hughes: 92 points for $7.8 million = $84,000 per point
- Cale Makar: 90 points for 9.0 million = $100,000 per point
- Erik Karlsson: 56 points for 11.5 million = $205,000 per point
- Mike Matheson: 62 points for 4.8 million = $78,000 per point
All without Elias Peterson, Nathan MacKinnon or Sidney Crosby.
The numbers speak for themselves: Mike Matheson is the most tempting bargain in the National League right now. When there’s a discount at the grocery store, it’s time to buy, not sell. I’m buying the idea of keeping Mike Matheson, he speaks French and wants to stay in Montreal. Lane Hutson has never played more than 39 games in his career… And removing the quarterback from our team would be dramatic for the Suzuki/Caufield/Slafkovsky production.
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We need to clean up our defense
I hear – and I think wrongly – people say that the Habs are “loaded” on the blue line, and I don’t agree with that statement at all.
A serious Stanley Cup contender can’t have Jordan Harris/Jonhathan Kovacevic/Justin Barron/Jayden Struble on its starting six at the same time. And I wouldn’t have you believe that Harris is a solid base for picking up a prospect from another club by grafting on a 3rd round pick. The aforementioned quartet will be replaced by David Reinbacher/Lane Hutson/Logan Mailloux/Adam Engstrom.
Since this is probably the last year of our rebuild… we’ll have to get back to winning and dreaming… at least before I die. We have to make sure we give precious ice time to those who are part of the solution, even if it means getting rid of some contracts in the draft or even the waivers.
My prediction for the opening game:
- Mike Matheson – Logan Mailloux
- Lane Hutson – David Savard
- Jayden Struble – Justin Barron
It’s cheap, we develop youth and give Justin Barron one last chance… A fascinating former first-round pick who could blossom on the second power-play unit.
I know… Where is Arber Xhekaj, halfway between the infirmary and the starting line-up? Justin Barron and Johnathan Kovacevic didn’t survive the Montreal summer.
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Sorry, Mathias, there won’t be any flash in the pan.
I’m going to make you smile, but the Montreal Canadiens can’t afford to spend on free agents. Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook are currently underpaid, Juraj Slafkovsky is already threatening the Habs’ salary structure and Kaiden Guhle will soon be on the chopping block. Don’t forget that the 2024-2025 season will be one to see if Cayden Primeau or Samuel Montembeault can compete for the first goaltending role. The money will be used to keep everyone, buy a goalie and, when the time comes, sign a superstar on July 1. To do so now would be pointless; we’re still too far from a first-tier team.
The hard truth is, the Habs aren’t 1-2 players away from being a team that can rival the Panthers or Oilers. Instead, I’d say we should be able to get rid of two contracts (Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher) and bring in a No1 center, a No1 defenseman and a No1 goalie.
In the meantime, who are we drafting on June 28?