Who would you even draft if you got to #2. They might be there at #5.

Demidov or Lindstrom, which both might go in top 4, with Levshunov being the 4th one, sure, cbj likes Silayev but they also got small players and need some size.

It's a strong offer, seeing as there isn't as huge of a gap in talent between 2 and 5 this year as most years. But, I think CHI probably stays put. We'll see though. I wouldn't hate it if they got an absolute haul for trading back a few spots.

Demidov at #2. He's really good.
People say he'll maybe be a 100 point player, and Celebrini is like Toews 2.0....
Kinda makes you wonder why Demidov isn't considered #1. I guess it's cause Celebrini has a much higher floor

Yea as a Habs fan, I would hate this deal.
However, Anaheim and Chi are 2 teams who I think would consider trading down to #5 with Montreal. THey can use Dmen and they both know Mtl needs Omen

haha. Idk about that. CHI needs offense more than Montreal does. We are stacked on D. We could maybe use a bit more depth of right shot D, but our GM doesn't seem too concerned with handedness. Demidov has to be the right answer for CHI at 2nd overall. I can't see any other way for them and it's unlikely we will ever be picking quite this high for a while. But I guess we'll see.

I don't know. To be completely honest I don't think CHI is 'stacked' on D. But yes, I know not everyone shares my opinion. Properly an unpopular one.
If I'm CHI, its tough. Because if Reichel and Nazar were further ahead in their development, I would definitely take one of those Dmen.

At 20th overall or later, sure, CHI should take some defensemen, preferably RD. But, with the 2nd overall pick the only correct choice is Ivan Demidov, IMO. He is in a class of his own after Celebrini. He might even end up being the bigger star, ultimately.

Yea I really agree about Demidov. I just hope Davidson is too stupid to take him.

haha. For sure. That would be pretty stupid. I have a feeling the scouting staff under Doneghey is gonna be pounding on the table for Levshunov and make him think about it more. But there really shouldn't be any question. Personally, I would take Buium over Levshunov, and I'm definitely not drafting Buium 2nd overall. So, that should tell you where I'm at.

So, just for Hits and Giggles, what would you accept to swap #2 with Habs #5?
Would you accept Wpg 1st rd, Cgy 1st rd 2025, Arber Xhekaj and 1 of Beck/Mesar?

As in 5th OA + 9th OA + 27th OA + multiple prospects/young-players?

Personally, I wouldn't have much interest in Arber. But, that would be a pretty insane offer I think would be very difficult to pass on. Then again, you can get all the assets you want, but one great player for the next 20 years could be worth staying put. My initial feeling is that CHI would accept, but it's still something that I would have to think about before making any brash decisions.

no, not 9th OA. that CGY pick is next year.

I don't see the 9th OA? I agree this would be an insanely strong offer. For me, the CGY pick has so many conditions to it that I'd rather have something a bit more certain...

What about MTL's #5 OA, along with MTL's 2025 1st round pick, plus Barron and Beck, for CHI's #2 OA?

No Habs won't trade that.. because that 2025 1st rounder can also be a strong lottery pick, obviously the Habs wouldn't trade that.
That CGY pick is pretty certain, most of the conditions are already gone. Its almost certain to be CGY's pick next year

Fair. I was going to offer that MTL could make the 2025 1st have top ten protection, but unsure that'd help...

If what it comes down to, then, is MTL's #5 OA, plus WPG's #27 and CGY's 2025 1st, plus Beck and Barron, I'd prolly do it. Which means it might be too good a deal for the Hawks - i.e., that the Habs would NOT do it, LOL.

Thanks for being willing to discuss this. Unlike 2023 - when not a single 1st round trade occurred - I sense a bevy of trades may happen in the first round this year.

Cheers

I would be inclined to accept this offer. I would ask to swap out Roy for Beck and would prefer the Winnipeg 1st this year (mainly cause that Calgary pick has so many conditions on it that it may defer another year). I could live with either the Calgary pick OR the Montreal pick in '25 with like top 10 protection on the Montreal pick....biggest thing being the Hawks more likely end up with a pick instead it pushed to '26.

Ideal for me is #2 for #5, Roy, Barron, Winnipeg pick. You end up with NHL ready RW and RHD which are the two biggest holes in the Hawk prospect pool. Roy is a real nice compliment to the current Hawk prospect poolof forwards (and so is Beck for that matter). #5 should give you a choice of Biuim or Parkeh which is more of the ingredient the Hawk D pool needs...a PP1 option. Winnipeg pick, Tampa, pick and 3 2nds means we can get back even into the top 10 if we want and easilyinto the 12-15 range where I think the next level of forward are going to come off the board.

I like Demidov quite a bit, but something like this would be too hard to pass up for me.

Right... I just saw CGY 1st and then glanced at the draft order really quick. Didn't realize you were talking about a 2025 pick. My bad.

Well, that changes things significantly, especially with all the conditions on the CGY pick. It could actually be amazing if that pick slides to 2026 unprotected and CGY is still in rebuild mode but it's risky. I guess it depends on what players are coming to CHI in the deal. Unlike some CHI fans, I have ZERO interest in Barron, and as I've already said I don't have much interest in Arber. Some players I think CHI would be interested in are Reinbacher, Mesar, Hutson, Beck, Florian Xhekaj, Roy, and Pitlick.

That isn't true. Most of those conditions are still there, and CGY will likely be at the bottom of the standings next season. So that could very easily end up being FLA's 2025 1st which will more than likely be a late rounder.

I realize that there are so many possibilities being discussed here, that's it's getting confusing... To confuse things a bit more (*wink*), if CGY's '25 1st were dropped from the deal, and it came down to MTL's #5 OA & WPG's #27 OA, along with Beck and Reinbacher, the Hawks would be fools to pass that up, IMO.

If I were MTL, Reinbacher would be the deal-breaker for me. Although... if MTL really wants/needs elite star power - with Demidov fitting that description for them - then maybe they'd accept it?

Thanks for the conversation!

No. Reinbacher is not part of the conversation.

Yeah, I figured... thx