I don't get why the Habs would give up assets for Laine when the free agent class of 2025 has multiple players that the 7 million would be better suited for.

That is true I maybe should have done retention on it? I just feel the age fits better with the Habs then trying to grab a UFA that are usually around 30 looking for a payout

Or just trust the process at least for next year, then look at your options the year after
A lot of 2025 picks, a lot of good free agents (some will resign obviously, but not all)

Probably fair value for laine if you take Dvorak out. Jackets still probably decline as they have no reason to move him and won’t be able to replace his potential in free agency or the draft

You cant be serious, "can't replace his potential in FA"? Have you seen the guys potentially available in FA? Pretty sure Reinhart or Marchessault replaces Laine with ease

The reason I added Dvorak is he is a vetern natural C that Columbus does't have outside of Boone Jenner. He has only 1 year left and could help play those hard defensive minutes allowing there young C to be more offensive threats.

We've got Kuraly, too, who's an assistant captain and in the same role. And Sillinger, who already has 220 NHL games at 20 years old (more than Newhook, Dach, Slaf, or Caulfield). We're fine.

Columbus and Montreal aren't great trade partners. We've got similar pieces, similar needs, and similar timelines to compete. Anything you all are looking for, we are too. Rather just keep Laine and hope for a bounceback, given we're also looking for top-6/elite talent.

Neither of those players are coming to the Habs or jackets lol. Reinhart is about to be 29 and will probably want 11+ million a year and wouldn’t put up the same numbers without barkov. Marchessault is about to be 34 so he probably wants to play for a contender