Cole Caufield vs. the sixth pick: Mathias Brunet’s suggestion

Sometimes, suggestions about the Canadiens surface on social networks. These aren’t rumours, they’re just ideas for fun.

And yesterday, Mathias Brunet did just that on BPM Sports.

In his column of the day with Martin Lemay on BPM Sports, the journalist from La Presse took Pierre LeBrun’s article on the Salt Lake City club as a starting point, and wondered whether the team would take on a big contract. A good big contract, I mean.

What’s next for NHL Utah, armed with over $40 million in cap space? Catching up with Bill Armstrong. My latest for@TheAthletic https://t.co/1EulFslFC7

– Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 29, 2024

The question he raised: would Utah want to give the sixth overall pick in the next auction to the Habs if the returner was none other than Cole Caufield? A more minor point could be added: Caufield and the sixth pick are the foundation.

Of course, there’s a parallel to be drawn between Ottawa’s 2022 Alex DeBrincat deal (even though DeBrincat wasn’t signed long-term at the time) and Brunet’s idea.

The Ottawa Senators have acquired forward Alex DeBrincat from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for the 2022 7th overall pick, the 2022 39th overall pick and a 2024 3rd round pick. pic.twitter.com/lrs2bk275t

– Complete Hockey News (@CompleteHkyNews) July 7, 2022

It’s an interesting question, since Caufield surely has excellent market value and can clearly help a team. However, he’s not as hard to get out of Montreal, in my eyes, as captain Nick Suzuki or Juraj Slafkovsky might be.

Obviously, trading a Caufield (who clearly loves Montreal every hour of the day) would delay the Habs’ winning streak a bit. However, the Habs are still thinking long-term, and the question is: what’s worth more?

I think it would be difficult to answer that question (which is hypothetical and for fun, remember) until San Jose, Chicago, Anaheim and Columbus have chosen their players in the next auction.

That way, the Habs can see if they want to draft five and six players in a row. If worthwhile prospects are available, it could be worth the risk.

Imagine for a moment that Cayden Lindstrom and a top defenseman in the eyes of the Habs (who would become the best defenseman on the Habs’ roster) were available after the top-4. This would make it even easier for the Habs to trade one or more defensemen for a top-6 forward.

So, at volume, you replace Caufield with a big forward, improve your defense and add a Cayden Lindstrom with the pick you already had on hand.

Of course, I’m not saying that this is the right thing to do. If we push the analysis, we must also mention that the Habs would be giving up a player who produces right now and who may be small, but who can score. And the Habs don’t have many of those.

It’s a good (hypothetical, mind you) question from Mathias Brunet, and it’s no coincidence that Martin Lemay took forever to answer it.

In bursts

– Quite a story.

When he was ejected from the game, he threw his glove into the stands. https://t.co/UGeB2pn4qP

– Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) May 30, 2024

– The subject of his potential redemption never dies.

Three years ago the Carolina Hurricanes signed Jesperi Kotkaniemi to an offer sheet that successfully got him out of Montreal. What does his future with the team look like? @RoryBoylen explores. https://t.co/iTuBacGMx1

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 30, 2024

– I can imagine.