![No, trading Christian Dvorak should not be the Habs’ priority](https://cdn.buminteractif.com/2024/08/GettyImages-1782048272.jpg)
As the rebuild progresses, we’ll start to see the effects on NHL training.
That said, for the moment, the youngsters pushing forward are mainly on the blue line, where it’s going to be quite a struggle. Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle and David Savard can rest easy, but there will be competition behind them.
Up front, it’s a different story. Joshua Roy is a youngster who’s likely to make the club, but he’s probably the only one with a chance of graduating.
That’s why Ryan Szporer’s recent piece for The Hockey Writers surprised me, especially when he mentions that if Kent Hughes is to have one priority between now and the end of the off-season, it’s to trade Christian Dvorak.
With Kaiden Guhle locked up, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes can focus on further improving his team this offseason… even if he doesn’t really need to #GoHabsGo #THW https://t.co/vfSU2zkD9I
– Ryan Szporer (@rszporer) August 3, 2024
In it, Szporer explains that trading Dvorak would solve “several problems” in Montreal. In fact, he claims that the return of Kirby Dach will push Alex Newhook to the wing, which will probably push a guy like Joshua Roy out of the top-6.
And he doesn’t want to see Roy end up in a “Jesse Ylönen” situation, where he doesn’t have the offensive role to unlock.
That said, even if Dach is back, there’s still going to be a place in the top-6. It would be surprising if the first line (Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovský) were dismantled, but on the second unit, Dach and Newhook are going to need a winger.
In my eyes, Joel Armia is the logical candidate, but if Joshua Roy forces the club’s hand at camp, he can turn things around.
In any case, that said, I don’t really see how trading Dvorak (a center) would really help the Habs open up a spot for Roy (a winger). And considering that Dvorak probably isn’t a player in high demand on the trade market, you’d think Kent Hughes would have to pay to get rid of a guy who 1) isn’t really a problem and 2) will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Sending him to Columbus to swing salaries in a deal for Patrik Laine would make sense. On the other hand, there aren’t enough youngsters pushing for a position in town right now for the Habs to be willing to pay to get rid of Dvorak.
And ultimately, if a team wants Dvorak at the deadline, he can leave then. But instead of paying to get rid of a guy who’s going to fill in as third center until the youngsters arrive, we might as well wait for his contract to expire in ten months or so, right?
In Overtime
– 61 points: do you see Jonathan Huberdeau reaching that plateau?
Are you taking the over or under on Jonathan Huberdeau?
More @NHLFantasy player point projections from @NHLdotcom
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– NHL (@NHL) August 4, 2024
– Stanley Cup news.
Dog in the Cup.
DOG IN THE CUP! pic.twitter.com/LgBqcxa1kc
– Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) August 3, 2024
– I’m not a big fan.
How do you feel about this projected lineup for the @penguins?
Read more
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– NHL (@NHL) August 4, 2024