A Winning Habit
Fansided

Would a Domi-Ehlers Trade Make Sense for Both the Habs and the Jets?

By Sebastian High

MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 01: Max Domi #13 of the Montreal Canadiens reacts after scoring a goal in the third period against the Washington Capitals during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on November 1, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Washington Capitals 6-4. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 01: Max Domi #13 of the Montreal Canadiens reacts after scoring a goal in the third period against the Washington Capitals during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on November 1, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Washington Capitals 6-4. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
Montreal Canadiens, Max Domi, Nikolaj Ehlers
MONTREAL, QC – NOVEMBER 01: Max Domi Nikolaj Ehlers Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Given that Montreal will be dealing from a position of greater weakness, given that they have a more pressing need to move Domi, that Domi remains an RFA and that Domi is coming off a significantly worse season than Ehlers, I believe that the Habs will have to sweeten the pot in the trade, despite Domi being a centreman and Ehlers, a winger.

I could see the Habs adding Cale Fleury since he will be valued by the Jets, who, as was previously mentioned, have a need at right defence. While Fleury is a nice piece for the Canadiens, he is an expendable one, with Noah Juulsen and Josh Brook in the pipeline. Cale Fleury is my favourite of the three and is the surest bet to help the Jets next season amongst those three, which is why they would want him.

I would also see the Canadiens sending back a small contract in the trade, just to free up a little bit more space in this new flat-cap era; I could see that player being Jordan Weal, who has a season remaining at $1.4 million and is unlikely to crack the Canadiens’ lineup next season.

I really think that this is a win-win trade for the two teams. Winnipeg will get their sought-after second-line centre who may very well produce an incredible amount of points when paired with a natural goalscorer in Patrik Laine; and will bolster the right side of their defence not only for the future of their organization but for its present as well.

Montreal, for its part, will acquire a left-winger who can also play on the right side and who not only scores goals but is a consistent performer. At just 24, Nikolaj Ehlers would have the opportunity to become a core piece of the Canadiens for the next decade, and with great playmakers in Kotkaniemi and Suzuki as his potential centremen, his goal totals may even reach the thirties.

Next. 2019-20 Habs Report Cards. dark

In two years’ time, the Canadiens’ top-9 may look like something like:

Drouin-Suzuki-Caufield

Ehlers-Kotkaniemi-Gallagher

Lehkonen-Danault-Armia

Not half bad…

All statistics are sourced from NaturalStatTrick.com.

Home/Editorials