28 Jan 2024 17:43:21
MTL Trades:

- Gallagher (25% retained)
- Primeau
- Norlinder

EDM Trades:

- Campbell
- Bourgault
- 1st ('25)


- EDM gets two guys who can play now.

- EDM gets depth in net and at forward.

- Gally gets to come home and refocus his game on a true contender.

- EDM gets rid of the Campbell contract AND adds to their team, while keeping their 1st in 2024 for another move if needed.


- MTL does right by Gally, sending him home to a contender, so that he can play meaningful games again.

- MTL & EDM exchange prospects that no one values especially highly, but wouldn't want to lose for nothing.

- MTL scan but out or bury Campbell in the minors, without any of the guilt of doing it to a good soldier like Gally.

- MTL gives some future in Norlinder to secure the 1st, while freeing up prospect space on D.

28 Jan 2024 20:40:44
i doubt montreal accepts the trade. just not enough to justify campbell's contract.

28 Jan 2024 22:10:43
Regarding the Campbell contract, MTL is one of the teams in the unique position to make it work to their advantage.

3 Options Include:

1. Campbell’s salary in the minors is only 3.85M for the next 3 years.

2. The Habs aren’t even using all the LTIR cap relief from the Price contract, which provides ample relief in its next two years. (His contract of 10.5M is on the books the next 2 seasons. )

3. if the Habs wanted to they could buy out Campbell’s contract for 1.1, 2.3, 2.6, 1.5, 1.5 & 1.5. (6-year buyout)

- If it were me, I’d utilize option #1, and be done with it in 3 years. Cap space isn’t an issue in MTL with where they’re at as a rebuilding team, and they’re available LTIR the next 2 years.

- If they need cap space in year 3 the cost for relief in trade will be a lot less that it will be this year in a capped-out league.

- Campbell can be the 3rd-string vet they can use as a veteran backup in the need of a call-up, or send him to the ECHL if he’s blocking a development space.

This provides EDM with contract relief & depth they need, and it works for MTL too. A “win-win” that addresses the needs of two teams, unlike the steady stream of leaf-friendly deals that we see here far too often.

29 Jan 2024 06:29:45
Not much of a point for EDM to add there 1st and Bourgault when they get that bad of a contract back. 50% retained sure, otherwise they may as well keep the picks and buy Campbell out.

If it costs Edmonton a 1st and 3rd to trade Campbell it cost Montreal a 1st to trade Gallagher at 5M.

29 Jan 2024 14:44:08
- Everyone knows Bourgault & Primeau are available, and I suspect neither team will get what they originally thought they’d get. Thus the saw-off in this deal.

- Campbell isn’t even an AHL asset anymore. Gally has tread left on his tire, and EDM needs depth up front and in net. This trade addresses all of that.

- A summer buyout of Campbell doesn’t help them when they need it most: now. This may be their last season with Draisaitl, so it’s now or never.

29 Jan 2024 15:31:16
Gallagher at 5M hurts them more than Campbell buyout of 1.5-2.5 does. Not that it matters but Campbell has been playing well in the AHL.

29 Jan 2024 18:01:52
Also the Oilers have a vet Pickard playing good hockey, Primeau would probably have to be sent down and I’m guessing he’d have to pass through waivers?

29 Jan 2024 18:43:24
I’m willing to bet the farm that Kenny knows he needs a better insurance option than Pickard.

This team needs to make the most of this offseason. As soon as this season is over then the questions will be loud about what to do with Draisaitl.

One thing is for sure: Kenny will be the most interesting GM to watch going into the deadline IMHO. ?.

29 Jan 2024 20:31:13
Definitely a good idea to get an upgrade in net but Primeau isn’t it.

30 Jan 2024 02:41:07
I would agree with you that Primeau isn’t the answer, but on balance, EDM achieves multiple objectives in this deal to my eyes.

With cap space at a premium, and with the availability of options and asset cost in a capped-out league, I stand by this being a balanced move to address multiple areas of need. Waiting to buy out Campbell in the summer just isn’t good enough if this is the last season with Drai, IMHO.

30 Jan 2024 14:01:59
Coughing up that retained contract on Gallagher handcuffs Edmonton a lot and offsets the cap space gained by trading away Campbell. My guess is something close to a 50% retention would be a lot more enticing for Edmonton. With the cap reportedly going up a lot in the next few years, MTL will have a lot more flexibility going forward, even with retention on his contract for a few years. Also, by the end of 2025, they'll have more than 5M in dead cap freed from the retention of Petry and Edmundson's contracts and on top of that Alzner's buyout.

30 Jan 2024 19:50:47
Excellent post Matador.

I see Gally and EDM being a fit, and being good for each other.

You may be right about retaining 50% rather than 25% on Gally, but you have to remember that it's about striking the right balance between asset and cap values. 25% seemed like a good balance considering the Campbell contract coming back the other way, and the fact that Gally can still play if the cap hit is adjusted.

I just can't imagine a more generous offer for Campbell than this, but maybe Kenny will do something that will blow us all away? (Kenny seems primed for a big surprise! )

01 Feb 2024 15:02:01
Wont be surprised at all if Edmonton maybe adds Jones for a late round draft pick once Woll comes back. He's had some good games for the Leafs, he'd be a good vet to backup Skinner. I'd love for the Leafs to hold onto him, but there's no one lining up to take Samsonov from us so ?.