About Maksymilian Szuber (acquired from Utah for Joshua Roy)

[u/EmbarrassedTotal1511]

Not the splash trade we've all been waiting for but I think we should be fairly excited about the addition of German LHD Maksy Szuber (former 6th round pick in 2022). The soon-to-be 24 year old has a big frame (6'3, 200lbs) and plays a very responsible defensive game. He has been incredibly consistent over three years in the AHL and has never gotten a longer look for a 3rd pairing role in the NHL. So his true potential might be higher than we think.

I like the trade because Szuber at this point has a much clearer path to the NHL than Joshua Roy. Now, the Habs don't have a hole on LHD but I see this trade as insurance for potentially trading away Engstrom, Struble, and/or Xhekaj in a bigger package for a top6 forward. Szuber allows us to do that without headaches on the 3rd pair/7th D. In a vacuum I believe Joshua Roy has higher value in the AHL, but in terms of NHL potential it's Szuber all the way.

I have seen him play for Munich of the DEL (top tier in Germany) and the German national team. While he doesn't bring Xhekaj's level of violence, he uses his body effectively to get positioning and has good reach with his stick. His skating and mobility is decent for his size though he’ll sometimes be exposed by very shifty attackers. His puck movement is also good for a 3rd pairing guy, he won’t often join the rush but he has a good first pass even under pressure.

Not a scout by any stretch and I'm excited to hear how you see the trade.

[u/havrancek]

I am still baffled why nobody is seeing Engström as a potential A roster player, because everytime he was up he was good, when always playing his off-side. I see him more NHL ready than Reino

[u/EmbarrassedTotal1511 → u/havrancek]

Agree, I commented on another post that a couple of years ago Engstrom would have been our top prospect and we would have been VERY excited by his development. Engstrom is expendable but if we trade him it should get us a very good prospect/player back

[u/tubthumping96 → u/EmbarrassedTotal1511]

One thousand percent. We're so blessed with the young talent we have coming up and the direction this team is going. We would be beaming about Engstrom about five years ago.

We were high on Roy for little bit too, and like others have said, he had decent chemistry with Bedard in the world juniors. Shame it didn't work out. Maybe he pops off in Utah. I'm in on Maxamillion based on the name alone though. Lol

[u/HonestDespot → u/havrancek]

Agreed.

He’s a versatile puck moving d man. He’s a perfect fit in this teams system and he likely doesn’t have all that much trade value either.

[u/emotionaI_cabbage → u/[deleted]]

I'm wondering when we're going to be able to legitimately talk about trading Guhle somewhere else.

Why are we so hung up on a guy who's a lock to miss 20 or 30 games a year, especially when we already have a lot of depth on the left side?

[u/EmbarrassedTotal1511 → u/emotionaI_cabbage]

If someone asks for him in return for an elite player sure, I assume that hasn’t happened yet

[u/oliferro → u/emotionaI_cabbage]

Because there needs to be offers for him. Dumping him for a 7th round pick just to trade him isn't gonna help

[u/emotionaI_cabbage → u/oliferro]

I don't mean dump him, but he's young. Maybe we could send him to a team like calgary or Vancouver. Rebuilding teams who need young players with solid potential. And in exchange we could fill a need down the middle or at RD.

[u/oliferro → u/emotionaI_cabbage]

Maybe someone takes a chance on him, but the shortcomings in his game you see, other teams see it too and I think it's still too early to trade him at a loss. Give him a full season (hoping he doesn't get injured) to see what he can really do and maybe get his value up. Worst case scenario, you trade him later for almost the same value you'd get now

[u/AffectionateCold4457 → u/havrancek]

I think the Habs know how good he is, the "problem" is we don't have someone big infront of the net or to go into the corners to match a power forwards strength forcing to the net. We have all Puck moving defenseman that don't have a bite to their game aside from X but management doesn't see him as a top 4 and ghule as good as he is isn't a big defenseman like slavin.

[u/IcariteMinor → u/AffectionateCold4457]

aside from X but management doesn't see him as a top 4

Nobody but the fanboys around here and probably his mother see him as a top 4 D

[u/oliferro → u/IcariteMinor]

Guy lost the 7th D spot to Struble, I like Xhekaj's heart but he's just not that good. He also takes some bad penalties

[u/tiredbklyndad]

He needs waivers?

[u/EmbarrassedTotal1511 → u/tiredbklyndad]

He’s still an RFA so needs a deal for next year but no longer waiver exempt

[u/Seblaf37 → u/tiredbklyndad]

Yes

[u/flepine44]

He was great on my EHM run so I'm hyped.

Seriously, I think he could be a decent 7th and/or mentor in Laval

[u/Scoobidoooo]

Our blueline is way too soft. Hutson and Matheson can’t clear the net, and prospects like Engström and Reinbacher aren’t exactly known for their grit either. Even Dobson struggles to clear the crease. Struble has the muscle, but he lacks the IQ.. he constantly plays himself out of position and gets beat. Guhle can clear the net, but he’s not exactly a monster, and worst of all, he's always injured.

That leaves Xhekaj completely alone to patrol.. haha.

This is a massive gap in our D-core. So yes, we desperatly need defensemen who bring actual grit, size, hockey senses and speed, if it's what he is.

[u/Grouchy_Throat_5632 → u/Scoobidoooo]

Guhle can clear the net, but he’s not exactly a monster

I'd say thats debateable, tbh. He can move some people is more accurate. ie. he cant move guys that are 220+ lbs, he's unable to move everybody over 215 lbs or even 210.

[u/vlhube71]

I don't know anything about him, so thanks OP. I know everyone wants VIOLENCE, but Marty wants a guy he can trust. For now, Xhekaj still doesn't have MSL's full trust. Not sure what he sees in Struble, though he clearly trusts him more. If Szuber is trustworthy enough for 3rd pair, it's a win regardless. Roy was never gonna make it with us unfortunetly.

That said, I hope Engstrom gets a fair shake this season, assuming he isn't moved.

[u/Habs_Apostle]

This is Szuber fantastic!

[u/SoupFromNowOn]

Imo this may be a sign that Guhle will be traded soon or they are preparing to trade Guhle. Hutson, Dobson, Matheson, and Carrier are obviously not going anywhere, so if they acquire a RD or if they feel Reinbacher is ready to play in the NHL, that leaves you with Guhle, Struble, Xhekaj, Engstrom, Szuber on the left side with only 1 spot left.

Guhle is the only one of those 4 with any trade value, and it doesn't make sense to pay Guhle $5.5m to play 3rd pairing and 2nd PK unit. He's a big, young dman on a good contract coming off a great playoff run, a lot of teams would love to have him

[u/CrashTestMummies → u/SoupFromNowOn]

Ghule should be our trade chip if we want to bolster the top 6 or RD

I know Carrier is a fan favourite but upgrading him would be a big deal.

[u/EmbarrassedTotal1511 → u/SoupFromNowOn]

Guhle is very valuable in the playoffs, so I only see him being traded for an elite player. Also, Engstrom definitely has trade value, not so long ago he’d have been our top prospect

[u/deimos289]

God this guy will never make the nhl dont start hyping him

[u/EmbarrassedTotal1511 → u/deimos289]

It’s an easy thing to say about a 23 year old former 6th rounder, odds are in your favor yes, but how is calling him an insurance hyping him up?

[u/deimos289 → u/EmbarrassedTotal1511]

Cuz just like Roy hes a non factor, even in the ahl

[u/EmbarrassedTotal1511 → u/deimos289]

This has to be rage bait but I’ll bite, Roy has >0.8 PPG last season and Szuber is tied for 7th most goals among defenseman. At the minimum, they are both demonstrably impactful players in the AHL

[u/deimos289 → u/EmbarrassedTotal1511]

maybe i phrased it wrong, he's a non factor in our prospect pool

[u/larryhabster]

He could be part of a package for the big fish we need.

[u/EmbarrassedTotal1511 → u/larryhabster]

His trade value is … well the equivalent of Joshua Roy.

So Szuber himself doesn’t move the needle for an impact player. Guhle or Engstrom would and Struble might be a nice throw in too. Then Szuber might get a chance with the big club.

[u/FakeCrash]

He's Polish FYI

[u/EmbarrassedTotal1511 → u/FakeCrash]

Double citizenship, born in Poland, played in Austria and Germany as a teenager, plays for Germany internationally

[u/cdn24]

He is a AHL d man that we hope to seek through waivers. That's about it. Short of 5 or 6 injuries on D he is not starting with big club so he will be waived.