MK: As much as I really wanted McCarron to work out, it just isn’t. Might be time to let the McCarron project end and move on to newer and younger players. Kerby Rychel is a left winger on a team flooded with wingers, but I see no reason why he couldn’t be signed for less than one million and continue to develop. He’s a young guy on a team looking to get younger, what could it hurt?
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KR: I think McCarron is who he is, A fringe NHLer. I’d love to see him take the next step literally and figuratively (apparently he’s working on his skating during the summer), but I’m just not sure he’ll pan out. Give him a two year, two-way $800K per year deal.
As for Rychel, I think it’s a lot of the same thought with him, a fringe NHLer. I’d give him a two-year, two-way deal at $650K per.
I think they’ll hopefully make Laval a better AHL team. Because a farm team is about development and not winning. Just look at the Leafs/Marlies set-up…oh wait.
OW: Both McCarron and Rychel are in the ‘Prove It’ category. McCarron played some of his best hockey in a Habs uniform in the latter section of the 2017-18 season but still hasn’t shown enough to warrant a full-time NHL job. To add-on to that, he’s far from a lock to make the team as the likes of Jacob de La Rose and Matthew Peca will surely have a roster spot ahead of him.
Rychel hasn’t had too much time in the NHL since his 32-game season in Columbus two years ago. The AHL has been his wheelhouse in that time frame, but he showed he can be a decent bottom nine option with the Montreal Canadiens last year.
The $900,000 AAV de La Rose got is the max for both, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see either accepting their qualifying offers or get something around $850,000. However, both should be one-year deals giving them a chance to prove they’re entitled to more.