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Montreal Canadiens: Expectations for Max Domi, breakout candidates, and cap space

By Omar L

MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 16: Look on Arizona Coyotes Left Wing Max Domi (16) and Montreal Canadiens Left Wing Max Pacioretty (67) during the Arizona Coyotes versus the Montreal Canadiens game on November 16, 2017, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 16: Look on Arizona Coyotes Left Wing Max Domi (16) and Montreal Canadiens Left Wing Max Pacioretty (67) during the Arizona Coyotes versus the Montreal Canadiens game on November 16, 2017, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2) Are the Montreal Canadiens making a mistake by heading into another year with a decent amount of cap space? 

WS: The Montreal Canadiens are not making a mistake not using the entire cap. Leaving some space open might be one of the best moves that they make this season. The extra cap space can allow the Canadiens to take on a poor contract as well as adding picks as the season goes on. Much like Arizona did in the 2017 Draft taking Pavel Datsyuk‘s contract from the Detroit Red Wings for picks. Going into the season with the cap space they have is definitely not a bad move.

ZC: Absolutely not. This is a developmental season for the Montreal Canadiens, and come the trade deadline, they can use their available cap space to help a contending team in need of space. In exchange, the Habs can receive assets that will potentially help shape the future of the club. In 2018, cap space is one of the biggest assets that a team can have, and the Canadiens need to strategically use it to their advantage this season.

KR: No. It doesn’t make sense to commit dollars to players who aren’t going to help your team just to get closer to the cap. Having the cap space is an asset for the Habs because they can potentially take on bad contracts for picks – although this didn’t happen at last season’s trade deadline. There just aren’t any free agents out there who can significantly upgrade the club. It’s best to let the young Habs play, give them some valuable NHL experience and see what they can become. This year is all about development and handing out bad contracts is not the way to go.

OW: Everyone is interested to see how Armia does on the Habs this upcoming season. Well, that trade probably doesn’t happen if the Habs don’t have the space to take on Mason’s deal and buy it out. In this day and age of the NHL, cap space is a weapon just as much as it is a luxury. Teams will be looking to make trades down the line, and if they need some help, Montreal can happily extending a hand for the right price.

Whether it’s a similar situation to deal with Winnipeg or being the third-party on a larger move, the Montreal Canadiens can benefit in the long run from having that extra wiggle room.

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