Montreal Canadiens: Addressing the rumours and Pacioretty’s production
By Omar L
![MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 17: General manager of the Montreal Canadiens Marc Bergevin speaks with the media during the NHL Centennial 100 Celebration at the Windsor Hotel on November 17, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/NHLI via Getty Images) MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 17: General manager of the Montreal Canadiens Marc Bergevin speaks with the media during the NHL Centennial 100 Celebration at the Windsor Hotel on November 17, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/NHLI via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/4d15f5f00d5f02ea5aa3ce3f1f14be29805b6e4f278c0184d53e2e2359fb0449.jpg)
2) The Habs must have Josh Brook, Scott Walford, Cale Fleury, and Jarret Tyszka signed by June 1st to hold on to their rights. How many of them receive entry-level deals?
MK: Potentially all four. The only one who I could potentially see floating is Scott Walford, but even yet doubtful. They are all young defensemen who are producing. I don’t see any reason to throw them away before they show what they are really capable of yet.
KR: I’ll go out on a limb and say all of them. Depth is always a good thing to have in the organization, and they all have decent size. Fleury is the guy generating some buzz.
ZC: Josh Brook has had the injury bug, but I still see a ton of potential in the young defenceman. I think he’s done enough to get qualified, and would be the priority out of these four. I don’t know enough about Jarret Tyszka’s development to comment, but I have heard good things. In regards to Scott Walford and Cale Fleury, both seem to be on the Canadiens radar, and time will tell if their development continues with the Montreal Canadiens organization.
Must Read. Much Improved Prospect Pool. light
OW: In an ideal world, all get signed to entry-level contracts, and I’m willing to bet more on that scenario. The only cause for concern is that the Montreal Canadiens currently sit at 47 contracts and only have room for three more. Granted the four defencemen have until June 1st to get a deal, and some player movement should take place within the Habs system.
Pacioretty, Paul Byron, Kenny Agostino, Byron Froese, Antti Niemi, Tomas Plekanec, and Jordie Benn will be unrestricted free agents. Byron is the only one I can see getting an extension with the Habs for sure and who knows, maybe things smooth out between Pacioretty and management where they agree on an extension.
But if we’re ranking them based on their potential for the future Fleury, Brook, and Walford should get contracts first and foremost.