Montreal Canadiens likely to wait until 2019 for burst of youth

A lot of people will argue that a player like Shaw might not deserve to be a “lock,” but with four more years at 3.9 million, it’s unlikely you’re going to find a taker for him, especially amidst health concerns. Teams still value a player like Shaw; it just feels unlikely they will find a trading partner. If they do, you’re likely to see the Canadiens eat some of that salary. Until then, assuming good health, Shaw will be in the Canadiens top-12.

Peca has yet to be seen in a Montreal Canadiens uniform, but the Habs didn’t give him a two-year, one-way deal to sit around. Management clearly sees him as a bottom-six center and part of the solution, and with his agility and quick feet, he very well could find himself as high as the third line center position this year.

I suppose the argument can be created that Armia isn’t a “lock,” but putting up 30 points on a Jets fourth line with no power play time means there’s certainly upside with the former Sabres first round pick.

There will also be questions as to whether Montreal decides to go with seven or eight defencemen, 8 is usually the safer call. The issue here is that there are a lot of bodies, but not a ton of talent. The Canadiens are stockpiling talented centers up front, and have made that ever so clear at the draft, but the back-end needs work, and it has to get more mobile than it currently is.