A Winning Habit
Fansided

2021 will be the year the dynamic of the Montreal Canadiens changes

By Omar L

OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 20: Montreal Canadiens Right Wing Joel Armia (40) and Montreal Canadiens Center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) celebrate a goal during first period National Hockey League action between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on October 20, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 20: Montreal Canadiens Right Wing Joel Armia (40) and Montreal Canadiens Center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) celebrate a goal during first period National Hockey League action between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on October 20, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens
WINNIPEG, MB – MARCH 30: Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Good Ol’ Petey

Jeff Petry has been a big part of the Montreal Canadiens defence since acquiring him from the Edmonton Oilers. His mobility and offensive mindset led to a number of scoring, but he stood out the most during the 2017-18 season when Weber was shut down for the year. Even after Weber returned to the lineup, Petry still performed well.

He signed an extension with the Habs in June of 2015 which saw him make $5.5 million, but he’ll become an unrestricted free agent that July as well. Petry has yet to hit the 50-point mark which could bring whatever his ask is down. However, we’re also projecting two years down the line where hopefully the Habs have a much better power play.

Petry was able to reach 46 points this past season with a poor-producing one, and that number could skyrocket once the team gets more creative minds out there.

At the same time, Petry will also be 33 that summer. A long term deal would be tough to swallow, but a shorter one could work, especially if his skating doesn’t take a hit. It all depends on what kind of cap hit he’ll be looking for which makes Petry a likely candidate to leave making room for some younger names (Josh Brook?).

Reilly will be an unrestricted free agent that season as well, but it’ll be a pendulum swing at that point. The Montreal Canadiens could choose to keep him for depth at a cheap number or let him walk.

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