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Montreal Canadiens: Five “Swinging For The Fences” Moves We Could See This Summer

By Ken MacMillan

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 27: Max Domi #13 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his goal with teammates on the bench during the first period against the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre on February 27, 2020 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 27: Max Domi #13 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his goal with teammates on the bench during the first period against the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre on February 27, 2020 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 19: Pierre-Luc Dubois #18 of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Brett Kulak #17 of the Montreal Canadiens battle for control of the puck during the second period on November 19, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 19: Pierre-Luc Dubois #18 of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Brett Kulak #17 of the Montreal Canadiens battle for control of the puck during the second period on November 19, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

2. Maybe the Aho offer sheet was just testing the waters before the real one?

The Montreal Canadiens were reportedly very interested in drafting Pierre-Luc Dubois in 2016. They held the ninth overall pick and there was no chance Dubois was falling that far. There were rumours Bergevin wanted to trade up to fourth or fifth with the Edmonton Oilers or Vancouver Canucks so they could draft Dubois.

There were rumours that P.K. Subban could be offered up for the fifth pick if Dubois was available but that seemed ludicrous at the time. Of course, we all know the Columbus Blue Jackets went off script at third overall and took Dubois which made it impossible for the Habs to get their hands on him.

Still, when a general manager really wants a player, he continues to try and acquire him any time the possibility occurs. Well that could very well be a possibility this summer. Dubois will see his entry-level contract expire on July 1st and he will become a restricted free agent. This means the Blue Jackets will have the chance to match any offer that comes to Dubois from another team or receive compensation if he leaves, but that hasn’t stopped Bergevin from trying in the past.

The Canadiens shook up free agent frenzy last summer when Bergevin presented an offer to Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes had a week to either match the offer or accept the Habs first, second and third overall picks in exchange for Aho. They matched, and then whined about it for about six months.

Could Bergevin try the same thing this summer with a player he has coveted for four years? Of course he could. He would really be swinging for the fences, but that is what we have been told he plans on doing.

Dubois played one more year of Junior after being drafted, but then had a solid rookie campaign, scoring 20 goals and 48 points in 2017-18. Last season he upped those totals to 27 goals and 61 points. This year he is on pace for 22 goals and 57 points. Dubois is a big centre from the province of Quebec and would be a huge asset to bring into Montreal. Could Bergevin basically offer him what he offered Aho a year ago? Why not?

Come to think of it, when the Habs couldn’t draft Dubois they settled for Mikhail Sergachev. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Jonathan Drouin but will also be a RFA this summer. If not Dubois, could Bergevin target Sergachev with an offer sheet?

The Lightning are perennially in cap trouble and already have Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh signed long-term on the left side of their defence. How much is too much to keep Sergachev? Even if the Habs offer him $4.2 million on a short-term contract, it would be tough for the Bolts to fit into their cap next year and it would only cost the Habs a second round pick.

The Habs likely learned from last year that they have to go above and beyond, or, in other words, swing for the fences when using offer sheets. This would likely mean they would up their offer into the $5.5 million range so that the Lightning would have no choice, but it would cost the Habs their next first and third round picks. Risky for sure, but that’s what swinging for the fences means.

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