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Montreal Canadiens: Five Best Free Agent Signings Since 2000

By Ken MacMillan

MONTREAL, CANADA - OCTOBER 22: Mike Cammalleri #13 misses a shot on net on a pass by teammate Brian Gionta #21 of the Montreal Canadiens in front of Jonas Gustavsson #50 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on October 22, 2011 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, CANADA - OCTOBER 22: Mike Cammalleri #13 misses a shot on net on a pass by teammate Brian Gionta #21 of the Montreal Canadiens in front of Jonas Gustavsson #50 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on October 22, 2011 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) /
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The Montreal Canadiens have had some hits and misses when it comes to free agency. We count down the top five free agent signings they made since 2000.

The Montreal Canadiens, like every team in hockey, have had some great free agent signings and some regrettable signings as well. The Habs have gone through four different general managers since the beginning of the new millennium and each of them have some highs and lows when it comes to free agency.

The Canadiens have developed a reputation as a team that can’t attract the top free agents. This is not a new phenomenon as the tax situation in the province of Quebec is among the worst in the league.

Still, there are bonuses to playing in a hockey-mad city like Montreal and some players are attracted to that atmosphere. Playing a playoff game in the Bell Centre is an experience that is difficult to replicate in other cities. Of course, the team hasn’t don’t a lot of winning this century so that doesn’t help when trying to lure free agents to town.

Due to the tax situation, it leads to a lot of free agents needing to be overpaid to come to Montreal. Brandon Prust was a solid bottom six winger, but $10 million over four years? Keith Kinkaid got $1.75 million after being the third string goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets and never hitting the ice late in the season.

So, it goes with the territory that good, big name free agents need to be paid big money and even not-so-big name free agents need to be paid fairly well. If you choose to add players through free agency, you aren’t getting them to take a pay cut, especially in Montreal.

So, what does go into a great free agent signing? Obviously they have to have a significant impact on the team’s performance. Jeff Halpern was a great signing at $600,000 to play a bottom six role. He won face-offs, killed penalties and chipped in decent offence for a third line player. But were his 11 goals and 26 points a significant component of the Habs making the playoffs in 2011?

Not really. But we will see a few players who had a significant impact in 2011 in a few minutes. Let’s take a look at the Montreal Canadiens five best free agent signings since 2000.

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