The Montreal Canadiens can really benefit from the flat salary cap
By Omar L
2) Helping Hand
This route seems to be the most likely as the Montreal Canadiens have done it before. On June 30th, 2018, the Habs sent Simon Bourque to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Joel Armia, Steve Mason, a seventh-round pick in 2019 and a fourth-round pick in 2020. It wasn’t a trade to get rid of a prospect, it was a trade specifically for the Jets to get away from Mason’s cap-hit so they could have enough room to possibly resign Paul Stastny.
Montreal bought out Mason and got Armia, who came into his own this season as well as two extra draft picks. All that for taking on a contract and getting rid of it.
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That’s definitely coming for Bergevin. All teams are likely going to get compliance buyouts to help them deal with the flat cap. The last time this took place was after the 2012 lockout, where the cap ceiling had to stay the same as the year before to make up for the shortened season.
If all teams get two, the Montreal Canadiens will easily use one on Karl Alzner. That deal has been haunting the team since it was signed, and considering the fact Alzner has barely played on the team, getting his contract off the books will free up more space and allow him to continue his career elsewhere.
The second buyout would be a mystery. There are no other outrageously egregious deals on the Habs. Shea Weber’s has a great deal of term but not only is he captain of the team, but the final years of his deal also have a great reduction in salary, making it easier to move later. Then there’s the option of Carey Price.
If the Habs want to move on from him, that will open up a lot of space. It wouldn’t only come down to relying on Cayden Primeau as they could also use that money to sign other goaltenders on the open market.
That said, the more likely scenario is the Habs take on a contract to buy it out and receive assets for it in the process. If the return can be similar to the Armia deal, then why not make it happen.