Montreal Canadiens: Five Best Free Agent Fits For Habs

Taylor Hall

Hall is the best forward available on the free agent market without a doubt. He won the Hart Trophy as league MVP just two years ago and plays a fast paced, grinding style that is exactly what the Canadiens are looking for this offseason.

Their additions of Joel Edmundson and Josh Anderson clearly show a team that is trying to get more physical and more difficult to play against. Hall isn’t a scrapper by any means but he doesn’t back down and plays almost too reckless.

He is also capable of scoring at a point per game pace which would be a huge upgrade for the Canadiens forwards. He could help pump some life into a dreadful power play and make the Habs a more dangerous team at even strength.

The only reason Hall isn’t higher on this list is because he doesn’t fit seamlessly into the Habs current lineup. First of all, his asking price is going to put the Habs over the salary cap. Teams are allowed to do that temporarily in the offseason, but they would then be forced to trade someone who makes a few million to make room.

Maybe it results in the loss of Jonathan Drouin who could draw a decent return. But that just makes things more complicated and there is always the possibility Hall’s production declines soon or Drouin explodes with a new team leaving the Habs with buyer’s remorse.