A Winning Habit
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4 Free Agents The Montreal Canadiens Should Consider Signing

By Teddy Elliot

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 12: Colton Sissons #10 of the Nashville Predators celebrates his goal with Ryan Ellis #4 and Craig Smith #15, to tie the game 4-4 with the Los Angeles Kings, during the third period in a 7-4 Kings win at Staples Center on October 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 12: Colton Sissons #10 of the Nashville Predators celebrates his goal with Ryan Ellis #4 and Craig Smith #15, to tie the game 4-4 with the Los Angeles Kings, during the third period in a 7-4 Kings win at Staples Center on October 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 28: Dominik Kahun (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 28: Dominik Kahun (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Dominik Kahun

2019-2020 Stats: With Pittsburg (50 GP – 10 G – 17 A – 27 PTS)
With Buffalo (6 GP – 2 G – 2 A – 4 PTS)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 28: Dominik Kahun #95 of the Buffalo Sabres waits for a faceoff in the first period of a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on February 28, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sabres 4-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 28: Dominik Kahun #95 of the Buffalo Sabres waits for a faceoff in the first period of a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on February 28, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sabres 4-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Dominik Kahun, a recent addition to the NHL free-agent class, is a versatile two-way forward who would look mighty fine in the Canadiens top-9 forward corps. The German winger brings an intriguing skill set with silky-smooth hands.

The 5’11”, 180-pound left-handed winger can play up and down the lineup at either wing and has even seen time at center.

Kahun put up 0.5 points-per-game last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres playing predominantly third and fourth-line minutes.

In Kahun, the Montreal Canadiens would get a player who has the potential to be an absolute force in the top-9. Kahun would give the Habs the ability to ice four extremely well-balanced lines that can wreak havoc on opposing teams.

Considering that Kahun went undrafted and only broke into the NHL at 24-years-old, it would be good to look at comparable players in point totals and age when they signed their first contract namely, Alex Killorn and Joonas Donskoi. Killorn’s first contract, signed in 2014, was a two-year deal worth $5.1-million. Donskoi’s first contract, signed in 2017, was a two-year contract worth $3.8-million.

In terms of market value and points projections, I’d wager that Killorn’s contract would be a good starting point. If I were Marc Bergevin, I’d consider offering Kahun a three-year contract worth between $4 to 5-million per year.

Craig Smith

2019-2020 Stats: 69 GP – 18 G – 13 A – 31 PTS

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 30: Craig Smith #15 of the Nashville Predators skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on January 30, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. The Predators defeated the Devils 6-5 in the shoot-out. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 30: Craig Smith #15 of the Nashville Predators skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on January 30, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. The Predators defeated the Devils 6-5 in the shoot-out. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Craig Smith is looking for a new team for the first time in his career and the Montreal Canadiens would do well to consider the veteran forward for their top-9.

Despite his plain name, Smith is definitely not a plain player. The 31-year-old, 6’1”, 208-pound right-winger has averaged 37-points per season in nine seasons, with his highest point total coming in 2013-2014 with 52 points. Since then, his production has tapered off to his season average but still produces at an incredible rate for a borderline second-line and third-line player.

Smith can bring leadership and a physical presence to the Habs forward corps that’s been missing for a long time. With Smith in the picture, the Habs can ice a physically intimidating lineup on the right-wing that’ll be hard to play against.

Smith is a player that can easily guarantee at least 20 goals a season, providing secondary scoring that the Montreal Canadiens desperately need. He’s consistent and has missed little time to injury in his nine-year career. While he isn’t the flashiest player, he’s certainly one of the most underrated free agents on the market.

One of the risks of signing Smith would be his age compared to the rest of the players on the team. Of course, he would only be a stop-gap solution for when players like Cole Caulfield would be ready to play.

A two-year contract worth around $3.5 to 4-million per year would be adequate for a player of his calibre.

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