A Winning Habit
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
SUNRISE, FL – MARCH 7: Erik Haula against Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL – MARCH 7: Erik Haula against Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

Erik Haula

2019-2020 Stats: With Carolina (41 GP – 12 G – 10 A – 22 PTS)
With Florida (7 GP – 0 G – 7 A – 7 PTS)

SUNRISE, FL – MARCH 7: Erik Haula #56 against Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL – MARCH 7: Erik Haula #56 against Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

Erik Haula is another underrated player with those intangibles that coaches love. The 29-year-old, 6’0”, 193-pound left-handed center and winger scored a career-high 55 points with the Las Vegas Golden Knights in 2017-2018 and has since come back to earth with 22 points last season – which is what you’d expect based on his career average.

Haula reminds one of Arturri Lehkonen and not just because they’re both Finnish. Haula is a defensively responsible forward who works hard, can maintain possession, and can provide some decent secondary scoring.

While he’s not huge, Haula has enough weight to be physically imposing and hard to deal with in the corners. Though it’s unlikely he’ll ever reach the point totals he hit with Vegas, any team would be lucky to have such a versatile player on their roster.

The Habs would likely have to offer Haula a three-year deal in the range of $4 to 5-million per year to entice the Finnish pivot. However, perhaps Haula would consider a cheaper deal to play with his fellow Pori boys Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia.

Jesper Fast

2019-2020 Stats: 69 GP – 12 G – 17 A – 29 PTS

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 27: Jesper Fast #17 of the New York Rangers gets his glove up on Warren Foegele #13 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 27: Jesper Fast #17 of the New York Rangers gets his glove up on Warren Foegele #13 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Jesper Fast, a lifelong New York Ranger, would be a solid addition to the Habs roster thanks to his enticing mix of size and speed. Living up to his name, Fast is fast and plays with a bit of a mean streak which earned him an ‘A’ on his jersey a few years ago.

At just 28-years-old, Fast has averaged a little under 30 points per season in his seven seasons with the Rangers with a career-high 33 points in 2017-2018.

Leading the Blue shirts in short-handed ice-time last season, Fast excels on the penalty kill, using his speed to get a jump on defenders much like Paul Byron. Like Byron, Fast could use more of that finishing touch, but you can pencil him in for at least 10 to 15 goals if he stays healthy.

In a normal season, a player of Fast’s appeal wouldn’t be able to keep up with the number of offers on his desk but this season is far from normal. If the Montreal Canadiens can capitalize on the financially tightened market, Fast should be a player they set their sights on.

While he’s likely looking for the security and financial benefits of a long-term deal, the Canadiens should be able to offer him a decent chunk of change in the range of $3 or 4-million per year on a four-year contract.

Home/Editorials