A Winning Habit
Fansided

Montreal Canadiens Roundtable: Which New Player Has Biggest Impact? Who Leads Habs in Points?

By Ken MacMillan

BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 30: Nick Suzuki Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 30: Nick Suzuki Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 31: Phillip Danault #24 and Tomas Tatar #90 of Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 31: Phillip Danault #24 and Tomas Tatar #90 of Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

3) Will Phillip Danault and/or Tomas Tatar sign extensions this season?

Scott Cowan: Tomas Tatar and Phillip Danault have been, without doubt, two of the more enigmatic players for the Canadiens over the course of this past off-season, with their future in question as both player’s contracts are set to expire. Danault has gone from being an ongoing project and former first round pick for the Chicago Blackhawks, to one of the NHL’s better defensive forwards and a consistent 40 if not 50-point player in Montreal. His evolvement from a role player into one of the team’s more reliable offensive options has been impressive to say the least, and I think its clear he’s deserving of a pay-raise.

Tatar has gone from being a throw-in in the Max Pacioretty trade to the Vegas Golden Knights, to, in my opinion, the Canadiens best player last season, having played at a scorching pace with 61 points over 68 games. Disappearance in the post-season aside, both Tatar and Danault are key parts of the Canadiens lineup, though its debatable whether one or the other signs an extension.

Tatar’s past history as trade deadline bait has Habs fan questioning his value and what the Canadiens could get in return, similar to Danault’s comparisons to high-ranking defensive forwards like Jean-Gabriel Pageau. While its not for certain that the Habs will be able to get a lot for either of the two, I think their performance in this season will definitely play a part in determining who stays and who goes. In my mind, if they miss the playoffs, I see Tatar leaving, though it remains to be seen.

Teddy Elliott: It all depends on what the cap situation is after this season is over. With the NHL set to lose close to $1 billion in revenue, the Habs might simply not have enough cap space to sign both Philip Danault and Tomas Tatar. If there is enough room, however, Danault should be signed over Tatar every single time. Despite his own misgivings about being pushed down the lineup, Danault won’t be a Top 6 centreman on any team at this point in his career and should definitely stay in Montreal.

Home/Editorials