At this point in the season the Montreal Canadiens are in a position to make the playoffs, but they have yet to look playoff caliber so far.
Their place in the standing says more about the teams below them than the way they are playing, and its safe to say that changes are needed. This team certainly could surprise in the postseason, but what if they don’t? If the sneak into the playoffs and get swept, then wholesale changes will come to the team’s coaching staff and front office.
Is change coming for the roster as well, or more specifically, Shea Weber?
With the expansion draft upcoming, the Canadiens will only be able to protect so many players on their roster. Brendan Gallagher, Jeff Petry and Carey Price all have no movement clauses, so they aren’t going anywhere.
If the team goes the standard route of protecting 7 forwards, 3 defencemen, and 1 goalie, this leaves 8 exemptions left. Among forwards, Josh Anderson, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Tyler Toffoli are no-brainers (Nick Suzuki is not eligible for the expansion draft). The team should also protect defensemen Cale Fleury and Joel Edmundson, as well as forwards Artturi Lehkonen, Jonathan Drouin, and Jake Evans.
This would leave Shea Weber, Ben Chiarot, Jake Allen, Brett Kulak Paul Byron and Charlie Lindgren as unprotected Canadiens who won’t be unrestricted free agents after this season.
The Seattle Kraken won’t, or at least shouldn’t, consider anyone other than Weber or Allen unless the Canadiens make an agreement with the team. Allen’s deal is more cap friendly, and he has been the better player this year, so I would take him if I were Seattle.
What would the Canadiens lose if Weber was taken instead?
Obviously they would suddenly gain about 8 million dollars in cap space, but they would have a massive hole on the right side of the D.
Or would they?
According to hockey-reference.com his ice time per game and points per game are both the lowest since 2007, and he simply looks old and slow when you watch him play.
With youngsters Cale Fleury and Josh Brook nearing NHL readiness, the time may be right to move on from the team’s captain.