Montreal Canadiens: Three Free Agents To Replace Departures

Tomas Tatar, while hopeless in the playoffs, did have some of his best years in Montreal after being traded with Nick Suzuki for Max Pacioretty. He even led the team in scoring the year before last with over 60 points. Cole Caufield will help alleviate some of that offensive pressure, but Montreal is in need of some depth winger scoring.

That’s where Zach Parise comes in.

In 2013 he, alongside friend Ryan Suter signed absolutely monstrous contracts on the same day to the same team. The Minnesota Wild. Those contracts were for $7.5 million per year for 13 years.

Tying up that much money for that long on two players that are already ageing was quite the gamble that didn’t really pay off. Like everyone said when they were signed, the Wild were doomed to years of regression and were still going to pay that $7.5 million for guys in their late thirties.

Well, the Wild bought out the remaining 4 years on both Parise’s and Suter’s contracts, and they are now both unrestricted free agents and can sign anywhere for anything.

Why not Montreal?

Now, obviously, if the price was still $7.5 million and the term was still 4 more years that would be a terrible idea. There was a reason the Wild could not move Parise or Suter with a trade, and had to resort to a buyout.

But for a much smaller price and a much shorter term, Parise might be worth the gamble to add some wing scoring in the bottom to middle 6. With Tatar probably out the door, Montreal can use the extra firepower.

Not to say that Parise could replace Tatar. Not at all, but he could still be effective when used right. This season was poor for Parise even by his slipping standards, scoring 7 goals and 18 points in 45 games.

That is just a step below Corey Perry’s numbers for the Canadiens this year. But the year before Parise still managed to put up 25 goals and 46 points. The year before? 28 goals and 61 points.

If Parise comes to Montreal, could we expect these kinds of numbers? I don’t think so. In those years Parise was being used as a top-line forward, and got the best opportunities to score. If he came to Montreal, he would have fewer chances to score and less ice time.

Which would be a good thing. Parise has struggled with injuries in the recent past. In 2018 Parise required back surgery and has missed some time in recent years with lower body and foot injuries.

The Wild could not afford to put Parise low down the roster and cut down on his ice time and still justify paying him that much. In Montreal, the odds of injuries would be much lower with less responsibility on the ice.

Parise has also continued to have success in the playoffs. This year he scored 2 goals and 3 points in 4 playoff games. In 105 playoff games, Parise has 37 goals and 80 points. In almost every postseason he scores at or just below a point per game pace.

Parise is 36 years old and has yet to win the Stanley Cup, the closest being in 2012 where the New Jersey Devils lost to the L.A. Kings in the Final. He should be hungry to win a Cup, and where else is better than the Stanley Cup Finalists?