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Montreal Canadiens: Updated Roster and Lines After Free Agent Frenzy

By Joshua Rosa

May 2, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman David Savard (58) skates with the puck in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman David Savard (58) skates with the puck in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Line 2

Brendan Gallagher – Mike Hoffman – Josh Anderson

With Phillip Danault officially out the door to sunny L.A. and Tomas Tatar officially a free agent and not expected to return, Brendan Gallagher will be looking at getting some new linemates this year. Everyone knows what Gallagher will bring to the table. He is going to play every shift like the Cup depends on it. The hope is that Gallagher will be able to return to his 30-goal form when he doesn’t have to worry about being with Danault and shutting down the opponents’ best forwards.

Jun 14, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Montreal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson (17) looks to shoot as Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) slows up Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (7) during the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights in game one of the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Montreal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson (17) looks to shoot as Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) slows up Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (7) during the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights in game one of the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

And shutting down the opponent is not in the repertoire of newly acquired Mike Hoffman. The first of our encounters of new signees, Hoffman signed in Montreal after a year in St. Louis for 3 years at $4.5 million. Hoffman is not good in his own end and is questionable at 5-on-5 in general, but is great on the powerplay, a position that Montreal has been notably weak in in the past. He steadily puts in over 20 goals and over 55 points, and hey, sometimes you need a guy that can just put the puck in the net. Hoffman would be best put into the centre, as Montreal could be thin up the middle.

It was an up-and-down year for Josh Anderson last year. Coming in hot with a two-goal performance in his first game as a Canadien, and leaving the regular season cold with 11 straight pointless games. If Anderson could play as well as he can, he is well worth his contract and deserves a spot in the top six.  He scored 27 goals in a year in Columbus, and if he can find some consistency, he can be an absolute beast.

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