Montreal Canadiens: In Other News… Where are They Now? Free Agency Edition
Over the past month or so, I’ve strayed away from my past In Other News… posts, as the Montreal Canadiens NHL Entry Draft Controversy, the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft, and the beginning of the 2021 Free Agency period made up for a busy start to this offseason.
However, the Canadiens have already gotten off to a busy start in free agency, signing six players on July 28th. While Montreal has certainly managed to address some notable gaps in their lineup, following the departure of former top six mainstays in Philip Danault and Tomas Tatar, what piqued my interest initially was the numerous former Habs, both past and present, who had opted to continue their careers elsewhere.
Welcome to Los Angeles, Phillip Danault!
— LA Kings (@LAKings) July 28, 2021
The LA Kings have signed the forward to a six-year contract.
While Danault’s six-year deal with the L.A. Kings and Corey Perry’s two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning took up most people’s interest, here’s a look at some of the lesser-known former Canadiens who have found new places to call home, in this special where are they now edition, of what’s been going on recently, in other news… for the Montreal Canadiens.
Charlie Lindgren signs One-Year, Two-Way Deal with St. Louis Blues
Charlie Lindgren hadn’t had the easiest ride with the Canadiens over the past few seasons, a notable change of pace from his previous reputation as an above-average undrafted prospect. Now, Lindgren will look for a fresh start off a one-year deal with the St. Louis Blues. A former two-year starter for St. Cloud State of the NCHC, Lindgren was picked up by Montreal out of free agency to serve as a solid starting option for the St. John’s IceCaps, after what can be best described as a juggling act in net in 2015-16.
The Blues have signed three players to one-year, two-way contracts. https://t.co/js7eIfkNB6 #stlblues
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) July 29, 2021
While early returns were great, with Lindgren leading the IceCaps to a surprise playoff berth in 2016-17 with a 24-18-1 record, 2.56 GAA and five shutouts, the Minnesota native was just never able to put things together at the NHL level. After going undefeated over one and two game cups of coffee in 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively, Lindgren was given an increased role in 2017-18 and did his best behind a struggling Canadiens roster, with a 4-8-2 record, 2 SO, and a 3.03 GAA.
Since then, Lindgren had struggled to find playing time in both Laval and Montreal, losing the Rocket starting job to Zach Fucale, Connor Lacouvee, Michael McNiven, and Cayden Primeau at different points. In spite of serving as an emergency backup for Carey Price in 2019-20, Lindgren played just three games in 2020-21 and is hoping for a fresh start in St. Louis. It’s safe to say Lindgren will spend the majority, if not the entirety of 2021-22 in the AHL, but with some lesser goaltending depth with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, Lindgren could finally reclaim that starting job he struggled to maintain in Montreal.
Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Charles Hudon to One-Year, Two-Way Deal
Didn’t see this one coming, did ya? Well, to be frank, neither did I. After quickly falling out of favour with the Canadiens’ front office, spending the majority of 2019-20 in the AHL, I thought Charles Hudon was done with the NHL after signing a one-year deal with Lausanne HC of the Swiss-A league. Yet, after posting near-point per game totals of 15-17-32 over 33 games, Hudon has opted to give North America another shot, signing a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
We have signed forwards Gabriel Dumont and Charles Hudon, defensemen Darren Raddysh and Andrej Sustr, and goaltender Maxime Lagace to one-year, two-way contracts.https://t.co/Iylx1GnTdw
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) July 28, 2021
A former fifth-round pick of the Canadiens in the 2012 NHL Draft, Hudon quickly emerged as a top offensive threat for the Habs AHL affiliates, posting three consecutive 40-point seasons with the Hamilton Bulldogs and St. John’s Icecaps. After earning a too-brief three-game cup of coffee with the Canadiens in each 2015-16 and 2016-17, Hudon made the opening right roster out of training camp in 2017-18, and, for a brief moment, didn’t disappoint. As the Canadiens struggled through a weak, if not entirely dead offence and numerous inconsistencies in goal, Hudon did what he could offensively with 10-20-30 totals and a -12 rating over 72 games.
However, as fate would have it, that would be the best Hudon has managed offensively and to an extent, defensively, at the NHL level, posting just 4-3-7 totals and a dreadful -18 rating over his next 47 games, split over two seasons. While he managed an AHL all-star appearance in 2019-20 with an impressive 27 goals over just 46 games, Hudon is going to one of the NHL’s most stacked teams offensively, and it seems unlikely he’ll be able to find little, if any playing time with the Lightning come next season. While anything is possible, it seems as though Hudon is destined for another season in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch in 2021-22, where he’ll continue to be a top offensive option and a likely candidate to head back overseas come next offseason.
Jarred Tinordi Signs Two-Year Deal with the New York Rangers
Jarred Tinordi’s surprise return to the NHL over these past two seasons – after establishing himself as a perennial Captain in the AHL since 2016 – is something most people didn’t see coming. Regardless, it’s been a feel-good story from the former 22nd overall pick of the Canadiens in 2010, which will now continue elsewhere, after inking a two-year deal with the New York Rangers.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have agreed to terms with free agent defenseman Jarred Tinordi on a two-year contract. pic.twitter.com/SrW9YRZSVX
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 28, 2021
A massive 6’6, 230-pound defenceman coming out of the OHL, Tinordi was never given a legitimate chance to succeed in Montreal, battling injuries and long stretches as a healthy scratch. After getting into just 211 games in the NHL and AHL combined over his first four seasons in Montreal, Tinordi was shipped to the Arizona Coyotes in a controversial trade for defenseman Victor Bartley and NHL all-star MVP John Scott. In spite of impressing early on with the Yotes in a seven-game audition, a 20-game ban by the NHL after testing positive for an illicit substance ended his chance of making it with Arizona in the future.
After bouncing around the AHL for the next four seasons without a single NHL game to his name, Tinordi had developed a reputation as a rock-solid defensive defenceman and proven leader at the AHL level. This would eventually lead to his return to the NHL, in a career-high 28-game stint with the Nashville Predators in 2019-20. After spending this past season split between the Predators and Boston Bruins (after being claimed off waivers), Tinordi will likely sneak into the Rangers lineup in a third pairing/seventh defenceman role, and bring his typical solid, hard-hitting defensive presence, as the Rangers look to rebound from an overall lost season and nightmarish front-office situation.
Brian Flynn Signs One-Year, Two-Way Deal with New Jersey Devils
Going back to what I said about Charles Hudon’s stint in Switzerland, it seems as though yet another former Hab has opted to head back to the NHL. Former Canadiens centre Brian Flynn signing a one-year deal with the New Jersey Devils. Flynn had spent the past two and a half seasons in the Swiss-A league with Zug EV and Ambri-Priotta, having established himself as a talented two-way player with offensive upside. After posting back-to-back 30-point seasons in 2019-20 and 2020-21, Flynn will look to land a roster spot on a rebuilding Devils team.
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1420854613205454848
An undrafted pickup by the Buffalo Sabres out of the University of Maine, Flynn almost immediately found a full-time role in the Sabres bottom-six, which would continue in Montreal after being traded to Montreal at the 2015 Trade Deadline. Establishing a reputation with his blistering speed and hard-working approach, Flynn managed back-to-back 10-point seasons before signing with the Dallas Stars as a free agent in the 2018 offseason.
While he played a key offensive role for a Texas Stars team that managed a Calder Cup Finals run, Flynn headed overseas midway through the 2018-19 season, yet after just two full seasons, has decided to give the NHL another try.
Next. Weber Injury Puts Playoff Run in Perspective. dark
With the plethora of overseas additions that have seen success in recent years, I could see Flynn being a solid bottom-six contributor for the Devils and a solid veteran presence for some of their younger prospects. Otherwise, expect the Massachusetts native to bring his usual work ethic and two-way offensive abilities to the Binghamton Devils.