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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.