Montreal Canadiens: How To Replace Jesperi Kotkaniemi If He Lands in Carolina

Promote From Within

This is essentially the “Let’s hope Ryan Poehling is ready for prime time” plan. Or, alternatively, the “we got thrown a curveball at the end of August and there wasn’t much available” plan. Either way, it’s not likely ideal.

Poehling did have a terrific AHL season in 2020-21. He led the Laval Rocket in scoring even though he was injured for eight of their 36 games. His 11 goals trailed only Yannick Veilleux and his 25 points were one better than Jordan Weal’s 24 to finish atop the team.

That is great news for Poehling who was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft and struggled in his first full pro season. However, does it mean he is ready for a top nine role at the NHL level right now?

Maybe. But does it make sense to just hope he can handle without a Plan B? Not at all. Just promoting Poehling from within would leave the Laval Rocket with Laurent Dauphin and Lukas Vejdemo as their top centres and most likely to be called up if needed on the Habs roster.

That is pretty thin. Though Poehling may prove to be a steady two-way player on the third line, banking on it would be foolish and would leave the Canadiens extremely thin down the middle.

Sign a Free Agent

So, if just promoting from the minors does not work, maybe the Canadiens could sign an unrestricted free agent. But who is still available on the last day of August with training camp just three weeks away?

Eric Staal is the first player that jumps out at you and that’s not a great thing if you are a Habs fan wondering how to replace Kotkaniemi. Staal was traded to the Canadiens last season and struggled down the stretch of the regular season, but was much better in the postseason.

The condensed schedule in the regular season did nothing to help the 36 year old veteran, but a week long break before the postseason began allowed him to step his game up in the postseason. Staal scored five goals last season (same as Kotkaniemi) and his eight playoff points also matched Kotkaniemi’s postseason production. It certainly would not be a long term fix, but having Staal to play third or fourth line minutes throughout the season would help fill Kotkaniemi’s absence for a year.

Tyler Bozak is also a free agent and would give the Canadiens a right shot centre who can win draws and handle defensive responsibility. He scored five goals and 17 points in 31 games last season which put him on pace to finish well ahead of Kotkaniemi’s production had he played a full season. At 35 he is definitely not a long term solution either, but as a one-year stopgap he could outperform Kotkaniemi in 2021-22.

The only other UFA centres who could potential play a third line role at the NHL level next season are Casey Cizikas and Travis Zajac but both have been widely rumoured to have already re-signed with the New York Islanders.

Make a deal

Staal or Bozak are not going to fill the void for a long term, so if the Canadiens want more than a one-year solution they are going to have to search the trade market.

The biggest name on the market is Jack Eichel, but the Buffalo Sabres are looking for an enormous return for their star centre. He is also fighting with the team about whether or not he needs a specific neck surgery so there is plenty of risk.

Still, if the Canadiens have their own and the Carolina Hurricanes first round picks to offer, it would have to get a serious conversation started. The Sabres would want another huge piece and likely would target a young forward. Montreal would be very hesitant to move Cole Caufield and it doesn’t solve the centre problem if Nick Suzuki is dealt.

If they can make something work that involved first round picks, and one or two of Kaiden Guhle, Jesse Ylonen, Jan Mysak or another higher end prospect, then the centre ice problem would be solved.

Also apparently on the market for the right price is Evgeny Kuznetsov of the Washington Capitals. With no deal in place yet, it is unlikely that the Capitals move him now but there were plenty of rumours around the NHL Draft.

Christian Dvorak is another name that continues to pop up. The Arizona Coyotes are stockpiling first and second round picks and after scoring 17 goals and 31 points in 56 games, the 25 year old Dvorak would be a great fit as the Canadiens second line centre, but would likely cost a first and a second round pick.

Looking ahead to the possible rental market at the next trade deadline and it is possible that Tomas Hertl gets moved. Would the San Joe Sharks be interested in a package that is headlined by the first and third round picks that the Canadiens get from the Hurricanes? Perhaps that isn’t quite enough, but it would be a great start. San Jose should know how valuable those unprotected first round picks can be.

I’m guessing the Columbus Blue Jackets would trade Max Dom, but I don’t know that he would want to come back to Montreal so soon or that the Habs management would be eager to get him back.

However, there are many options for the Canadiens if they choose not to match this offer sheet. Promoting from within might be okay if Poehling takes a huge step and injuries are not a concern. Free agency offers a couple of okay options for one season and allows the Canadiens to enter the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal with a pair of first round picks.

The trade route would give the biggest boost to the 2021-22 roster, but could come at a huge price. First, we have to wait and see what happens with Kotkaniemi, but if he goes to Carolina, I’d expect Bergevin to have a replacement in town very quickly.