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

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.