Montreal Canadiens Or How I Learned To Love Waiver Pickups
The Montreal Canadiens currently have four players on their roster that are waiver pickups. When a team puts a player on waivers, it often means that they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. The player is good, but not good enough. Therefore, you run the risk of exposing him before sending said player to the minors. Sometimes, it results in a team claiming the player and you end up losing him for nothing.
Sami Niku and Alex Belzile were the latest players put on waivers this past January and both went unclaimed. However, we can be reminded of Adam Brooks, who had a very short tenure with the Canadiens this year after being claimed from the Toronto Maple Leafs, who then got claimed from the Vegas Golden Knights. Then waived again. And claimed by the Leafs again. Who waived him again. Who then got claimed by the Winnipeg Jets.
The Air Miles racked up by the guy.
Noah Juulsen is another recent player who the Canadiens lost to the Florida Panthers and who now plays for the Vancouver Canucks although he has spent the majority of the season with the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL.
Here are the four players currently on the Montreal Canadiens’ roster who have been acquired via waivers and how they’ve fared thus far.
Waiver Pickup Date: October 2nd, 2021
Original Team: Florida Panthers
2021-22 Stats:
Montreal Canadiens: 26 GP, 5-11-4, 3.74 GAA, .895 SV%, 1 Shutout
Don’t let the gaudy statistics fool you, Samuel Montembeault has been extremely serviceable this year for the Canadiens.
Having been bumped around between the NHL and AHL since his professional debut in 2017, Montembeault was claimed off waivers in early October after it became clear that Carey Price wasn’t returning any time soon and that Cayden Primeau wasn’t ready to be a full time NHL backup just yet.
When Jake Allen went down with an injury, it was Montembeault’s chance to seize the day and finally prove he belongs in the NHL. With a completely deflated and disorganized team in front of him, Montembeault did the best he can, even going through a period where he was playing with an injured wrist, an ailment that still bugs him today but he never complains about.
His teammates respect him and despite the difficult season, he just seems happy to be here and is working his tail off to prove himself worthy. His confidence and hard work finally paid off in February as he registered his first career shutout, blocking 32 shots against the Buffalo Sabres in a 4-0 win.
Bringing in Andrew Hammond, while the team waits for Jake Allen to return, has proven to be a blessing for Montembeault as the tandem is often seen working together and create a bond, notably through Hammond’s long stint in the AHL.
The goaltending situation will surely be one to watch in the upcoming weeks, however it’s becoming more and more clear that Montembeault deserves a new contract with the Montreal Canadiens.
Waiver Pickup Date: December 4th, 2021
Original Team: Los Angeles Kings
2021-22 Stats:
AHL Ontario Reign: 5 GP, 0 G, 4 A, 4 PTS, +2, 0 PIM
NHL Los Angeles Kings: 11 GP, 0 G, 5 A, 5 PTS, -2, 2 PIM
NHL Montreal Canadiens: 21 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS, -8, 14 PIM
Pierre Houde of RDS kindly reminds us every week night that it’s pronounced “Clagg” and not “Clay-Guh”
The funny thing about Clague is that when the Canadiens claimed him off waivers in December, this was actually the second time the Kings exposed him, having exposed him exactly two months prior.
At 23, Clague still has raw potential to develop into a full time NHL defenceman. His blistering speed and surprising shot has been noticed by most and he displays great vision for the game. Clague has always been a point producing offensive minded defenceman but has struggled to really establish himself at the NHL level but all is really needed in his case is the chance to prove himself worthy.
Being bounced from the minors to the NHL as well as changing teams and coaches isn’t what’s ideal for a young player. Hopefully he’ll find his way under Martin St. Louis and prove why he always had a letter on his sweater in the juniors.
Waiver Pickup Date: January 12, 2022
Original Team: Minnesota Wild
2021-22 Stats:
Minnesota Wild: 20 GP, 6 G, 5 A, 11 PTS, +1, 12 PIM
Montreal Canadiens: 19 GP, 4 G, 6 A, 10 PTS, -4, 4 PIM
Rem Pitlick is actually in his third city this season. Originally a member of the Nashville Predators, Pitlick was put on waivers on October 4th and immediately picked up by his hometown Minnesota Wild. Much to the confusion of fans, Pitlick was put on waivers 3 months later and now has a home in Montreal.
Pitlick is producing at the same rate he has with Minnesota, literally not skipping a beat. The brother of Rhett and cousin of Tyler, Rem is starting to carve his way into a full time NHL position.
Despite his smaller than average frame, being 5’11” and 190 lbs, Pitlick is one of those players that is much stronger than he looks. He has shown versatility by being able to play all forward positions, something that is always an advantage for any coach. He plays without fear and has shown moments of grit as well, not to mention turning on the jets with his speed and stick handling.
The 24 year old totals 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in 39 total games this season and can potentially be a regular third line secondary scorer.
Waiver Pickup Date: October 6th, 2015
Original Team: Calgary Flames
2021-22 Stats:
Montreal Canadiens: 9 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS, -6, 0 PIM
The poster child for successful waiver pickups.
Originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 6th round of the 2007 draft, Paul Byron was part of the trade in 2011 that saw himself and Chris Butler head to Calgary in return for Robyn Regehr, Ales Kotalik and a 2012 2nd round pick that turned into Jake McCabe. Probably one of the biggest steals in Sabres history.
After that trade blunder, Calgary would make another by waiving Byron in 2015 and see the Canadiens claim him.
The rest as they say, is history.
Byron would become an excellent bottom six winger with some second line upside and has proven himself a leader by wearing the “A” on his jersey for what is now the fourth consecutive season. He is a very good two-way player who excels at plays without the puck and can occasionally turn into a decent playmaker. His blistering speed, although slowed down over the years due to injury, has allowed him to display a couple of highlight reel goals, as he’s shown us last playoffs against the Maple Leafs where he scored that short handed beauty.
When healthy, his offensive contribution remains impressive as seen in 2016-17 and 2017-18, the only seasons where he played a full season, and ended the seasons with 22 and 20 goals respectively.
Byron was put on waivers twice last season in an attempt to unload his heavy $3.4 million cap hit but to no avail. He took it in stride and continues to battle on the ice, although injuries have started to take its toll as Byron has only appeared in 9 games thus far this season.
If he can remain healthy, the 32 year old can still be a serviceable veteran on any squad, though with one more year on his contract and the influx of young wingers now on the roster, it is likely we will soon see the end of Paul Byron with the Canadiens.
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