Montreal Canadiens: Three Players Who Have Something To Prove in Final Weeks

Jesse Ylonen

The Montreal Canadiens are paying an incredible amount of money to their wingers this season. Especially their depth wingers.

Right now, Cole Caufield and Rem Pitlick are playing the wing on the first line. Both of those players are on entry level contracts and earning less than a million against the salary cap this season.

Beyond them, Brendan Gallager makes $6.5 million, Josh Anderson and Jonathan Drouin earn $5.5 million, Mike Hoffman takes up $4.5 million in cap space and Paul Byron and Joel Armia eat up $3.4 million each. That’s $28.8 million combined for six wingers, none of whom are playing on the team’s top line.

The Canadiens could use a cheaper option on the second or third line to save some cap space in the future.

Jesse Ylonen is going to have a chance to show he can be that guy. He has played 12 games with the Canadiens this season and scored two goals and five points. He has been playing the left side lately on a line with Gallagher and Ryan Poehling and has looked like he is ready to play at the NHL level.

If the 22 year old can continue to play well for another dozen games, the Canadiens will be looking to ship out a high priced winger this offseason to make room for Ylonen in the top nine next season.