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Montreal Canadiens: The Many Candidates to Form an Elite Line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield

By Ken MacMillan

May 27, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Montreal Canadiens Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Montreal Canadiens Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 16, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; David Perron. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; David Perron. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

Free Agent Options

Maybe the best option is not already in house. With all due respect to Drouin and Anderson, their consistency issues and health concerns don’t make them the ideal candidates to rely on for such a prestigious role. Perhaps the Canadiens have to look outside the organization to find the perfect complement to Suzuki and Caufield. Fortunately, there are numerous great options available in free agency this offseason.

David Perron

One option about to hit the free agent market would be a perfect fit. David Perron is from nearby Sherbrooke and has all the tools to fill a top line role. He plays a terrific two-way game for the St. Louis Blues alongside perennial Selke Trophy candidate Ryan O’Reilly. While playing a great defensive game against tough opposition, Perron has also scored at about a point per game pace each of the past two seasons. He will be 34 when free agency opens which might allow the Habs to get him at a shorter term than other big name free agents.

Claude Giroux

Similar to Perron, Giroux may consider signing in Montreal since he is French-Canadian, from nearby(ish) Hearst, Ontario and played his Junior hockey in Gatineau on a stacked Junior team that included Paul Byron and Mike Hoffman. He is a versatile forward who can still play centre but has played left wing quite a bit over the past few years. He will also be 34 years old when he signs his next contract and though it won’t be cheap, the term won’t be extremely long which has to look good to Montreal right now.

Andre Burakovsky

The Colorado Avalanche are loaded up for a long playoff run but they could lose a lot of important pieces after the season. Andre Burakovsky could be one of those players as the Avs just don’t have the cap space to keep everyone. The Capitals first round pick from 2013, Burakovsky has exploded offensively since leaving Washington for Colorado. The 27 year old has scored 147 points in 184 games since joining the Avalanche. With offensive linemates like Suzuki and Caufield, he could continue scoring at that 65 point pace over an 82 game schedule.

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