Five Free Agents The Canadiens Could Target This Off-Season

Believe it or not, I don’t think Patrice Bergeron will end up in Montreal this summer, instead I expect the Canadiens to look for players that can help them for years to come, and don’t break the bank. Valeri Nichushkin is an option, but he will likely be expensive, perhaps even north of $5 million per season. Mason Marchment is a similar player to Nichushkin, but will likely come at a much cheaper price.

Marchment had a breakout year in Florida, putting up 47 points in 54 games, all while only playing 14 minutes a night. And while that’s very impressive, Marchment is already 27, which might have some people wondering if he’s actually that good, or if he just benefited from playing on a stacked Florida team that won the President’s trophy. People are going to want to make sure he can do it again.

This isn’t to say teams won’t be interested in him, but it’s unlikely Florida retains him and the price might not be as high for Marchment as it could be for Nichushkin. And much like Nichushkin, Marchment could be a good fit on the Caufield line. He’s also 6 foot 4 and has the skill to play on that line. And Marchment is also very good analytically, including in his own end, an area the Habs struggled in last year. That’s a skillset the Canadiens can’t pass up on.

In the highlights above, you can watch Marchment put up six points in a Florida win, and you really start to see just what he can provide the Habs. I expect multiple teams to show interest, but the Habs can offer him a spot on the top line, on a team about to start exploding with talent. That may be something to good to pass up on.

Whatever the Habs do this Free Agency, I expect Kent Hughes and his team to be busy, making trades and exploring the market. The Habs may non go after the big fish like Gaudreau and Forsberg but they still have some cheaper options that would be solid additions to a rebuilding squad.

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