Montreal Canadiens Still Have To Answer These Three Enormous Questions This Offseason

The Montreal Canadiens 2022 NHL Draft will be reflected upon in future years as a pivotal moment in the franchise’s history. The decision to select Juraj Slafkovsky first overall could be the springboard for future success.

The big Slovakian winger will be compared to Shane Wright for many years, as fans were likely expecting Wright to be the first pick and the second part of a tremendous one-two punch down the middle with Nick Suzuki for many years to come.

But, if the left winger can become a perfect linemate for Suzuki instead, it could give the Canadiens even more value than Wright could have provided. Time will tell, but at least the Canadiens have answered the first huge question they were facing this offseason, who goes first overall?

That doesn’t mean the work is done. In fact, the Canadiens may have actually created more roster chaos and confusion with the couple of moves they have made this offseason. More on that in a minute.

The offseason really only got underway with the NHL Draft, but most of the offseason transactions are completed within a day or two of free agency opening. That will happen on July 13th this year, and by the 15th, NHL news is going to slow to a trickle.

So, the Canadiens do still have a lot to do, and really not a lot of time to pull it together. Within a week, dozens, if not hundreds of players will move to new organizations but the number of players that change teams in the two months that follow will be a minuscule number.

Yet, the Habs have some big questions to answer in that short offseason window. They answered one of their biggest questions with the selection of Slafkovsky, but plenty of answers reamain to be found. Let’s take a look at the three big questions still hovering over the Canadiens today.

What is going on with Jeff Petry?

The Montreal Canadiens received a trade request from Jeff Petry way back in November. Here we are about eight months later and he is still on the roster. Part of that was because he played awful for two-thirds of last season, and no one was interested in acquiring him.

Petry was in the first year of a four year contract with a $6.25 million cap hit. It looked like a bargain when he was helping the Canadiens make a run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, but it looked like an albatross when he couldn’t complete a partner pass in October.

Finally, the trade deadline passed and Petry was still in Montreal. With a new, offensive oriented head coach in Martin St. Louis, Petry’s game came alive late in the season. He finished the year with 21 points in 28 games and we found out the bad start was in part due to the fact his family was staying in Michigan while he was playing in Montreal.

So, a draft trade seemed likely. Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes hasn’t been shy to say he would move Petry if the right offer came along. Apparently it hasn’t, because Petry remains in Montreal, though it seems like the player and team are headed for separation.

But when? If not on draft day, perhaps teams who strike out on John Kilingberg in free agency will circle back? If not, are the Habs going to be able to move him at all this offseason?

When Ryan McDonagh was traded, essentially for cap space, after playing a big role on three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals teams in Tampa Bay, it couldn’t have helped Petry’s value.

Will the Canadiens get anything of value for Petry this offseason? That is a question we should find an answer to by July 13th. Even if he isn’t traded then, he likely remains here to start next season.

Is Carey Price going to be ready to play next season?

The biggest question mark still hovering over the Canadiens after about a year is the Carey Price situation. He had surgery last summer but never made it back to 100% during the 2021-22 season.

He did play a handful of games down the stretch, but admitted after the final game of the season that he wasn’t in the shape needed to play a full season at that time. Is he now? Will he ever be again? Big questions that we don’t have the answer to yet.

If, somehow, Price manages to return to 100% in the coming months and is ready to play 50 games next season, the Canadiens are in a much different place as an organization. Suddenly, you start to look at the possible forward lines and wonder if Dadonov plays well, and Slafkovsky fits into the top six, and Caufield and Suzuki continue to play like the did under St. Louis, maybe this team can do okay?

Their biggest questions would be on defence, but a healthy tandem of Price and Jake Allen in goal would hide some of those mistakes. It is a huge long shot, but if the Boston Bruins struggle with all their injuries, maybe the Canadiens, with a fully healthy Price can finish fourth in their division and be in the race for a wildcard spot?

Without Price, there is no chance. Even with him that’s farfetched, but not impossible. If Price announces he can’t play, the team will know their 2022-23 fate is sealed and act accordingly. They would look to move out a couple veteran forwards, and Jeff Petry, and sell off a few more assets at the trade deadline, add another top 10, likely top 5 pick and continue the rebuild.

But, we don’t know if Price is out for next season yet. He probably isn’t going to be 100% and play 60 games ever again, but if he can play 50 instead of 5 this is a much different team.

That is a question that Kent Hughes can’t answer, but when he gets an answer it will instruct him on what to do next.

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