Canadiens: Future Star Free Agents Habs Will Target

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The Montreal Canadiens are historically not the primary destination for star free agents. Whether it is the tax situation, or the weather, many players just want to be elsewhere more than Montreal all winter long.

So, the Vegas Golden Knights, or New York Rangers, or Florida Panthers are more attractive destinations than Montreal for one reason or another. This doesn’t mean it is impossible for the Habs to sign a free agent, but it usually means they have to pay a little extra.

The Canadiens have hit some home runs on the free agent market over the years. Tyler Toffoli was a tremendous signing, but that was a complicated Covid offseason that left fewer buyers than there usually would be on an open market.

The Habs also brought in Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta as free agents many years ago and they helped the team make an immediate run to the Eastern Conference Final. They were good signings, but no one would consider them elite-level player and it still cost a significant amount of cap space to bring them in.

The Canadiens will not be spending significant cap space on anyone this offseason. They just don’t have the right pieces in place yet to go spending huge money on a 30 year old who will require a long term commitment.

Not to mention, the Canadiens don’t have the required cap space to land a marquee free agent anyway. So, this free agent season might be kind of dull for Canadiens fans. But that doesn’t mean it will be in future years.

Once the Canadiens are a little closer to contending, the team will be more actively seeking help on the free agent market. So, be patient Habs fans. Today is not our day to celebrate a big signing but that day is coming.

Let the Los Angeles Kings and Seattle Kraken have their day in the sun today. The Canadiens are just biding their time before making a big splash in the future.

Who, you might ask will they sign in coming years? Let’s take a look at the top three players the Habs will be looking to sign in free agency in the near future.

Jonathan Huberdeau

The Montreal Canadiens, as mentioned already, are not a glamorous destination for most star players. But what about players who are actually from the province? Remember when Daniel Briere almost signed here? This would be kinda like that except this guy would actually sign here instead.

It is hard to think of a more perfect fit for the Canadiens right now than Jonathan Huberdeau. The Canadiens may have filled their top line left wing spot with Juraj Slafkovsky, but how amazing would it be to have the Saint-Jerome, Quebec native playing on the top line with Cole Caufield.

Huberdeau, as proven by his 85 assists in 80 games last season, is a phenomenal playmaker. Caufield is a pure goal scorer. Put them together and they would fit like peanut butter and jam. Nick Suzuki between them would fill out one of the best lines in hockey for the next few years.

This would allow the Habs to employ a second line of Slafkovsky, Kirby Dach and Josh Anderson. We could call that the SAD line, because of their last initials, and the fact their opponents would not be very happy to see this 650 pound trio jumping over the boards.

Huberdeau has one year left on his contract with the Florida Panthers before he could be a UFA in the summer of 2023. Things have gone quite well for him there after being the third overall pick in 2011, but if the team doesn’t have the cap space to double his current $5.9 million salary, he could look elsewhere as a free agent.

As for the Canadiens, with Jonathan Drouin, Evgeni Dadonov and Paul Byron heading into the final year of their contracts, nearly $14 million is just walking out the Canadiens door next season. If Huberdeau has any interest in playing close to home, the Canadiens could make it happen next summer.

Anthony Mantha

So maybe Huberdeau re-signs with the Panthers long before hitting free agency next summer. If so, the Canadiens could look to the following offseason and another local offensive winger that should be hitting the open market.

Anthony Mantha has shown flashes of goal scoring dominance at the NHL level, but injuries have slowed him down a bit. He had seasons of 24 and 25 goals and twice hit 48 points, but injuries have derailed him a bit over the past three seasons.

Mantha was surprisingly traded from the Detroit Red Wings to the Washington Capitals at the 2021 trade deadline and has 31 points in 51 games since arriving with the Caps. He somehow always looks like he is about to have a breakout season and score a point per game but injuries have held him back a little bit.

He did score 38 points in 43 games in 2019-20, but he played only 37 games this past season, scoring nine goals and 23 points. He still has two years left on his contract, and if the Longueuil, Quebec native can play to his potential in those two seasons he will be an attractive free agent.

The Canadiens have added plenty of size this offseason, and would surely be interested in a 6’5″ and 238 pound right winger who can score goals and just so happens to be a local.

Jun 7, 2021; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens Carey Price Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /

Pierre-Luc Dubois

The Canadiens may not need a centre if Dach pans out and plays to his potential, but Pierre-Luc Dubois might be too good to pass up. The Quebec native has already told his current team that he wants to test free agency in 2024 and it seems to be an attempt to try and sign with the Montreal Canadiens.

Dubois, a 24 year old centre for the Winnipeg Jets had 28 goals and 60 points last season and is a perfect second line centre for any contending team. He plays a rugged, physical game and obviously has no trouble piling up points as well.

Two years from now, Christian Dvorak will be a year away from unrestricted free agency. Even if Dach is playing well and Suzuki is still on the top line, trading Dvorak and signing Dubois would be a no-brainer. He will be just 26 and finally heading to play exactly where he has wanted to be all along.

Not a lot of free agents want to sign in Montreal, and I can’t remember anyone ever sending out these clear signals two years in advance of free agency. If Dubois does hit the market in two years, the Canadiens need to pounce and it seems like it is just a matter of time before this player finally lands in Montreal.

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