Canadiens: The Only Three Free Agents The Habs Need To Sign

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The Montreal Canadiens enter free agency this season with a very short shopping list. That isn’t because they are without holes in their lineup, or that they are a polished contender ready for the upcoming season.

That is not the case at all. But the Canadiens do have a lot of options at each position, and at this point in their rebuild are just better off trusting their young players to go out and play and then see what happens. They really don’t need to sign a big contract or a long term deal to a player that is already old enough to have reached free agency.

In fact, if anything, they should be looking to reduce players from their roster and not add as free agency opens. Shredding a few veterans like Mike Hoffman and Joel Edmundson would be ideal, and still leave them with enough NHL calibre players to fill out a roster.

The Canadiens already have 13 forwards signed who played regular minutes in the NHL last season. Alex Newhook will make that 14 when he is signed and Jesse Ylonen will need waivers next season as well. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for NHLers up front.

The blue line is just as crowded. The Canadiens used a lot of rookies last season but none of them appeared out of place. They now have nine defensemen signed and can not carry that many on an NHL roster. So, there really isn’t room for a defender on the roster either.

They also have too many goaltenders under contract as well. Jake Allen and Sam Montembeault were the tandem in goal last season and both are signed through 2023-24. Cayden Primeau has played most of his pro career in the AHL, but he will require waivers to head back there next season. Jakub Dobes will be making his pro debut with the Laval Rocket next season so there isn’t really room for another goaltender.

So, who should the Canadiens sign? Let’s take a look at three players that would make sense to add to the organization today. Keep in mind, there is no reason for the Habs to sign any of the top free agents.

Charles Hudon

The Montreal Canadiens drafted Charles Hudon in the 5th round of the 2012 NHL Draft. He proved to be a skilled two-way player at the Junior level, a really good goal scorer in the AHL and looked to be blossoming into a two-way bottom six winger when he scored ten goals and 30 points in 2018-19.

He struggled the following season and then returned to the Laval Rocket, where he scored 27 goals again, before moving on in his career. The Alma, Quebec native went to Switzerland where he played one season, scoring 32 points in 33 games in 2020-21.

Hudon returned to North America the following season. He played the whole year in the AHL, scoring 30 goals and 57 points in 66 games with the Syracuse Crunch. Last season, Hudon was in the Colorado Avalanche organization, where he played most of the year in the minors yet again. He scored 29 goals and 54 points in 61 games. He was called up for nine NHL games but did not register a point.

He is now 29 years old and more of a top minor league player and not an NHL prospect anymore. Still, the Canadiens could use him. They appear to be losing Alex Belzile and Anthony Richard as free agents and could use a scoring threat for the Rocket. Hudon would be a perfect mentor, and linemate, for Joshua Roy who will be starting his AHL career next season.

If the Canadiens trade several veteran forwards, or have several injuries again next season, Hudon is a player that be put into the NHL lineup to fill the void for a short time. However, signing him would be just to add some scoring in the Laval Rocket lineup.

Nic Meloche

The Canadiens already have a large number of NHL capable defenders signed next season. Most of those are on the left side, and the right side of the blue line is a little bit thinner. They do have David Savard, Justin Barron and Johnathan Kovacevic as well as Chris Wideman.

That’s plenty of depth if everyone stays healthy, but Wideman also struggled at times last season and is entering the final year of his contract. The Laval Rocket are losing Corey Schueneman and Madison Bowey to free agency as well as Otto Leskinen who is heading back to Finland.

That is three veteran defenders they need to replace. Logan Mailloux will be turning pro and likely playing a big role for the Rocket next season. He could use a seasoned veteran to guide him along and Meloche fits that description.

Meloche is a big right shot defender who has five years of pro experience under his belt. He has played a total of 57 NHL games in his career, but mostly has played at the AHL level, with stops in San Antonio, Colorado, San Jose and Calgary. He was originally a second round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2015 and now the soon to be 26 year old is hitting free agent.

The native of LaSalle, Quebec could be enticed to move closer to home and play a big role on the Rocket. He could also be a depth defender for the Canadiens who adds some size and snarl when called upon.

It isn’t the biggest of signings, but the Canadiens are not in the market for the big fish this offseason. A big defenseman who shoots right and can play a top four role in Laval would make a lot of sense.

Max Comtois

When players don’t get qualifying offers, it is usually a sign they haven’t been playing great with their previous team. That doesn’t always mean they don’t have any potential and are not worth a second chance on another team.

Take Max Comtois for example. The Anaheim Ducks winger will hit free agency after not getting a qualifying offer from the Ducks. He is a gritty, winger with plenty of skill, but it hasn’t really allowed him to break through at the NHL level just yet. He did have a promising season in 2020-21 when he scored 16 goals and 33 points in 55 games, but he struggled to score since then.

In 2021-22, Comtois scored six goals and 16 points in 52 games and last season he had nine goals and 19 points in 64 contests. His qualifying offer would have been a one year deal with a cap hit just shy of $2.5 million (according to capfriendly.com) and the Ducks have chosen not to extend that offer.

The Longeuil, Quebec native was a big scorer at the QMJHL level. The 6’2″ and 214 pound left winger was a second round pick of the Ducks in 2017. He scored 31 goals and 48 points in 25 games in his final QMJHL season and also had five goals and six points in five games at the World Juniors that season.

Two years ago, he looked like a budding power forward at the NHL level. His offensive numbers were down for the past two seasons, but is still just 24 years old which is right in the wheelhouse of the age bracket the Canadiens brass are loading up on. He could come cheap, and would replace a veteran player like Rem Pitlick or Mike Hoffman in the lineup on a nightly basis next season.

Comtois has far more potential than Pitlick or Hoffman. In a rebuilding season, it would make sense to prioritize a player like Comtois over a veteran. Signing him to a cheap contract for next season would be a low risk signing for the Canadiens that could a have huge payoff if he finds his offensive game once again.

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