A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: Three Potential PTOs To Consider

By Ken MacMillan

May 1, 2023; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils left wing Tomas Tatar (90) celebrates his goal against the New York Rangers during the second period in game seven of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2023; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils left wing Tomas Tatar (90) celebrates his goal against the New York Rangers during the second period in game seven of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 21, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Jesse Puljujarvi. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Jesse Puljujarvi. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports /

Jesse Puljujarvi

The Montreal Canadiens certainly don’t need to add another goaltender to their already crowded crease. Jake Allen and Sam Montembeault will be using training camp to try and prove they should keep their jobs and not be usurped by Casey DeSmith or Cayden Primeau.

On defense, there are a plethora of young blue liners that will be battling for ice time. Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris and Arber Xhekaj give the team four options on the left side. David Savard, Jonathan Kovacevic, Justin Barron and Chris Wideman are four players who could play a regular role on the right. Not to mention Gustav Lindstrom who could find a role.

If the Canadiens are going to add another player, it would make the most sense to add someone up front. Having moved out a couple of veterans via trade, and allowed Jonathan Drouin and Denis Gurianov to leave as free agents, they are down a handful of veteran wingers.

Jesse Puljujravi is the type of player that fits what the Canadiens have been building recently. They gave opportunities to high draft picks that had not figured it all out like Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook and Gurianov. They could try again with Puljujarvi.

The 25 year old right winger was a fourth overall draft pick but hasn’t piled up the points in the NHL the way he did in other leagues. He scored just 16 points in 75 games last season, but continues to show excellent analytics and is a smart, defensively aware winger that routinely is on the ice for more scoring chances for than against.

He finished last season on the injured reserve, and that situation remains a bit cloudy, but if he is healthy enough to play in September, it would make a lot of sense to bring him in and see if he can play a two-way role and earn a low income contract for the season.

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