Top 5 defensemen the Canadiens should target in free agency

The Montreal Canadiens have a rebuilding plan in place and not much room from a salary standpoint (without factoring in LTIR) to sign free agents, so any list of free agent signings, whether it’s at forward or on the blue line, probably won’t be so inspiring. But that doesn’t mean they won’t bring value if general manager Kent Hughes wants to sign someone to a deal next season. 

Teams that are still in a building phase could use more than just a few leaders, so rolling with blueliners who are on the back end of their careers would make sense. No, they won’t stay long, and ideally, they wouldn’t get in the way of any up-and-coming player from the Laval Rocket, but you can never place too much value on a strong veteran presence. 

That said, Hughes wouldn’t be looking to upgrade the blue line this summer as much as he could; instead he may find an older player who would help improve what he already has in the system. It may not do much for the Habs in the short-term, but this is a long-term, long road rebuilding plan, and it’s only helped the team since Hughes took over as general manager. 

An experienced blueliner playing third-pairing minutes is ideal for Canadiens 

Thanks to limitations in cap space and that Hughes should be thinking ahead to put those in his system in the best possible position to move up to the NHL when they are more than ready, there isn’t a single defenseman listed in this slideshow likely to sign with the Habs (or anyone) for over a year, or two seasons at most. 

That said, the players listed bring a combined decades worth of NHL experience. And while their best days may be behind them, they will help the current incarnations of Habs players to maximize the primes of their own respective careers. 

Marco Scandella’s experience would thrive in a rebuilding environment

Yep, we’re starting off with a familiar face here in Marco Scandella, who saw 20 games of action with the Canadiens in the 2019-20 season, where he highlighted his physical play with 25 hits and 19 blocks. Scandella also had three points and a goal in that span, and he often saw third-pairing minutes. 

He moved on to the St. Louis Blues in a trade that netted the Habs a second and fourth-round pick. During his time with the Blues, Scandella has remained a stay-at-home blueliner, playing a similar number of minutes in Gateway City, and in his 14 seasons, Scandella has seen a bit of everything, even if there is no Stanley Cup on his resume. 

Sure, this team already has David Savard and Michael Matheson, but Savard was part of trade rumors this past season. So if a team is interested in acquiring the 33-year-old blueliner, there is a chance the Habs make the trade and get something for him while signing a more cost-effective player like Scandella. 

Further, Scandella, like a few players on this list, is at the point in his career where he would likely embrace a role as an extra. He’s seen time in just 85 games over the past two seasons, so rotating in and out of the lineup could end up being his role regardless of where he lands. 

Chris Tanev could repurpose into helping a team build next season

Okay, this one is more of a longshot since Chris Tanev should be more than happy playing for a contender in the Dallas Stars. But I’m mentioning him in the event Dallas wins the Stanley Cup and/or only saw Tanev as a rental. This would give him the green light to embark on one of two routes: He could either A, seek another contender to play for or B, help a team like the Canadiens work their way to the next level. 

Like Scandella, Tanev brings experience, and there’s a good chance at his age he won’t be looking for an AAV of $4.5 million should he prove to be a rental in Dallas. Regardless of what happens with Savard, signing a player like Tanev would be beneficial, as he is still one of the best in the league at frustrating would-be scorers. He had 207 blocks this season, indicating there are few defensemen out there who are better at finding the right position so consistently. 

While signing a player like Tanev - and the next two guys on this list - could potentially create problems for incoming prospects, it’s also worth mentioning trade value. The Canadiens could bring in Tanev and trade him at some point in the season if they aren’t contending and would like to call up some youngsters. A player like him would also bring in some value. 

Alec Martinez would bring championship experience to the Habs

Alec Martinez has spent his entire career playing in either Los Angeles or Las Vegas, and he’s accomplished just about everything one could ask for in a professional hockey player. If the Canadiens want to sign someone not just to supplement their blue line this summer but also to serve as a pristine role model, it’s Martinez. He’s someone who has never been an elite player but one who has made a living as a role player and helped teams win championships. 

Most hockey players are role players, and the case is no different for the Canadiens, where not everyone will be like Nick Suzuki or Cole Caufield. Martinez epitomizes such a player, and a young team would learn a lot from him even if he was in town for half a season. 

Like the others on this list, he wouldn’t be getting in anyone’s way for too long. And since Martinez will be 37 for the 2024-25 season, there is a chance he, too, could serve as an extra or a rotational asset instead of a full-time skater. 

Thanks to his age and the fact he could win a fourth championship this season, Martinez could retire at the end of the year. But if he doesn’t, and if the Habs are looking for one more blueliner, he would make a solid addition. 

Erik Johnson would impress few fans, but he knows how to win

Let’s suppose someone like Martinez either won’t be available or would rather spend what could be the final season of his career with a contender, Erik Johnson, which is an incredible consolation. He, too, is a former champion, having helped the Colorado Avalanche take the Stanley Cup in 2022, and he would also bring leadership and factor in as an extra. 

The one downside with Johnson isn’t much different from that of the other players listed: He may want to keep playing, but only for a contender. It was supposed to be the case this season when he signed with the Buffalo Sabres, who underwhelmed and ultimately traded him to the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Unfortunately for Johnson, the Flyers downward spiral commenced shortly after he arrived and, he ultimately missed the playoffs. It would be hard to convince him to play in Montreal as the Canadiens are still building should he want to try his hand with another contender, but he’s a leader and would also factor in as a potential trade piece at the deadline. 

Overall, none of the names listed in this article will wow fans in the short run, but it’s all about finding stopgaps if Kent Hughes still wants to see his prospects on the blue line continue to develop in Laval. 

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)