One dream, one realistic, and one bargain player the Canadiens can sign in NHL free agency
The Montreal Canadiens could find a way to be active in NHL free agency, and maybe they will find a way to land a dream candidate.
NHL free agency will be here within three weeks, and it gives the Montreal Canadiens and the league’s other 31 teams a chance to excite their respective fan bases with some fresh talent picked off of different organizations. While Montreal may not be a heavy hitter in free agency, it never hurts to get speculative over what they may do in July.
Below, I have three players for you, each in their unique category. The first one we’ll discuss is a dream free agent, or an unlikely addition, but one who would immediately reinvigorate interest in the Habs from fans who may have otherwise chosen to wait until the team becomes more relevant.
Our second option is a realistic free agent or one the Canadiens can sign at a reasonable cost without breaking the bank. This player would also give the Habs decent production if they sign. Finally, there is the bargain free agent or a player who may not be an ideal addition, but should make for a serviceable one-year rental at more than an affordable price.
Now, let’s check out these players and discuss how general manager Kent Hughes can fit them into the lineup.
Dream Free Agent: Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
Hey, I said I have a dream free agent for you, so let’s start with one of the biggest names on the list. As I write this, Sam Reinhart is just two wins away from hoisting his first Stanley Cup, and following a legendary season, he will demand a well-earned blockbuster deal.
While you may wonder how the Habs could fit a player like Reinhart into the lineup thanks to the roughly $8.5 million they have in cap space, a number that will likely be around the cap hit to sign him, if not more if Alexander MacLean of Dobber Hockey’s projections hold true, let’s factor in LTIR.
If we take Carey Price’s contract and add it in, it gives the Canadiens extra cap space, which would more than clear the Reinhart deal. Should the Habs sign Reinhart, they can also backload his contract somewhat, closer to when Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson - assuming they’re sticking around - are near the end of their respective deals.
Admittedly, it’s tough to see Reinhart coming to Quebec, both because of potential cap constraints despite what I mentioned above and the possibility he may want to re-sign in Florida or join a contender. But there is a way to bring a player like Reinhart to town should Kent Hughes pursue that route.
Realistic Free Agent: Daniel Sprong, Detroit Red Wings
Daniel Sprong is one of the sneakier good options in NHL free agency this year and a top depth or complementary scorer on the market. He’s snagged 39 goals over the past two seasons and 89 points, with 43 of them coming with the Detroit Red Wings this past season. And best yet, Sprong wouldn’t take up a spot over or block a prospect looking to rise and join the big club.
Ideally, in Quebec, he would play in the middle-six, but he has lately exclusively played on the lower lines. But even from the fourth line, he’s productive, and that was the case while with the Red Wings this past season. Despite the number of points accumulated, Sprong only averaged 12 minutes of ice time per game, so seeing his productivity with such little playing time indicates that he makes the most out of his shifts.
While it didn’t show this past season, Sprong is also decent in Corsi For at even strength, having snagged a 50.3 rating since he entered the league in 2015-16. He was also strong on the power play, being on the ice for 20 goals at 5-on-4 with an on-ice shooting percentage of 17.1 to go with it.
If he ended up in a place like Montreal, Quebec, Sprong is a likely reasonable rental who would probably head elsewhere after one season. But he’s a player who would make the Habs more respectable offensively in the interim, and that’s all they would need until a prospect rises up and sets the stage to take the spot next season.
Bargain Free Agent: Victor Olofsson, Buffalo Sabres
Victor Olofsson’s name might make you roll your eyes, but let’s remember something: The Canadiens aren’t planning on making it to the postseason this year, so I’m not proposing a player like Olofsson to clock in as a long-term fix. But what I like about him is the supplementation he can provide offensively as a stopgap.
Olofsson may have garnered just 15 points and seven goals in 51 games for the Sabres, playing primarily as a fourth-liner, but this was a role different from what he played in the past. To make a long story short, Olofsson lost his place in the lineup because of an influx of young players and acquisitions, but for a team in building mode like the Habs, he would make a good one-year or even half-year fit at a low price.
His time in Buffalo went better than you may think, as between 2021-22 and 2022-23, he had 89 points and 48 goals in 147 games, plus a 14.8 shooting percentage. Olofsson had his cold streaks, but when he was hot, there were even times when he saw first-line minutes.
This isn’t saying he should supplant anyone on the first line or even on the top-six if he signed and enjoyed some success. But Olofsson makes for a good piece on the third line as a complementary scorer. Or, as he showed this past season in Buffalo, he can even take on a defensive forward role if necessary.
He turned into a serviceable utility skater, one who from now until his time is up in the NHL could see him filling lineups as a one-year rental. If Olofsson signed with the Habs, he wouldn’t stay for longer than a year, but he’s a cost-effective asset who can provide serviceable play.
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(Statistics powered by Hockey-Reference)