At this point in the offseason, the Montreal Canadiens don't have many options to upgrade their Top 6. They certainly could look at Vladimir Tarasenko, who might be the most proven, but there is one player who might have more upside that could be a better fit for the Montreal Canadiens.
The fact that Philipp Kurashev is still available this late into free agency is a little surprising. He is set to turn 27 this upcoming season and already has a season with 50 or more points in his career.
He has struggled the past two seasons since that career year with the Blackhawks, and that certainly could be a reason why he is still unsigned. In his last season in Chicago, he had only 14 points in 51 games and signed as a free agent last summer with the San Jose Sharks.
He would miss about a quarter of the season due to injury, but when he was healthy, he didn't make much of an impact with 20 points in 43 games.
Philipp Kurashev is worth the risk for the Montreal Canadiens on a PTO
The Montreal Canadiens have not been able to find an answer for their second-line center and seemingly are still holding out hope that Michael Hage will change his mind and come to Montreal instead of another season at the University of Michigan.
The addition of a younger center like Kurashev could be a fit, especially if he agrees to a professional tryout instead of a one-year deal. That contract limits the risk for the Canadiens and won't force them to give out a guaranteed deal, but it gives Kurashev a chance to prove in training camp and preseason that he can be a key part of this team.
It doesn't seem like the Canadiens have a clear answer yet for what they are going to do with that center position on their second line. The best thing they can do is add as many options as possible and let the best player emerge. By adding Kurashev to that competition with Oliver Kapanen, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, and Jake Evans might not solve the problem, but it gives them the best chance to address it.
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