As the 2023-24 NHL season approaches its conclusion, teams are either securing playoff spots or facing elimination. The Montreal Canadiens, unfortunately, have been eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive season. Despite individual improvements seen in players like Nick Suzuki establishing himself as a top center and Juraj Slafkovsky showing promising development, the team’s overall performance has been average, currently standing at 29-35-12 and ranked eighth in the Atlantic Division. Fan expectations are on the rise, and the Canadiens aim to strengthen their roster in the upcoming offseason to compete for playoffs in 2024-25 and beyond.
Although the Canadiens have promising prospects like Lane Hutson and David Reinbacher who are projected to make a significant impact soon, the current team has weaknesses throughout the lineup that could be addressed through free agency. While players such as Alex Newhook have shown potential with 29 points in 49 games, the team’s scoring beyond their top line of Suzuki, Caufield, and Slafkovsky, along with defenseman Matheson, has been inconsistent. Missing a solid top-six core, the Canadiens rely on players like Roy, Armia, and Gallagher for secondary scoring.
Understanding that young prospects like Slafkovsky often need time to adjust to the NHL, the Canadiens should focus on improving their team through free agency. Despite the availability of numerous unrestricted free agents who could address their requirements, here are four players that Kent Hughes and his team should contemplate signing in the upcoming offseason.
Jonathan Marchessault, a right winger from the Vegas Golden Knights
Jonathan Marchessault has exceeded all predictions since joining the Columbus Blue Jackets as an undrafted free agent, becoming the leading player in every major offensive category for the Vegas Golden Knights. The 33-year-old, who has not played in his home province of Quebec since his Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) days with the Quebec Remparts, would bring the much-needed scoring prowess that the team currently lacks beyond Suzuki and Caufield, who has experienced a decrease in his goal-scoring output compared to last season. With a career-best of 41 goals, Marchessault would be a costly acquisition due to his consistent performance.
Having achieved the milestone of being a seven-time 20-goal scorer in every complete season of his career, he is likely to slot into the top-six alongside Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook. Dach and Newhook would undoubtedly benefit from playing alongside an experienced veteran player who has demonstrated his ability to maintain high production levels despite his age, unlike some of the Canadiens’ forwards such as Gallagher or Josh Anderson. A mid-term contract is the probable course of action considering his age. Not to forget, he was part of the Stanley Cup-winning team just a season ago and was honored with the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Playoff MVP.
Dakota Joshua, a center playing for the Vancouver Canucks
It might seem unusual to have two players named Roy on the Canadiens roster, but defenseman Matt Roy from the Los Angeles Kings would bring much-needed stability to the right side of the defensive line, particularly as most of the team’s defensemen are young and lack experience. As David Savard’s contract will end after the 2024-25 season, Roy, who is four years younger than Savard, could be a timely replacement, especially with right-handed defensive prospects like Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux still developing.
While the Detroit native may not stand out in terms of statistics, having consistently scored at least 20 points in three consecutive seasons, including a personal best of nine goals in 2022-23, he has maintained a positive plus/minus rating throughout his career, reaching a high of plus-23 in the 2021-22 season. His defensive skills are evident through his 192 blocked shots this season, a number that would lead the Canadiens (14 more than Kaiden Guhle) and currently ranks as seventh-best in the NHL. As a defensive defenseman, he may not command as high a price in the free-agent market as more offensively-minded defensemen. The Canadiens management should seriously consider him if the cost is reasonable.
Jake Guentzel, a left winger playing for the Carolina Hurricanes
It is common knowledge that standout winger Jake Guentzel will demand a substantial contract in free agency this upcoming summer. Guentzel, who will celebrate his 30th birthday in October, has consistently hovered around a point-per-game pace since the 2018-19 season. His remarkable performance in the 2023-24 season, where he achieved a career-high of 72 points in 63 games, including an impressive 20 points in just 13 games with the Hurricanes, suggests he is in for a significant pay raise from his current contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, which pays him an average annual salary of 66 million
9 million annually, unlike Keller’s team-friendly $7.1 million yearly salary.
The forward from Nebraska has a strong playoff record as well, with 58 points in 58 playoff games, notably contributing 42 points in 37 games during the Penguins’ consecutive Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017. Despite his high cost, his consistent scoring output demonstrates his value even without a star center like Sidney Crosby. With the Canadiens having an additional $4 million in cap space compared to the previous season, there is a possibility of seeing Guentzel in a Canadiens jersey for the 2024-25 season if the management, led by Hughes, Jeff Gorton, and others, wisely utilize their resources.
As the free-agent market is set to welcome numerous skilled players on July 1, the Canadiens must address specific needs to support their ongoing rebuild process as they aim for progress in the upcoming 2024-25 season. These four players highlighted possess the qualities that were lacking in the Canadiens’ lineup this season, offering significant contributions to the team’s development beyond the rebuilding phase.
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