Habs News: NHL, Montreal Canadiens, Kent Hughes, Paul Byron, Carey Price, Kirby Dach

ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | LAVAL, QC. — Kent Hughes has mentioned several times since the end of the 2021-’22 season that he’s looking to gain cap flexibility.  Cap flexibility was the motivation behind trading Shea Weber’s contract to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Evgenii Dadonov.  Hughes preferred absorbing the forward’s final year of his $5-million contract than the four years remaining on the former captain’s contract that will most likely remain on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) until the expiration.

“So, when we make a trade like this, whether it limits us short-term or not, I think it benefits us certainly from a longer-term perspective, years, 2, 3 and 4, and I think that’s what’s most important for us,” Hughes explained following Dadonov’s acquisition.

By trading Jeff Petry to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Mike Matheson, Hughes saved $1.375-million against the cap, but took on an additional year of term as Matheson’s contract expires one year later than Petry’s.

The general manager will remain busy until the start of the season to gain cap flexibility, but in the mean time, here’s a projection of Montreal’s roster if the regular season began today with the current roster.

Forwards

Caufield – Suzuki – Anderson
Drouin – Dach – Dadonov
Hoffman – Dvorak – Gallagher
Slafkovsky – Evans – Armia

Scratches: Rem Pitlick, Michael Pezzetta
LTIR: Paul Byron

An assumption is being made in the forward group that Paul Byron will begin the season on LTIR. At former Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme’s golf tournament on July 6th, Byron was concerned about the progression in his recovery from the lower body injury that forced him to miss action at the end of the season.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” said the 33-year old when asked if he will be ready for training camp. “When I spoke to the doctors at the end of the season, everyone thought it was going to last 2, 3 or 4 weeks. But here we are in July and I haven’t started training yet. It’s a bit frustrating because the wound isn’t healing as it should.”

At his post free agency media availability the following week, Hughes confirmed that there’s a risk that Byron will not be ready for training camp.

The projected forward group does not leave many spots open to be won by the young players of the organization. If there’s no other injuries, Juraj Slafkovsky’s roster spot would be the only one up for grabs.

Defence

Matheson – Savard
Edmundson – Barron
Guhle – Wideman

Scratch: Corey Schueneman

The situation on defence is more fluid than the forwards. There are currently at least two slots available at the blue line for the club’s young prospects. Kaiden Guhle, Justin Barron, Jordan Harris, and Mattias Norlinder are amongst the young defensemen that can move back and forth between Montreal and Laval without waivers. Corey Schueneman in the role of the seventh defenceman prevents that a young prospect spends significant time watching from the press box.

After completing the Petry trade, Hughes admitted that he is still looking to acquire an experienced defenceman for the right side. “We will continue to see if there’s the opportunity to bring somebody in that can relieve some of that pressure on the right side.”  If he is not able to find some help for the right side, Hughes feels comfortable with some of the left defencemen slotting in.

Goalies

Allen
Montembeault
LTIR: Carey Price

The biggest question mark on the roster is between the posts as Carey Price‘s future is still not determined. Price took an injection at the end of the 2021-22 season, and there’s a waiting game to see if he will be able to play full time again in the NHL.

The goalie’s knee responded well last season in the gym, but the inflammation began when he would jump on the ice. The Canadiens may not have enough information on opening night to be able to place him on LTIR.

Hughes signed Samuel Montembeault to a two-year contract last week which could act as an insurance policy if Price is not ready for the season opener against the Maple Leafs.

Cap Implications

Kirby Dach is the only player from the projected roster that remains unsigned. The forward acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks during the draft received a qualifying offer from the Canadiens. Dach is expected to sign a bridge deal with Montreal at an amount higher than the $925,000 cap hit on his expiring contract.

If Dach’s new contract has a cap hit of $2.5-million, the Canadiens will have less than $400,000 of cap space available with the projected lineup above. That amount does not give Hughes a lot of breathing room, and would force another move before the start of the regular season.

If Price’s situation is determined early on that he can be placed on LTIR, the Canadiens will not have cap issues to start the season.

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By Chris G., Senior Writer
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