by Corey Desormeaux , Staff Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
OTTAWA, ON. — A few weeks back I looked at a few internal solutions for the Habs scoring woes and thought I’d take a look externally with the NHL Playoffs concluding soon.
Those who follow the Habs with any sort of regularity know that right wing is lacking a bit of firepower. With Gallagher a lock at the position in the top six, Dale Weise and P.A. Parenteau are the most common players to fill the remaining slot. It’s a well known fact that while Weise has seen some success on the top line, albeit minimal, that his game is best suited in the bottom six of the lineup.
Parenteau on the other hand was brought in via trade to provide more scoring in the top six. Unfortunately, for both the Habs and P.A., it didn’t work out as planned. That said, I still believe Parenteau is an effective player and his lack of production last season could be attributed to a number of things including injuries, inconsistent linemates, adjusting to a new team and the fact that his style of play doesn’t fit into Therrien’s system.
Parenteau’s future with the Canadiens becomes more uncertain as the Habs inch closer to the salary cap. After the signing of Jeff Petry and Nathan Beaulieu, the Canadiens have roughly $3,725,000 of cap space (generalfanager.com assumes a salary cap of $69.0 million) left to lock up some key restricted free agents (RFA) like Alex Galchenyuk and Jarred Tinordi. Parenteau has a cap hit of $4,000,000, meaning Marc Bergevin could be shopping Parenteau to make some room. The more cap space is used, the more imminent a trade becomes.
For the sake of this piece, let’s assume Bergevin is able to wiggle the Habs some cap space. What are his options via free agency?
The crop is looking mighty thin.
Michael Frolik
Age – 27
2014/15 Cap Hit – $3,300,000
Suiting up for all 82 games this season and only 27 years old, Frolik is an interesting option on the wing with such a thin crop of free agents available. The former 10th overall pick registered 42 points in each of his last two seasons with the Jets. He’s an effective puck possession player with a corsi for percentage of 53.31 this season, which is higher than his teams average with him off the ice. Frolik was born in the Czech Republic and could be an interesting line-mate for fellow countryman Thomas Plekanec.
Justin Williams
Age – 33
2014/15 Cap Hit – $3,650,000
Williams has seen a minor dip in production over the past few years, something that is pretty common for players as they move into their mid-thirties. Regardless, Williams is a winner and a leader, two things that are extremely important to Marc Bergevin. Williams is a Stanley Cup Champion and a clutch playoff performer scoring 25 points in 26 playoff games in 2013/14. He’s an effective player all around the ice and generates a ton of shot attempts. Williams’ shot differential in 2014/15 was 326, good for 30th in the entire league.
Martin St. Louis
Age – 39
2014/15 Cap Hit – $5,625,000
St. Louis has made it very clear that he won’t retire and wants to stay in New York. However, the Rangers only have around $10,000,000 of cap space and some key players to resign, such as Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin. The Rangers may be able to shuffle some players around via trade to make room, but I can’t see all three of those players fitting within their cap space.
This probably doesn’t need to be said, but the Quebec native’s speed, creativity and leadership would fit nicely with the Canadiens. He’s a Stanley Cup Champion, and wouldn’t it be fun to see him end his career in Montreal?
Matt Beleskey (LW)
Age – 27
2014/15 Cap Hit – $1,350,000
Perhaps my least favourite of the options I have laid out in this post. Regardless, it should be noted that Beleskey had a very strong year scoring 22 goals. Although some analysts are attributing his success to his all-star linemates Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. This season aside, Beleskey has never had a goals per 60 minutes average above 1.00 and his highest season goal total is 11. The Ducks have more than enough cap space to retain his services so it will be interesting to see if they do so.
Drew Stafford
Age – 29
2014/15 Cap Hit – $4,000,000
You can bet the Jets will try and hold on to Stafford after acquiring him in a blockbuster deal that saw Zach Bogosian and Evander Kane head to Buffalo. Stafford has been an effective scorer throughout his career when placed with the right line-mates. Stafford has been a 30 goal scorer and a 20 goal scorer, and registered 18 last season. Not bad for someone who played on an extremely weak Sabres squad for 50 games.
In fact, in his 50 games with Buffalo he managed a points per 60 minutes average of 1.83, and a goals per 60 minutes average of 0.69. In the 24 games he suited up for Winnipeg, Stafford managed a points per 60 minutes average of 2.51 and a goals per 60 minutes average of 1.19. What a difference a better team makes. If Stafford makes it to July 1 it’s doubtful the Habs will have the space to ink him, but if they do, he may be their best option.
Other Free Agent Wingers
There are a few other free agents of note, all of which have past their prime scoring years:
- Michael Ryder
- Erik Cole
- Martin Havlat
- Martin Erat
- Scottie Upshall
All of these players are unlikely to become Canadiens, however if Bergevin is strapped for cash they would be cheaper options than the players above.
RFA’s
Any team making an offer sheet to a restricted free agent is unlikely, but with so many teams close to the salary cap we may see offer sheets become more common. Teams that are willing to prepare an offer sheet must consider the compensation penalty. It’s important to note that a team must use their original picks as compensation.
This year’s compensation is broken down as follows:
| Average Annual Salary | Compensation |
| Less than $1,205,377 | Nothing |
| $1,205,377-to-$1,826,328 | Third-round pick |
| $1,826,328-to-$3,652,659 | Second-round pick |
| $3,652,659-to-$5,478,986 | First and third-round picks |
| $5,478,986-to-$7,305,316 | First, second and third-round picks |
| $7,305,316-to-$9,131,645 | Two firsts, a second and third-round picks |
| $9,131,645 or greater | Four first round picks |
Montreal no longer has a second or fourth round pick and will be using Colorado’s fifth round pick at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft that it acquired in a trade. Therefore, Montreal will not be able to present an offer sheet to a player in which that players compensation would require a second round pick.
Some notable RFA’s include:
Vladimir Tarasenko
Age – 23
2014/15 Cap Hit – $1,750,000
How would a team not want this kid? With 73 points in 77 games this season and some of the smoothest hands and shiftiest skating in the league it’s nearly impossible to see him out of the St. Louis Blues organization. The Blues have the cap space to sign him and with rumours of T.J. Oshie on the move, they’ll need Tarasenko’s hands and creativity.
Mark Stone
Age – 23
2014/15 Cap Hit – $603,333
This one is highly unlikely to begin with and even more so to Montreal just given the whole wrist injury thing in the playoffs. That said, Stone has a heck of a shot and lots of size, which are both things the Habs could use. The Senators have roughly $10,000,000 to sign a few key RFA’s aside from Stone, including Mike Hoffman, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Mika Zibanejad. However, with one of their goalies likely on the move via trade, it’s likely they’ll have the room to keep their key players.
Brandon Saad (LW)
Age – 22
2014/15 Cap Hit – $894,160
Here’s an RFA that many teams will be paying very close attention to. The Chicago Blackhawks only have $5,000,000 in cap space left to sign players like Rundblad, Oduya, Richards and of course Saad. There have been rumours over the past few years of the Blackhawks trading Patrick Sharp to save cap space and that seems more likely now more than ever.
At such a young age, Saad is a proven performer and a Stanley Cup Champion. He’s improved statistically year over year reaching 52 points this past season.
Jonathan Huberdeau
Age – 22
2014/15 Cap Hit – $894,166
The Florida Panthers will not let Huburdeau go just yet. He is only 22 years old and they have more than sufficient cap space to keep him around. They’ve also resigned Jaromir Jagr, who really has enjoyed his time mentoring Huberdeau and Barkov.
Tyler Toffoli
Age – 23
2014/15 Cap Hit – $716,666
Tyler Toffoli has found a home in LA becoming a reliable player for the coaching staff. Sitting with roughly $10,000,000 of cap space and the potential of Justin Williams going to another team, its doubtful Toffoli leaves the Kings.
Jakob Silfverberg
Age – 24
2014/15 Cap Hit – $850,500
Part of a blockbuster deal that shipped Bobby Ryan to the Ottawa Senators, the Ducks were hopeful that Silfvberg would have a breakout season. Although he is yet to have that breakout season, he had a strong post-season this year and if Beleskey chooses free agency, Silfvberg could have his chance at a more offensive role. He has a lethal shot, and the Habs have players that can create room for it. Not to mention, they could use another heavy shot on the powerplay.
Mikkel Boedker (LW)
Age – 25
2014/15 Cap Hit – $2,550,000
Arizona has so much cap space that they actually have to spend to get to the cap floor. That coupled with the fact that Boedker is one of the only offensive threats for the Coyotes, its unlikely we see him elsewhere.
Carl Hagelin
Age – 26
2014/15 Cap Hit – $2,250,000
Carl Hagelin, the speedster, would be a nice addition to any team. He’s hard on the forecheck and can burn just about any defenceman in the league with his wheels. As mentioned above when I spoke about Martin St. Louis, the Rangers only have a certain amount of cap space and some key players to sign. It will be interesting to see if any teams go after Hagelin or his teammate Stepan. Imagine Hagelin’s speed with Galchenyuk.
Although the unrestricted free agents lack a superstar name on the wing, there are options available for Marc Bergevin should he wish to create some cap space with a trade. Do you think the Habs target a winger in free agency? Who do you think would be the best fit?
*Salary information from generalfanager.com
*Statistics and analytics for war-on-ice-.com
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