Montreal Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes wasted little time making his presence felt after NHL free agency officially opened. His press conference, held mere hours into the signing period, signaled a clear intent: key foundational moves had been made, but the work wasn`t entirely finished.
The early days of the offseason saw significant additions through trades, notably bringing in defenseman Noah Dobson and forward Zachary Bolduc. The team also addressed depth needs with signings like goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen and forward Samuel Blais.
Despite these steps, Hughes indicated that further roster adjustments were likely before the puck drops for the new season. As he put it eight days prior to the article`s original publication, constructing a “perfect team” is not a one-summer project, acknowledging that there are still objectives to pursue.
Given the current roster composition and salary cap situation, it appears certain the Canadiens lineup will see additional changes in the coming weeks or months. There remain specific positions to strengthen and, crucially, salary cap space to manage.
Current Roster Snapshot and What Needs Addressing
Analyzing the current depth chart reveals a team that has seen notable shifts, particularly on defense with the addition of Dobson. However, a significant question mark persists within the forward group.
Based on projected lines, the picture looks something like this:
- Forwards:
- Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkovsky
- Zachary Bolduc – Kirby Dach* – Ivan Demidov
- Brendan Gallagher – Alex Newhook – Josh Anderson
- Samuel Blais – Jake Evans – Patrik Laine*
- Defence:
- Kaiden Guhle – Noah Dobson
- Mike Matheson – Lane Hutson
- Arber Xhekaj – Alex Carrier
- Depth: Jayden Struble
- Goal:
- Samuel Montembeault
- Jakub Dobes
* Indicates players with situational factors (injury history for Dach, contract/future for Laine in the original context).
Financially, the team faces constraints:
- Total Forward Cap Hits: $57.48 million
- Total Defence Cap Hits: $25.9 million
- Total Goalie Cap Hits: $15.8 million (includes the inactive Carey Price`s $10.5 million hit)
- Estimated Cap Space Remaining: -$5.4 million (over the cap)
The Crucial Need: A Second-Line Center
As highlighted by the asterisk next to Kirby Dach`s name, the most pressing remaining item on the Canadiens` offseason checklist is solidifying the second-line center position. While Dach possesses the potential to fill this role, two consecutive seasons ending prematurely due to reconstructive knee surgery cast a long shadow of uncertainty.
Placing Dach in this spot on paper reflects a hope that he can overcome his injury woes and fulfill his promise. However, it`s understood that the organization would prefer a more certain option to anchor a line featuring promising young wingers like Bolduc and Demidov. Finding a reliable “sure bet” at 2C would significantly strengthen the team`s forward depth and take pressure off Dach as he potentially returns.
The negative cap space further underscores the need for trades. Any move to acquire a significant player, such as a second-line center, would almost certainly require shedding salary from the current roster. This necessity adds complexity to Hughes`s ongoing negotiations.
In summary, the Canadiens have made substantial progress this offseason, particularly bolstering their defense. Yet, the critical void at second-line center and the tight salary cap situation mean GM Kent Hughes`s phone remains very much active. The final shape of the team heading into training camp depends heavily on addressing these key areas.
