Potential Free Agents Montreal Canadiens Could Target For PTO

With the flat salary cap continuing to hamper the signing of free agents, there are going to be quite a few options for the Montreal Canadiens to invite to training camp on a professional try-out (PTO).

The Canadiens will have an influx of young players coming into the fold, and general manager Kent Hughes has indicated that he would be looking for veteran leadership to replace the many vets that have been moved since the start of his tenure. Without the ability to sign players at this junction without going over the salary cap, the Canadiens could buy themselves some time and evaluate some of their options first-hand by making some strategic PTO offers to some of the veterans below:

Anton Stralman

Stralman would be exactly what the doctor ordered for the Montreal Canadiens, as he can still play upwards of 20 minutes a game while providing excellent guidance and leadership to the emerging youngsters in the organization. The soon-to-be 36-year-old would likely look to sign a short-term contract and wouldn’t be used in top offensive situations; leaving that role to younger players like Justin Barron or Jordan Harris to further their development.

Stralman’s $5.5M contract just expired with the Arizona Coyotes and the veteran defenceman has shown he’s not quite done yet. His wealth of experience and knowledge would be indispensable in helping to develop the young crop of defencemen coming into the organization this year.

Calvin De Haan

The fact that DeHaan is still unsigned is a little puzzling at this junction, but he could easily be a player the Canadiens can look at due to his ability to play both sides of the defence. He has a defence-first style that could help solidify the back end for the Montreal Canadiens, while offering the youngsters a pillar to lean on as they try and express themselves offensively in high-pressure situations.

De Haan’s health has been a concern over the last couple of years, but, if he’s 100% healthy and ready to contribute, he could be a sneaky pick-up for the Canadiens.

Antoine Roussel

If the Montreal Canadiens are looking to add a little bit of toughness to their lineup to protect the younger players, Roussel might be an interesting option to invite to camp on an invite. Roussel made a name for himself in the NHL as an energy player that you can plug into your bottom-six to help spark the club and protect his teammates, should the need arise. His ability to protect the puck and play a strong game along the boards could be an added element that the Canadiens could use on their 4th line, as they lack that kind of physicality at this junction outside of Micheal Pezzetta and Joel Armia.

Honourable Mention: PK Subban

PK Subban Was not included because he is looking for an NHL contract at this time, not a PTO. However, should he be open to the idea, it would be a no-risk venture that Kent Hughes could look at come September.