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Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens Potential Targets For NCAA Free Agent Signings

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1 year ago

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Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has special ties to the NCAA, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him pounce on a few of the top free agents this spring.

As we get deeper into March the seasons of various NCAA teams will begin to conclude, as we make our way to the NCAA Frozen Four on April 6 and 8.

Although all eyes will be on Canadiens prospects like Sean Farrell and Jayden Struble to turn pro after their season ends, the Canadiens also have other interesting options from this year’s free agent pool.

The Canadiens have currently used up 47 of their 50 contract slots, and are likely reserving two of their remaining slots for Struble and Farrell, but they could add some more.

Last year, the Canadiens signed Lucas Condotta to a one-year, entry-level contract (ELC) out of UMass-Lowell at age 24. The 25-year-old then immediately joined the Laval Rocket last spring on a Professional Try-Out (PTO)s for the AHL playoffs, ensuring that his ELC only kicked in as of this current season.

The rugged forward has gone on to be a productive member of the Laval Rocket this season, posting 16 goals and adding seven assists for 23 points in 55 games.

Coupling PTOs and ELCs together is an important way of bypassing the contract limits for this current season, while offering yourself the flexibility to reward your own homegrown prospects with immediate gratification.

With the period of NCAA free agency almost upon us, here are some options for the Montreal Canadiens this season:

Jake Livingstone

Jake Livingstone is a very interesting prospect for the Montreal Canadiens on many levels.

The 6’4, 205lbs right-shot defenceman is one of the better defencemen in the country at the moment for Minnesota State U – Mankato.

He’s been a leader for the team defensively, playing an already pro-level game on his own end, and has been growing his offensive game of late in the CCHA, posting seven goals and 23 assists for 30 points in 36 games.

With the Canadiens dealing with multiple injuries on their back end, and their organizational need on right defence; Livingstone’s combination of defensive and offensive ability from the blue line could make him an attractive piece for the Canadiens to pursue.

The BC native is likely to be on almost every team’s radar, most notably his hometown Vancouver Canucks.

Sam Malinski

Sam Malinski is an impressive offensive defenceman that is incredibly fun to watch with the puck on his stick.

The 24-year-old right-shot defenceman has also taken his game up a notch as the captain of Cornell University, posting eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points in 29 games.

What’s interesting in Malinski’s game is that he generates his offence in a plethora of ways, beating the opposition one-on-one, along the boards or with his underrated shooting ability.

He patrols the blue line with confidence and is quickly able to jump on loose pucks in the neutral zone to create counter-attacks.

The Montreal Canadiens are looking to emulate a style of play that Malinski plays to perfection; that of a quick, offensive-minded transition that generates offence on the rush.

Malinski is a very good puck carrier that protects the puck well and could have a very legitimate shot at being a full-time NHLer in the not-so-distant future.

Austen Swankler

Austen Swankler has had a very unorthodox development path, to say the least.

Starting off in the USHL, he made the jump to the OHL to play with the Erie Otters. Having been kept out of play during the 2020-2021 season due to Covid, Swankler then made the decision to jump to the NCAA and join Bowling Green State University, where he put up a respectable eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points in 36 games as a freshman.

This season however, the 6’0, 185lbs centre has taken his game up a notch at both ends of the ice and is showing signs of being an interesting late-bloomer.

Posting 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points in 35 games this season, the 21-year-old is one of the more attractive free agents, given his younger age and solid offensive production.

The Canadiens, who are looking for crafty and smooth-skating centremen to fill their ranks as they look to continue their youth movement, could have a lot to offer a player like Swankler, as the Laval Rocket are currently in need of top-line talent down the middle.

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