Canadiens Potential ‘Buy-Low’ Targets This Summer

The Montreal Canadiens had success last summer with some strategic, buy-low deals, and they’ll surely look to do the same this summer.

General manager Kent Hughes loves jumping on buy-low situations and taking gambles on players with upside; be it at a reasonable price, or with the inclusion of a sweetener.

Although MHN has already covered some potential cap casualties the Montreal Canadiens could target, there are a group of players rumoured to be available that could be had at a lower cost than initially thought.

Let’s take a look at some of the options:

Kaapo Kakko

The New York Rangers are in a tough spot after failing to get out of the first round this spring.

With just $11M in cap space, the likes of Vladimir Tarasenko open to returning and youngsters Alexis Lafrenière and K’Andre Miller left to sign, it’s going to get very tight under the cap for the Rangers for the foreseeable future.

There has been talk that a member of the underwhelming Kid-Line, comprised of newly signed Filip Chytil, Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko, may be sacrificed in the process of improving the club and saving them space on the salary cap.

It does feel like Kakko would be the odd man out, as it wouldn’t make much sense for the Rangers to trade Chytil, having just signed him; while Lafrenière is a former 1st-overall pick.

The former 2nd overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft has everything the Canadiens would be looking for in a young player; he’s 6-foot-3, shoots left and has a howitzer of a shot.

If a similar trade to that of Kirby Dach could be brokered for Kakko, it could have a very similar positive effect for the Canadiens, who are looking to diversify their top 6.

Viktor Arvidsson

The L.A. Kings pushed the Edmonton Oilers to the limit this past season, but they’re now going to be right up against the salary cap, especially with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman confirming that they’d like to retain Vladislav Gavrikov.

Retaining Gavrikov and signing restricted free agents Gabe Vilardi, Rasmus Kupari and Jaret Anderson-Dolan will likely eat up all their remaining cap space; meaning that one of thir forwards is likely to be sacrificed to have the club improve on defence.

Friedman mentioned that Viktor Arvidsson and his $4.2M cap hit could be the player sacrificed to give the club some flexibility under the cap; as his contract is set to conclude at the end of the 2023-2024 season.

It could make sense for the Canadiens to jump on such an opportunity to add such a versatile player on the cheap, and then potentially flip him for a higher return at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.

Granted, Arvidsson wouldn’t come free, the Montreal Canadiens could surely get more than what they paid for simply by holding onto him until March.

Alex Newhook

Alex Newhook is another interesting candidate for general manager Kent Hughes, as the two have a very familiar relationship dating back to his minor hockey days.

Selected immediately after Cole Caufield at 16th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, Newhook had a significant amount of hype around him after a dominating stint in the NCAA.

But he hasn’t been able to play that kind of game with the Avalanche, failing to take on the role of #2 centre for Colorado in the absence of Nazem Kadri.

With the injury to Gabriel Landeskog opening the door to spend some money in free agency or via trade, it could make sense for the Avalanche to try and get value for Newhook, while going after the likes of Ryan O’Reilly to fill their second-line centre spot.

Newhook plays precisely the style that head coach Martin St-Louis has been implanting in Montreal, as the Canadiens want to play a high-tempo offensive game that is focused on transition and high-end skill.

Whether it be as a winger or centre, Newhook would be in a ripe environment to have his top qualities optimized by St-Louis style and method of coaching, in a far less stressful environment than that of the Avalanche, who are in a win-now setting.

Tyson Barrie

Tyson Barrie was recently traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Nashville Predators in the blockbuster that sent Mattias Ekholm to Edmonton.

With one year left on his $4.5M deal, the retooling Predators, who already have an abundance of right-shot defencemen, could look to move the offensive defenceman to free up some roster space for younger talent.

Nashville is usually rather active on the free agent market as well, and has the draft capital to bring in some high-paid salary players as well, should they want to turn it around quickly.

By freeing themselves of Barrie, they would have more cap space to focus on improving their forward corps, which requires a significant boost in talent if they want to be competitive in the near future.

The Canadiens can not only offer the Predators roster relief, but has some forwards they”d like to rid themselves of in order to free up roster space at forward for youngsters like Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Jesse Ylönen; making the two clubs perfect trade partners.