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Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens Unrestricted Free Agents Speak To Roster Turnover

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1 month ago

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Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens enjoyed quite a successful season given that the organization was just three full years into the long-term rebuild. The surprise appearance in the playoffs was the cherry on top of a year that indicated the team was ready to take the next step.

On that note, there are decisions to be made in regard to the restricted free agents, as well as a handful of unrestricted free-agent veterans who have been with the team prior to general manager Kent Hughes taking the reins.

Impending Unrestricted Free Agents

There are three forwards who require new contracts: Christian Dvorak, Joel Armia, and Michael Pezzetta.

With all due respect to Pezzetta, I’d argue that he’d be best off trying to find a contract with a new organization that will perhaps give him more opportunities to play, as it’s clear that the former Sudbury Wolves forward has fallen out of favour with the Montreal Canadiens.

Before we move on, it should be said that despite the bad optics, which often involves taking poorly-timed penalties, Pezzetta was dealing with rather difficult variables. Jumping into game-time situations while being ice-cold is never easy, especially when you’re expected to mix it up from a physical standpoint. Walking the line as a No.13 or No.14 forward is not conducive to producing good results.

On that note, when Pezzetta was on the ice, he actually maintained relatively solid underlying numbers. I’m not saying it was enough to convince the Canadiens to re-sign him, but it may lead to a contract with another organization, and given that Pezzetta never complained about spending most of the season watching games from the press box, I can’t help but root for him.

Few situations are more frustration for a professional athlete.

2024-25 Salary Cap Hit: $812,500

Will the Canadiens re-sign? Very unlikely.


This brings us to Christian Dvorak, the centre who was hastily acquired once former general manager Marc Bergevin realized he was losing Phillip Danault to free agency, and Jesperi Kotakniemi to an offer sheet.

All things considered, he finished the season on a high note, serving as an important faceoff maestro, on top of contributing 12 goals and 21 assists in 82 games on the third line, alongside Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher.

I understand many fans would instinctively suggest it’s time to move on from Dvorak, but we also have to consider the lack of centre depth throughout the lineup, especially now that it seems apparent that Kirby Dach isn’t quite ready to undertake No.2 centre duties.

If the Canadiens let Dvorak walk, they will have to count on Jake Evans or Oliver Kapanen to serve as their third-line centre, on top of having to find someone to play with Ivan Demidov on the second line, because it’s also clear that Alex Newhook’s faceoff prowess is well below average.

That’s not to say Montreal has to re-sign Dvorak simply because he’s a centre, but they will have to expand their centre search if they let him walk.

2024-25 Salary Cap Hit: $4,450,000

Will the Canadiens re-sign? It hinges on the centre situation. If Montreal can find two quality centres, they will feel much more comfortable walking away from Dvorak, but don’t be surprised if they decide to add an insurance policy to the mix by offering him a short-term deal with a more reasonable cap hit.

Joel Armia is the final forward in play, and much like Dvorak, his value started to rise as the season went on. With 11 goal and 18 assists in 81 games, Armia did a decent job providing tertiary offence alongside Evans and Emil Heineman on the fourth line. On the flip side, the offence immediately dried up once Heineman was struck by a car during Montreal’s visit to Utah.

With that in mind, injuries are a concern for Armia, as is the available ice time for prospects looking to start the season in the NHL.

Armia is the epitome of a peak and valley player, spending large stretches of the season incognito, before eventually putting together a few games that remind everyone he was a first-round pick 2011. He also did a very good job playing with Evans on the first penalty-kill unit.

At 31 years old, he’s also on the downside of his statistical prime, connoting that it’s probably time for the Canadiens to move on from the enigmatic forward.

2024-25 Salary Cap Hit: $3,400,00

Will the Canadiens re-sign? Depending on how many prospects the Canadiens expect to promote, keeping Armia around for another year may be a wise decision, but as it stands, it’s a good opportunity for both camps to cut ties and move on.

Laval Rocket Players Signed By The Montreal Canadiens

There are four remaining impending free agents, including Connor Hughes and David Savard. The former has already signed a five-year contract in Switzerland, while the latter has decided to retire after a very successful NHL career.

Brandon Gignac and Alex Barre-Boulet played an important role for the Laval Rocket this year, helping them secure first place in the league, as well as the best record in franchise history.

Barre-Boulet spent a large part of the season on the top line, alongside prospect Sean Farrell, and veteran Laurent Dauphin. He finished just one point shy of maintaining a point-per-game pace, with 63 points in 64 games.

It’s always hard to get a read on AHL mercenaries, as most are still attempting to find a situation that will eventually lead to a promotion to the NHL. Barre-Boulet was given limited ice time and just two NHL games to prove his worth, while Gignac received a seven-game audition in 2023-24.

The Laval Rocket would be better off with both in the lineup, but given the influx of draft prospects heading to the AHL, not to mention the fact that both players are 27-years old, don’t be surprised if Gignac and Barre-Boulet decide to move on.

All Montreal Canadiens salary cap information via Cap Wages.

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