By October 12 (the start of the regular season), Martin St-Louis and his assistants will have decisions to make regarding their starting lineup. As you are told almost every day, there are a lot of attackers in town right now.
Ideally, a 23-man roster is made up of 14 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders. You can replace an attacker with a defender, but since the offense has more positions to fill, teams like to have two more attackers.
Even if Joel Armia’s injury changes the game and allows the Canadian to breathe a little better while waiting for his return, the Canadian can still think two moves ahead and try to free up some salary by his return.
That’s why we talk a lot regarding the imperative of Kent Hughes finding a way to trade one of his biggest hitters on offense. And Guillaume Latendresse reminded us of this. The former CH color bearer does not want to see Jonathan Drouin, Mike Hoffman or Evgeni Dadonov in the starting line-up next week. Latendresse also wants to see a culture change in the team.
WATCH????????| “Those three players should not be in the starting lineup.”https://t.co/AImlC1IaPL
— TVA Sports (@TVASports) October 5, 2022
Maxim Lapierre, he went a little less strong, but also wants Mike Hoffman sacre his camp, as we say in good Quebecers. He also thinks that Christian Dvorak must leave, he who is made “slow”. According to Lapierre, Kirby Dach and Sean Monahan make much better centers than #28, especially because of their speed.
Both friends are aware that with the salary cap which hasn’t gone up in the last few years and the fact that the teams are all pretty tight financially, trading guys who are counting on salaries between 4.45 and 5.5 million dollars isn’t exactly “a walk in the park” for the Montreal CEO. Either way, a transaction will have to be made; the CH has no dollars available under the salary cap and the room to maneuver during the regular season will be practically non-existent.
Dadonov, we acquired him so that Vegas might acquire the contract from Shea Weber. The Russian is under contract for another year and everything indicates that he will not sign once more in Montreal. And you never know, if he has a good first half of the season, maybe a team will want to acquire him at the trade deadline. Hughes would probably have to withhold some of his salary, but that’s okay considering Dadonov is a free agent at the end of the season.
Speaking of a free agent at the end of the season, Quebecer Jonathan Drouin will be too. His last seasons in Montreal were difficult, but healthy, he was among the Habs’ best forwards in terms of points per game. He will have to give everything in 2022-2023 to find a new contract somewhere in the NHL. And if he doesn’t want to stay here, let him leave too…
Hoffman won’t become free as air until 2024. With an annual salary of $4.5 million, defensive shortcomings and questionable working methods, I don’t think he’s going to attract the other teams. If Kent Hughes manages to trade him, that one, it would be a stroke of genius. I believe he will have to acquire another salary to get rid of it and/or trade with Hoffman, a C+ prospect, like. Sort of like the Jeff Petry deal.
In short, the offensive situation continues to make talk in Montreal. The season hasn’t even started.
Can this season finally begin?
A lot of
“I don’t even doubt it.
Several teams would have liked to get their hands on Juraj Slafkovsky:
“He’s a rarity, he’s the kind of player you can’t get” -André Tourigny
Listen @BearTourigny live to Sports Fans with @LangloisMario: 98.5 et https://t.co/ombAm7kmJx pic.twitter.com/RlPo0gUWCu
— 98,5 Sports (@985Sports) October 6, 2022
– Finally.
The @DallasStars have signed Jason Robertson to a four-year contract extension worth $7.75M per year. ✍️
How’re we feeling, Stars fans? ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/XgY77rVmXO
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 6, 2022
– Good work.
Noted entry for Bennedict Mathurinhttps://t.co/mN04qKeICw
— RDS (@RDSca) October 6, 2022
– In the absence of Brad Marchand, in particular, this trio will have to stand up.
The Czech Bruins trio stood out????????https://t.co/OaGaaGcW1m
— TVA Sports (@TVASports) October 6, 2022
– After 21 years, he will give way to Valérie Tétreault.
Eugène Lapierre leaves the management of the National Bank Open https://t.co/5aODyco6ba
– The Sports Press (@LaPresse_Sports) October 6, 2022
