The Montreal Canadiens are looking to add a center in free agency and are linked to a pair of veteran players from division rivals.
The Canadiens have a clear need for a third-line center, as Kirby Dach hasn’t shown an ability to stay healthy. If Montreal does pursue some veteran options in free agency, NHL insider Arpon Basu of The Athletic links the Canadiens to Claude Giroux of the Ottawa Senators and John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“John Tavares and Claude Giroux are far apart in talks with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, respectively, with July 1 just around the corner,” Basu wrote. “Both players would be a good short-term fit for the Canadiens, and there is little doubt they are monitoring both situations closely.
Tavares, a lefty centre who is strong in the faceoff circle, is a more natural fit for what the Canadiens need, but Giroux seems to be a more realistic target and would work quite well despite being a right-shot who generally plays on the wing,” Basu added. “That’s because he took 976 faceoffs with the Senators last year and won 61.5 percent. No one in the NHL who took at least 100 faceoffs had a higher win percentage than Giroux.”
Giroux completed his three-year, $19.5 million deal with the Senators. He recorded 15 goals and 35 assists for 50 points in 81 games last season. Tavares, meanwhile, completed his seven-year, $77 million deal with the Maple Leafs. Tavares had 38 goals and 36 assists for 74 points in 75 games.
Insider: Canadiens Could ‘Overpay’ for Giroux
Giroux is from the Ottawa area, and Tavares is from Toronto, so both have made it clear they want to stay.
However, with no deals done, and July 1 rapidly approaching, Basu wonders if the Canadiens will overpay for either of them.
“It sounds as though the bonus structure on a potential Giroux contract with the Senators is a sticking point,” Basu wrote. “So if he gets to July 1, we’ll see what the Canadiens are willing to do in that department if indeed they attempt to sign him.
“We know the Canadiens offered a higher average annual value with less term. Believed to be no longer than three years, o Jonathan Marchessault on the opening day of free agency a year ago,” Basu added. “Might they be willing to overpay to land Giroux on a short-term deal? We’ll see how talks evolve with the Senators. But it would appear to be at least a strong possibility if he hits the open market.”
Giroux is expected to sign a two-year, $5.2 million per year, while Tavares is projected to sign a three-year deal worth $7.9 million per season, according to AFP Analytics.
Canadiens GM Says Team Won’t Make Bad Signings
Montreal made the postseason last year and is looking to build on that.
Although the Canadiens could be aggressive in free agency, general manager Kent Hughes isn’t so sure. Instead, he says the team isn’t going to be handing out bad contracts.
“We’re not going to go into free agency like a bunch of drunken sailors and get stuck with eight-year deals that we wish we could get out of the minute we get into them,” Hughes told Sportsnet.
Montreal has just over $6 million in cap space.
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