Jesperi Kotkaniemi Gets Offer Sheet For Carolina Hurricanes

Jesperi Kotkaniemi Gets Offer Sheet For Carolina Hurricanes

Written by Fred Arshoff

As most of you probably know by now on August 28, 2021 Carolina Hurricanes General Manager Don Waddell gave Jesperi Kotkaniemi an offer sheet that KK signed. I actually don’t consider it an offer sheet but a hostile offer as payback for Montreal Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin for giving, two years ago, an offer sheet to Sebastian Aho. The offer sheet was for five years at 42.27 million dollars. I will admit the way Bergevin made the offer sheet made it hard for Carolina to match as there was a signing bonus for the first two years and the Hurricanes ownership was having financial problems. The offer though was very fair for the play of Aho. I also think Waddell was also very mad the Canadiens GM Bergevin signed Cedric Paquette, who was a UFA, to a one year contract at $950,000.

First of all even before this so called offer sheet was made the Canes were already over the salary cap. KK would be the 3rd highest paid player on the Hurricanes, making more than their Captain Jordan Staal, who is making 6 million. KK’s contract will use 7.5% of their salary cap, quite a bit for a 21 year old player with only 3 years NHL experience. Also with KK they will have 48/50 contracts allowed. Most teams keep a few available in case of a trade where you get back more players then you sent the other team. This information from https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/hurricanes

If Marc Bergevin doesn’t match the one year 6.1 million dollar offer sheet the Hurricanes will have to give the Canadiens a 1st and 3rd round draft pick at the upcoming NHL entry draft. That will leave the Hurricanes with no 1st round draft pick and only one in the 3rd from a trade they made, but their original will go to the Habs.

In my way of thinking the best way to build any sports team is by drafting the players. You can’t expect to get the trades you want and need to make to get a certain player. Also with a player you drafted they are “Restricted” so you normally have more control over them.

Also what really makes me very mad and makes me feel it’s a very hostile offer sheet is the $20 signing bonus in it. That 20 represents Aho’s number, so you can clearly see where Waddell was going with that. Not to mention the offer was actually $6,100,015. The 15 being KK’s number. Also they were plastering social media about the offer sheet and showing photo’s of KK in a Hurricanes uniform. Apparently they even added a French version to their team bio. When the Canadiens made Aho the offer sheet they didn’t plaster social media with that nor did they put photos of AHO in a Canadiens uniform.

If I was Marc Bergevin I would allow KK to take the Hurricanes contract of 1 year at 6.1 million dollars. It is a lot plus you would have to qualify him again at the end of the 2021-22 season at the same 6.1 million dollars. By then the Canadiens will have to extend Nick Suzuki who is currently making $863,333 and will get a nice raise in pay, and his numbers are much better then KK’s. Also another young player Alexander Romanov’s contract will have to be extended at season’s end. He also is getting $863,333 and deserves a nice raise.

With the 1st round and 3rd round pick Bergevin can make a trade to get a proven number two center.

If KK would get the 6.1 million it would make him the 4th highest paid player on the Habs, surpassing veterans who bring many more points and experience to the table.

To pay a 21 year old player with these numbers is way too much in my way of seeing things. 5 goals, 15 assists in 56 regular-season games with the Canadiens last season, and 8 points (5 goals, 3 assists) in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Also let’s remember when Kotkaniemi was playing for the Laval Rocket and suffered the ruptured spleen, in a game, the Canadiens assured he got the best medical care he could get. To allow him to get back to game shape they even allowed him to play for his dad’s team in the Finnish Elite league being on a loan so that he could return in time for the Canadiens training camp.

Even when playing for the Laval Rocket in the 2019-20 season Kotkaniemi in 13 games only had 1 goal and 12 assists. For a 3rd overall draft pick that isn’t very productive. Kotkaniemi was sent down as he wasn’t playing well and Claude Julien, who at the time was the Canadiens head coach, and Marc Bergevin felt playing in the AHL would help his development and also help regain his confidence.

If KK would get the 6.1 million and not produce, like a player with that salary should, I’m sure there would be a lot of problems in the dressing room. I’m also sure if KK doesn’t produce the spectators, no matter where he plays, will be on his case especially if he becomes a healthy scratch due to his play.

I can fully understand Kotkaniemi wanting to make as much money as he can as he, or any professional player, knows they could receive a career ending injury and have no source of income, but you have to be realistic and know most teams won’t over pay especially when the league has a salary cap and they have to fit in other players as well.

This from Renaud Lavoie a well know sports journalist in Montreal “After talking to a few people around the league, I have one person telling me Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s salary next season should be at $2.2M. That’s the highest suggestion I received. The @Canes are offering KK close to 3 times that amount. Good for KK but…”
This offer sheet to Jesperi Kotkaniemi is an idea of the @Canes owner Tom Dundon and not Don Waddell (GM), I’m told after speaking to sources. That being said I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone.

Defencemen Who Left The Canadiens Organization Since Training Camp 2020-21

Defencemen Who Left The Canadiens Organization Since Training Camp 2020-21

Written by Fred Arshoff

I like to thank Chad Martin very much for the cover photo by merging photos of the four players mentioned into one very nice photo

As some people have mentioned the Montreal Canadiens have lost several defencemen since last season. I decided to write this article on who they’ve lost and why, and right off the top I will say most of it isn’t Marc Bergevin’s fault at all.

I’m not including Shea Weber as he didn’t leave the organization but is on the LTIR list. I’m also not mentioning Jon Merrill or Eric Gustafsson as they were traded for as rentals for the 2021 Stanley Cup playoff run.

I will list the defenceman in the chronological order that they left the Montreal Canadiens, and why, and my thoughts on it.

Noah Juulsen

On January 10, 2021 the Montreal Canadiens placed Juulsen on waivers. That was near the end of the training camp and they were trying to send him to the Laval Rocket. I could fully understand Bergevin doing that as Juulsen, in the 2019-20 season, played just 17 games with the Canadiens and Laval Rocket due to injury. Also, to go further back, in the 2018-19 season between the Habs and the Rocket Jullsen only played in 54 games again due to injury. I fully understand that Bergevin rather he start in Laval and see how is he is playing and if he can play every other day as the NHL schedule was for the most part for the 2020-21 season. For the Florida Panthers claiming Juulsen off waivers was for them a “high reward low risk situation”. By them claiming a player from waivers it cost them nothing, they just have to pay the players salary. His salary at the NHL level wasn’t very much at all, $700,000. For this coming season Juulsen got a small raise to $750,000 at the NHL level. This salary information from https://www.capfriendly.com/players/noah-juulsen.

Victor Mete

On April 11, 2021 the Canadiens placed Mete on waivers to send him to the Laval Rocket as they weren’t playing him much and the coaching staff didn’t have much confidence in him. Mete, before being placed on waivers, got into 14 games with the Canadiens. I feel if Mete cleared waivers instead of being claimed by the Ottawa Senators he would have been placed on the Canadiens taxi squad. I don’t blame Ottawa at all for claiming Mete as they needed help on defence and Mete is a good 3rd pairing defenceman. For Ottawa claiming Mete again it wasn’t a big gamble at all as Mete was making at the NHL level $735,000. For the upcoming season Mete will be making $1,200,000 a nice raise for the young man. The salary information is from https://www.capfriendly.com/players/victor-mete

I also think that Bergevin knew, when he was placing Mete on waivers, he was going to make trades to acquire Jon Merrill and Eric Gustafsson and he needed roster spots as well as salary cap relief, thus he was willing to take a gamble that no one would claim Victor.

Cale Fleury

This is one loss you can’t blame Bergevin at all on, as Fleury was claimed by Seattle in the NHL Expansion draft on July 21, 2021. Bergevin did what he had to do protect Petry (there was no choice on that as Petry has a complete no move no trade clause). Petry would have had to give permission to be left unprotected like we saw Carey Price do to protect Jake Allen. Also Joel Edmundson and Ben Chiarot were protected and that also makes sense.

I believe but have no way of knowing for sure if Bergevin was actually hoping Seattle would claim Kulak which also would have made sense for them to claim as he was already under contract for the 2021-22 season. Fleury was an RFA at the time of the Expansion draft.

Since then Fleury has signed a one year 2 way contract with Seattle that will pay him $750,000 at the NHL level which is a $50,000 increase in his base pay. This salary information from https://www.capfriendly.com/players/cale-fleury

I do feel this will give Fleury a fast track to being an everyday NHL defenceman.

Gustav Olofsson

Olofsson was signed by Seattle on August 26, 2021 and at the time he was a UFA thus Bergevin had no control of the situation. Olofsson did what he felt was best for his hockey career. He signed a 1 year 2 way contract paying him $750,000 at the NHL level. I also feel for Olofsson playing for Seattle will fast track his NHL career.

What Does This Mean

With the Canadiens losing two defencemen due to waiver claims and then one in the NHL Expansion draft, to me means other teams do feel the Canadiens are doing a very good job of developing NHL defencemen and if an opportunity comes where they can obtain one they will. For the benefit of those who don’t know Juulsen, Mete and Fleury were all drafted into the NHL by the Canadiens. In the case of Olofsson he was drafted by the Minnesota Wild but played for the Laval Rocket after the Canadiens acquired him.

The Canadiens still have seven defencemen listed on their Laval roster on two way contracts that can be called up in case of injury.

In closing I would like to wish them all the best of luck with their respective NHL teams.

Gustav Olofsson Signs With Seattle

Gustav Olofsson Signs With Seattle

Written by Fred Arshoff

As some of you may or may not know the Seattle Kraken have signed, on August 26, 2021, former Montreal Canadien defence prospect Gustav Olofsson to a one year two way contract for the 2021-22 season, with an NHL salary of $750,000. He will earn $200,000 at the AHL level and not sure if he has a guaranteed minimum salary. I will have more to say on this in an upcoming article.

Why Olofsson signed with Seattle is that he was a UFA thus could sign with any team he wanted to, even if another team offered him more money. I have no clue if Marc Bergevin made Oloffson a contract offer or not. Those things always remain private between the player and the organizations.

For Olofsson this is the same pay the Canadiens gave him at the NHL level last season. Olofsson has had a drop in his pay since joining the NHL in the 2014-15 to the 2016-17 season, his ELC he was getting $795,000. These salary figures are from https://www.capfriendly.com/players/gustav-olofsson

In signing with Seattle I can’t blame Olofsson. There was very little chance he would play with the Canadiens this season, or in the foreseeable future, as many other defencemen are ahead of him on the depth chart.

Olofsson will know one player at the Seattle training camp. Former Montreal Canadien prospect Cale Fleury who Seattle selected in the NHL expansion draft. For more information on this please see https://montrealsportsblog.wordpress.com/2021/07/22/losing-cale-fleury-to-seattle-in-expansion-draft/

Olofsson was a second round, 46th overall, player drafted in the NHL entry draft in 2013 by the Minnesota Wild.

In the 2019-20 season Olofsson played three games with the Canadiens.

I would have liked to have Olofsson in Laval just to have depth on the defence in case of any other injuries. Although there are defenceman ahead of him, on the depth chart, several of them have not played professional hockey yet so playing in Laval would be better for their development then being the seventh defenceman on the Canadiens.

I would like to wish Olofsson the very best with Seattle.

Your 2021-22 Coaching Staff

Your 2021-22 Coaching Staff

Written by Fred Arshoff

Although there is just one new coach, on the Montreal Canadiens coaching staff, from the ones who coached the team during their Stanley Cup playoff run I would like to say things I expect to happen even with mostly the same people in place.

Associate Coach

Unlike the start of the 2019-20 there won’t be an associate coach that really isn’t needed. It is an assistant coach with a fancier title. Kirk Muller was given the title of associate coach instead of assistant coach as he was previously an assistant coach with the Canadiens, from June 20, 2008 to the end of the 2009-10 season when he chose to leave for a Head Coaching position in the Carolina Hurricanes organization. On June 2, 2016 Muller was hired again to be an associate coach. Muller was let go with Claude Julien on February 24, 2021 by the Canadiens.

Dominique Ducharme Head Coach

This season will be Ducharme’s fourth season with the Canadiens but his first with the title of head coach. When Ducharme replaced Julien February 24, 2021 he was interim head coach. I would think now that he is head coach he will change parts of the system that Julien used in the past. When Ducharme took over, the Canadiens had almost a game every other day so there wasn’t time to implant a complete new system just make some minor adjustments.

One thing I do feel he has to work on, during training camp, is the teams 4 VS 4 for overtime. Had they won several of those games they wouldn’t have been battling till the last game to get into the playoffs.

Of course with the loss of forwards Danault, Perry and Tatar Ducharme will have to remake the lines and also figure out as well what to do with Byron out for six months following hip surgery.

Luke Richardson Defence Assistant Coaching

This is Richardson’s fourth season being defence coach of the Canadiens. One of the first things Richardson will have to help decide is the new defence pairings with Weber out for the season. I do see Savard in the lineup but exact pairings I won’t speculate on yet except I anticipate they will keep the Petry-Edmundson pairing intact as the first defence pairing.

For the penalty killing I can see Evans replacing Danault. Who will replace Byron, I have no clue, that will be played out in preseason games. I see Romanov on the penalty kill as well this season.

Alex Burrows – Assistant Forward Coaching

This will be Burrows first full season as an assistant coach for the Canadiens. He was an assistant coach of the Laval Rocket and called up February 24, 2021 when Muller and Julien were let go.

Burrows will have lot’s of work to do to remake the lines with the loss of Perry, Danault and Tatar as free agents and the hip injury to Byron that will keep him out for six months.

I also anticipate Burrows will have a complete new system for the power play as without Weber (due to long term injury) and Perry lost as UFA it won’t be back to Weber for the bomb. I can see Hoffman getting time on the powerplay. I would like to see Petry on the number one powerplay unit and play Romanov on the second powerplay unit.

Eric Raymond – Assistant Goalie Coach

This is Eric’s first stint at coaching a NHL team, but he has coached Junior hockey and knows head coach Ducharme very well and Ducharme chose Raymond to be the goalie coach. Every head coach does like to put his own people into positions. Richardson and Burrows were both hired by Bergevin.

What Raymond will have to do is help Ducharme see that both Price and Allen get enough playing time to always be sharp. Also if he sees either goalie have even a minor flaw to work with them right away before it becomes a major problem and the opposition sees it and lights up the net. Raymond also will have to ensure, beside keeping Price and Allen sharp, is that they are always ready mentally to play.

I would like to think he will allow Price and Allen to play their style and work on things in practice to reinforce their skills.

If, due to injury, either Primeau or McNiven are called up he will have to work with them as well. Also if up with the Canadiens and Raymond sees a flaw in either goalies game he will have to call Marco Marciano who is the goalie coach, of the Laval Rocket, and inform him what the flaw is and what he recommends to do to correct it. He also would have to report the same to Sean Burke who is head of goaltender operations, as they all have to work on the same page.

Overall Impression

As all the coaches are younger people they will have new, fresher ideas and should be able to better communicate with the new, younger players.

Patrick Roy

Patrick Roy

A Legend

Written by Fred Arshoff

Personal Thoughts

liked Patrick as a goalie and thought he was one of the best of his era. What I didn’t like is his temper. I was very upset in the game when coach Mario Tremblay kept him in net although Patrick was having an off night and when finally taken out gave everyone his finger. That to me isn’t the way a professional athlete should react. I knew right then and there that was going to be the last game Patrick would play for the HABS. The HABS and Patrick did get over their differences in 2008 when they retired his number 33. You also saw his temper/attitude, when with Colorado, when they didn’t sign a player he wanted quitting the team just weeks before training camp. He also did help the Quebec City area by buying and becoming Owner, General Manager and Coach of the Quebec Ramparts till he sold to become Head Coach of the Colorado Avalanche.

Early Life

Patrick was born October 5, 1965 in Quebec City. By sheer chance another NHL Legend, Mario Lemieux, was born on the same date in Montreal. He played his Jr. Hockey in Granby. Patrick wanted to be an NHL goalie from the age of seven.

Personal Life

Patrick got married June 9, 1990 and he and his wife have three children. Patrick and his wife got divorced in 2003 and he hasn’t remarried. Patrick, since 1980’s, has given donations to the Ronald McDonald Foundation.

Hockey Career

Patrick was drafted by the HABS in the 1984 NHL Entry draft in the third round as the 51st overall draft pick. He played one game in the 1984-85 season with the Sherbrooke Canadiens, the HABS AHL affiliate at the time. He also played 13 playoff games. He then was called up to play one game with the HABS. Patrick played for the HABS until midway in the 1995-96 season when he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche after that fateful night. He played for Colorado until he retired at the end of the 2002-03 season. He won the Stanley Cup, in his first season, with both teams. He won two Cups with both teams. After his retirement, as a player, he became Owner, GM and Head Coach of the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. His regular season record is 1029 games played with 551 wins and 315 losses GAA 2.54 and Save Percentage of .912. His NHL record is started in 247 playoff games with 151 wins and lost 94 games his GAA 2.30 and Save Percentage of .918.

Coaching

Patrick was Head Coach of Colorado from the 2013-14 season until the 2015-16 season. He coached 246 games having won 130 and he lost 92. As a coach he never won a Stanley Cup.

Milestones

Ranked 22nd best NHL player by Hockey News 1998
Number 33 retired Colorado October 28, 2003
Inducted into Colorado Sports Hall of Fame 2004
Inducted into QMJHL Hall of Fame 2004
Number 33 retired by HABS November 22, 2008
NHL Hall of Fame 2006

Awards

Calder Cup with Sherbrooke AHL 1985
Stanley Cup 1986, 93 with HABS 1996, 2001 with Colorado
Conn Smythe Trophy 1986, 1993, 2001
William Jennings Trophy 5 times
Vezina Trophy 3 times
NHL All Star game 11 times
NHL 1st All Star team 4 times
NHL 2nd All Star team 2 times
NHL All Rookie All Star Team 1986
Trico Goaltending Award shared with Brian Hayward 1989, 1990
Jack Adams Award (As Coach) 2014

Records

Most Playoff games by a goalie 247 (3rd most of all players)
• Most Playoff wins by a goalie 151
• 1st NHL goalie to play in 1000 games
• 1st NHL goalie to win 500 games
• Most Conn Smythe wins 3

Videos

This video is roughly 6 minutes

This video is roughly 5 minutes

Summer of 2021

Summer of 2021

Written by Steve Fowler

Edited by Steve Fowler and Fred Arshoff

After having gone through the NHL’s annual offseason routines, every team has a bit of a different look. Your Montreal Canadiens are no exception. I will review those changes made, and put forth my thoughts on how the team stacks up for the 2021/22 ahead.

Buyout Period: July 8th til the 27th.

– Expansion Draft: July 21st

– NHL draft: July 23rd and 24th.

– Free Agency: July 28th

-Buyout Period

The Habs chose not to buy anyone out as I guess they deemed it unnecessary for this year. Karl Alzner’s contract remains for 3 more years but after this year, diminishes from 1.9 million down to 833 thousand per for 2 years. Could be worse folks.

-Expansion Draft:

What was for a time percieved as very risky, turned out to make Marc Bergevin look like a genius. Seems he has a knack for that doesn’t he? Placing the very well respected captain Shea Weber on the available list is one thing considering the situation he’s in regarding injuries, but placing franchise goalie Carey Price on the available list and getting away with it, took some rather large cahoots to pull that off. Timing is everything though isn’t it? Only getting a final pre surgery medical report after the draft was just a part of it. letting the rumors fly of worst case scenarios such as he may not play next year due to his injuries possibly being quite serious to both his hip and knee proved to have worked rather well. May even have played a part in Seattle’s decision, opting to go with Cale Fleury instead while also considering the size of Carey’s contract. Did MB start those rumors? I’m sure he’d never tell if he did.

For more informsation on the loss of Fleury see https://montrealsportsblog.wordpress.com/2021/07/22/losing-cale-fleury-to-seattle-in-expansion-draft/(

NHL Draft:

This,.. is where the poop literally hit the fan. Should they of, or should they have not of, picked Logan Malloux in the first round? Welp,.. they did…. To me. the way I see it is, I’m confident they really looked long and hard before using their first round pick on him. At this point I can only hope that he learned from this very serious mistake and goes on to be the examplary person those sourrounding him believe he can be. I think he can as well unless he proves everyone otherwise. My opinion. Otherwise very solid prospect that the Canadiens badly needed.
Other notables: 2nd round pick, C/LW Ryley Kidney sounds promising, as he sees the ice well, and is able to make plays at high speed. Then there’s goal scoring prospect Oliver Kapanen, also a 2nd round pick from Sundsvall Sweden. His uncle and former NHL’er Sami Kapanen played for several teams as well as Sami’s son Kasperi having suited up for the Leafs for several years. Here’s a list of the remaining players drafted by the Canadiens.
https://allhabs.net/2021-entry-draft-tracker-habs-picks-nhl-draft/

Free Agency:

As the team does every year, they gain a few and lose a few.

–Incoming UFA’s: RD David Savard, LW Mike Hoffman, LW Mathieu Perreault, RD Chris Wideman, C Cedric Paquette C/RW Jean Sebastien Dea, RD Louie Belpedio.

For more information on the Mike Hoffman signing please see https://montrealsportsblog.wordpress.com/2021/07/29/montreal-canadiens-sign-mike-hoffman/

Outgoing UFA:s C Eric Stall, D John Merril, D Erik Gustafsson, LW Tomas Tatar, RW Corey Perry, LW Michael Frolik., Charlie Lindgren

-RFA’s

A few notables. LW Artturi Lehkonen has resigned for one year at 2.3 million.G Micheal Mcniven has also resigned for one year and is arbitration elegible at the end of next year. Jespery Kotkaniemi has yet to resign though he was tendered a qualifying offer by the team prior to the start of free agency.
There are a few RFA players out there that Habs GM Marc Bergevin could throw a hostile offer sheet at, from Elias Patterson to Brady Tkachuck. However, where Mtl stands in cap space, it’s very unlikely MB will offer anyone any sort of a hefty contract at this point, though one never knows…

-Final comments

All things considered, Shea Weber is still a big loss to the team. His leadership and selfless demeanour both on as well as away from the rink is what really seperated him from the rest of the herd. Though Brendan Gallagher is a very notable candidate to wear the C on his chest, my vote would be for Defenceman Jeff Petry. He loves the city, is a full time resident, and has earned great respect from his peers. trains hard, never gives up, and has shown to be a great leader in his own right. As for the team in 2021/22, It’s going to be another tough one. Due to the upcoming olympics, the first 6 weeks alone will be nothing but games every second night. Add to that a US west coast trip just for giggles and you’ve got a team that will eventually have to play in survival mode for awhile. And no taxi squad this year. They should make the playoffs though.

Rejean Houle

Rejean Houle

Written by Fred Arshoff

Rejean was born October 25, 1949 in Rouyn, Quebec.

He started playing in the QMJL (Quebec Major Jr. League) for the Thedford Mines Canadiens in the 1966-67 season. In that season the team went on to play in the M Cup.

At the age of 17 he moved to Montreal. In the 1967-68 season he played for Montreal Jr. Canadiens of the OHA (Ontario Hockey Association) and that team then also went on to play in the Memorial Cup. Rejean would win the Memorial Cup as captain of this team before being selected first overall in the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. Back then the HABS were allowed to choose two Francophone players before the draft started. That was something the late Sam Pollock told the other NHL General Managers the HABS needed to satisfy the fans here and bring revenue into the league.

Rejean played for the HABS from the 1969-70 season to the 1972-73 season. The he jumped ship and played for Quebec Nordiques of the WHA (World Hockey Association) where he played until the end of the 1975-76 season. In the 1976-77 season he rejoined the HABS and played until the 1982-83 season was completed. He was not a big player at only 5’11” and weighed 165 pounds.

After his hockey career Rejean went on to work in management at Molson Brewery, who also owned the HABS.

Rejean became the HABS GM in the middle of the 1995-96 season when the HABS got off to a terrible start. He was the HABS GM until the 2000-2001 season. Many didn’t like the way he drafted players and many players didn’t like him. Probably the worst trade he made was the Patrick Roy trade after Patrick gave the team the finger when Mario Tremblay, then head coach, finally took him out of the net after 9 goals against. Patrick was having a very bad game and should have been taken out much sooner than he was.

Réjean Houle was President of the Canadiens Alumni from 1983 to 1995 before returning to this role in 2000. In his duties, he oversees the activities of all members of the Association.

It was Rejean that arranged home care for the late great Jean Beliveau in 2012 after Jean suffered his second stroke. He was always very close with the Beliveau family.

The video is roughly 5 minutes

HABS UFA’s Lost

HABS UFA’s Lost

Written by Fred Arshoff

As most of you already know by now the Montreal Canadiens lost three players who were with them the majority of the season. I’m not counting players that were on one way NHL contracts and on the TAXI SQUAD. For further information about what the Taxi Squad is please see this article I wrote https://montrealsportsblog.wordpress.com/2021/03/13/what-is-a-taxi-squad/

I will list the players in no specific order as they are lost. I will admit I did expect two of them to be gone. I’d like to wish all the players the best of luck with their respective new teams.

Corey Perry

Perry was one player I thought they would be able to extend and would be a very good player to keep. Besides his points, his leadership will be missed and with Shea Weber out for the entire 2021-22 season more than ever they needed Perry’s leadership. Don’t forget Perry was awarded the “A” for his leadership.

The big stumbling block that Perry didn’t extend with the Canadiens was Tampa Bay offered him a 2 year contract and the Habs were only offering a one year contract. I fully understand Bergevin’s point of not offering a second year as Perry is 35+ and if he gets injured, even for long term or worse yet career ending, the salary doesn’t come off the salary cap per the CBA rules.

Phillip Danault

Danault is one player I didn’t see being extended at the end of the season and I felt that way even before as before training camp for the 2020-21 season Danault didn’t accept the contract offered by GM Marc Bergevin and I thought that was a very fair contract.
The Canadiens will miss him more defensively than offensively as Danault did an excellent job of shutting down the oppositions top lines. Danault also was very good on faceoffs and was on the ice for key faceoffs on either side of the ice. For the shutdown role I feel Jake Evans will do a very good job, he may not be able to get as many points as Danault but I’m more concerned with shutting down the oppositions top lines. Evans can also replace Danault on the penalty kill as he was on the penalty kill in the 2020-21 season as well as the playoffs.

What the Los Angeles Kings gave Danault was way too much for my liking. The first three years a no movement clause then years four and five a modified no move clause. They included a signing bonus as well. In my way of thinking that’s way too much for a third line center.

Tomas Tatar

Tatar is another player I didn’t think would be extended. He was dressed only for five playoff games due to lack of production. He only got one assist. In previous seasons, as well, his playoff production is very poor. For further information on Tatar’s playoffs please see this article I wrote https://montrealsportsblog.wordpress.com/2021/06/11/message-sent-to-tomas-tatar/

Perhaps a change of scenery will help Tatar. I admit Tatar was in Montreal for only two seasons but his production never was at key points.

To replace Tatar for production I feel Mike Hoffman will be able to do so.

For more information on the Hoffman signing please https://montrealsportsblog.wordpress.com/2021/07/29/montreal-canadiens-sign-mike-hoffman/

Michael McNiven Signed And All The Details

Michael McNiven Signed And All The Details

Written by Fred Arshoff

On July 28, 2021 McNiven, like many other NHL players whose contracts ran out, became a free agent. He is an RFA as opposed to a UFA. In the 2020-21 season he was making $700,000. He is due a raise but how much I don’t know. As long as he is playing in Laval his salary doesn’t count against the salary cap, but I’m sure if Bergevin offered him way too much money Geoff Molson would want an explanation.

On July 26, 2021 McNiven, as well as five others players, were given qualifying offers by Montreal Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin. By doing this Bergevin protected the Canadiens. If a team made an offer to any of those players the Habs would be allowed to match the offer. Depending on how old and how many years of service the player had, if the Canadiens didn’t match the offer the signing team would have to compensate the team qualifying the player.

Around August 2, 2021 McNiven filed for arbitration with the Canadiens, as did players from other team’s one being former HAB Victor Mete. Although in Mete’s case on August 4, 2021 he agreed to a new contract with the Ottawa Senators.

On August 6, 2021 the Canadiens announced they have agreed on a deal with McNiven, a one year two way contract. The deal, which will pay him $750,000 in the NHL and $100,000 in the AHL, also includes a guaranteed salary of $110,000. When this contract terminates July 1, 2022 McNiven will still be an RFA just like Primeau. This is a $50,000 raise in pay for McNiven at the NHL level.

When McNiven first signed as a free agent (due to being undrafted) his contract (ELC) was for 3 years with a signing bonus of $70,000 for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 season. For 2017-18 and 2018-19 he had a $55,000 performance clause. I don’t know if he received the performance bonuses or not. McNiven’s base pay was in 2015-16 $683,333, the 2016-17 season $685,000 and the 2017-18 season $717,888. These figures are from https://www.capfriendly.com/players/michael-mcniven

I feel the reason McNiven filed for arbitration was he wanted the guaranteed pay in his contract, that I believe wasn’t offered before. I can’t blame McNiven for wanting the guaranteed salary, as like all other players he doesn’t know if in the next game he suffers a career ending injury, and wants to have as much money for himself. Don’t forget McNiven is only 24 years old.

For further information on McNiven please see https://montrealsportsblog.wordpress.com/2021/07/30/why-michael-mcniven-was-qualified-by-the-canadiens/?fbclid=IwAR1bbvSm9OBiWnkAwePEiEvumY08KM_A7j1PoS19kLtnkxPQewG1BbzuWTc

Why The HABS Are In Tight Against The Salary Cap

Why The HABS Are In Tight Against The Salary Cap

Written by Fred Arshoff

As some of you may, or may not know, the Montreal Canadiens are in very tight against the salary cap. I will explain why that is and what most likely will be done so they can remain in the salary cap.

As of August 4, 2021 without Jesperi Kotkaniemi being signed, who is an RFA and was given a qualifying offer by Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin, the Canadiens salary cap is maxed out at $83,776,370. This figure takes into account that Weber and Bryon are on the LTIR list and that Tatar won’t be returning. For more information on these figures or any figures used in this article please see https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/canadiens .

For the Montreal Canadiens John Sedgwick is in charge of legal affairs and keeps up with the salary cap.

Why The Canadiens Are Maxed Out

First of all off the top is the cost of the buyout of Karl Alzner that accounts for $1,958,333. More than ever I feel that was one of the worst signings Marc Bergevin did. I do admit when the signing was made the Canadiens had just lost Markov and Emelin and they needed defencemen, but that term and dollar amount was way too much for my liking back then. Of course back then no one knew we would have a flat salary cap for two consecutive years either.

Then when Joel Armia suffered his concussion early in the season they could have placed him on the Long Term Injury Reserve list, so his salary wouldn’t have counted against the salary cap. If Armia was medically deemed to play before too many games or days you had nothing to lose by putting him on it to try. If he was fit a day or two before he would be eligible for LTIR the team Dr’s I’m sure would have said he needs a few more days to make the numbers work and err on the side of safety for Armia or any player having a concussion.

Then there is the performance bonuses paid to several players for reaching the plateaus they had to reach to get their performance bonus this came out to $597,561. I will admit it’s great that the players reached those plateaus but management has to ensure they have enough room to pay the players those bonuses if they reach them.

Then there were trades the Canadiens made at, or just before, the trade deadline to bring in Eric Staal, Jon Merrill and Erik Gustafsson. Although I see the point of bringing in veteran leadership for a playoff run you also have to watch your salary cap. I would have just brought in one experienced defenceman for the playoff run knowing I was tight on my salary cap and have players reaching their performance bonuses. Don’t forget the Canadiens did place players on waivers, such as Paul Bryon, so that on non-game days they can be placed on the taxi squad (deemed to be playing for the Laval Rocket) to save salary cap.

How To Free Up Salary Cap Money

One move I feel will that will be made is trading Brett Kulak. His salary is $1,850,000 and that’s a lot of money to pay a fifth to seventh defence, especially in a salary cap era when the salary cap has been frozen for two years due to COVID. If they trade Kulak they do have several defencemen that are on the Laval Rocket roster that are under $900,000 and those players can battle it out to see who sticks with the Canadiens during training camp.

On the forward side it would be very hard to make any moves as they list only 13 forwards and all teams always carry one extra forward in case of injury or a player wakes up sick on game day.

Where The Canadiens Have Been Very Prudent With Their Money

In case any of you don’t know there is no salary cap at all on personnel in your hockey operations department, so you can have as many as you wish. Their pay isn’t disclosed as there is no maximum you can pay them. In the hockey operations, there are the coaches of both the NHL team and AHL team as well as the team in the ECHL if the team decides to put their own coaches there. There is also player relations, player development department, scouting etc.

What the Canadiens have done is in 2018 Rick Dudley, who was Executive Vice President, left the organization to take on a similar role with the Carolina Hurricanes. The Habs never hired anyone to replace him.

Then in 2020 Larry Carriere and the Canadiens decided to part ways and again no person was hired to replace him. At the time Carriere was Senior Adviser to the General Manager and in charge of Player Relations for the Laval Rocket. Scott Mellanby was promoted to Assistant General Manager of the Laval Rocket. Before Scott Mellanby was named Assistant GM but no responsibility listed. Also no replacement for Senior Advisor but Martin Lapointe, who was already Director of Player Relations, was added as Executive Assistant to the General Manager.

Those savings won’t help at all on the salary cap but will help team owner Geoff Molson as there is less salary to pay.