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You can spend hours looking through a free agent list, dreaming and wishing, only to see nothing happen in the coming months. So when it comes down to free agents, you have to look at four aspects. Age, overall skill level, salary, and benefits to the team. Any team can try to sign the most skilled and highest paid players in the world, but time has shown that skill isn’t everything in this game.
In this section of the Habsworld.net July 1st Preview, we take an objective look at available free agents that would be the most beneficial to the Montreal Canadiens roster. These include first-line scoring wingers, rugged defencemen, agitators, grinders, and even backup goaltenders. Some of the players are long shots to even be considered to a contract from Bob Gainey, but we’ve been suprised more than once since he took office.
Forwards:
Name Age Pos Prev. Contract Vitals Shoots Magnus Arvedson 32 L $1,500,000 (VAN) 6’2″ 198lbs Left
Magnus is coming off a sub-par season in Vancouver in which he was injured for half of the campaign. His point totals were less than stellar regardless of the fact that he saw limited playing time on the Canucks first line during Naslund’s injury and Bertuzzi’s suspension. Arvedson’s skill set is not so much in his offense but in his two-way ability. He has size, although he doesn’t use it to punish opponents, he uses it extremely well in the corners and on the boards, and is a hard-nosed worker who never gives up. Magnus is better than half a point-per-game and realised his 100th goal in Vancouver this year, which are respectable numbers from a man who is generally considered a defence-first player. Arvedson knows how to play on both sides of the ice, as he has never been a minus in the regular season during his entire NHL career. He’s also played with former teammate and recent Habs aquisition Radek Bonk, and reunited, they could be a formidable pair that can take care of their side of the blue paint while putting some past the red paint on the other end.
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Shoots |
Matthew Barnaby | 31 | W | $1,587,000 (COL) | 6’0″ 189lbs | Left |
Barnaby is coming off a recent deadline trade to Colorado from the New York Rangers, where he played his usual in-your-face antics and a strong overall game. Matthew is a very versatile player who can line up on either side of center, is a decent playmaker, and an excellent agitator/shift disturber. He’s fast and can play at both ends of the rink, and enjoys hitting everything that moves. He’ll never be a top scorer, but his numbers are commendable for a bottom-six winger, aquiring 30 goals and 47 assists in his last two seasons. He’s also not afraid to drop the gloves with anyone, despite his smaller stature. Matthew would make a good winger on an energy line with Begin and/or Ward, as he would bring grit, speed, and scoring to a relatively offensively retarded line.
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Shoots |
Peter Bondra | 36 | W | $4,500,000 (OTT) | 6’0″ 200lbs | Left |
Peter is coming off of the firesale that sent him to Ottawa from McPhee’s empty bank account. The man who has never scored less than 21 goals in a season outside of his rookie year had another good campaign in 2004 with 26 goals. Bondra’s main tools are his speed and his awesome wrist shot, which he unleashes from anywhere. He would be a decent replacement on the first line if Kovalev can’t be resigned.
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Shoots |
Todd Harvey | 29 | F | $1,300,000 (SJ) | 6’0″ 200lbs | Right |
Hard-nosed and fireball would be the two words to describe Todd Harvey’s style of play. He’s a constant threat to lay the body and he always delivers. As far as offence goes, it’s been fairly non-existant since his junior days. The downsides for Harvey would be his high contract from last season as not many teams are willing to pay over a million for a single-digit points agitator, and his constant injuries related to his gritty play. Would make a good energy line player if he’d agree to a pay cut.
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Shoots |
Andreas Johansson | 31 | F | $900,000 (NAS) | 6’0″ 202lbs | Left |
Johansson is a skilled top-nine forward with good size and the versatility to line up anywhere up front. Andreas has had problems staying healthy, most recently missing 34 games due to a concussion during the 2003-04 season. If he stays healthy, the Hofors, Sweden native could prove to be a good replacement on the top-two lines until younger talent is ready to take over.
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Shoots |
Mike Knuble | 31 | W | $800,000 (BOS) | 6’3″ 228lbs | Right |
After his career-year with 30 goals in 2002-03, Knuble became a household name in beantown. The big man has had the eyes of general mangers and defencemen everywhere. Knuble put up a respectable 21 goals and 46 points while playing a solid physical game and a strong defensive game, especially on the penalty kill. Considering his two recent seasons, Knuble is not expected to sign for anywhere near his previous contract of $800,000, and he could ask for as much as $3 million from any team desiring a big skater who can pot 20+ goals a year.
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Shoots |
Alex Kovalev | 31 | R | $6,600,000 (MTL) | 6’1″ 220lbs | Left |
After coming to Montreal and having an impressive playoffs last season, Kovalev’s stock has risen from a has-been to a still-could-be. Many teams will be looking to aquire his services and he has all the tools to be successful in the NHL, save maybe the desire. One of the best stickhandlers in the game, Kovalev wowed onlooking Hab fans as he helped bring Montreal to the second round of the playoffs. But his late-season scoring drought and overtime blunder in the playoffs might have soured Alex’s desire to stay in Montreal, as he realised how viscous the city can be to it’s own team sometimes. Gainey is continuing discussions with Kovalev’s agent, but it is beleived that Alex has declined Bob’s $4.5 million a year contract in favour or testing out free agency.
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Shoots |
Ian Laperriere | 30 | C/R | $900,000 (LA) | 6’1″ 201lbs | Right |
A well-respected and tenacious forechecker, Laperriere has been rumoured to be looking for a new job with the Canadiens. While he is limited on offence, what he does bring to the table is great penalty killing, lots of hustle, and a gritty two-way agitation game. His low contact and decent size also peak interest around the league.
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Shoots |
Brian Rolston | 31 | C/L | $3,175,000 (BOS) | 6’2″ 210lbs | Left |
Another big Boston forward, Brian is set to hit unrestricted free agency to the delight of many General Managers. While he does carry a hefty price tag, Rolston can skate, he can hit, has a wicked shot, and plays well on either side of the rink. He would be a welcome winger on Montreal’s second or first line, adding speed and much-needed size.
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Shoots |
Jason Wiemer | 28 | C/L | $1,622,000 (NYI) | 6’1″ 220lbs | Left |
A smooth-skating checker, Wiemer is known around the league for his leadership. He’s got good size and great strength, and skates well for a man of his size. His offense is lacking, but put on a checking line role, he would make a great addition to the line-up, adding size and leadership that every team could use.
Defencemen:
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Shoots |
Brad Bombardir | 32 | D | $825,000 (NAS) | 6’1″ 205lbs | Left |
Good size and smart hockey would best describe Bombardir. While not close to being an offensive defenceman or a brusing stay-at-home defenceman, Brad plays smart hockey and has taken very well to the Jacques Lemaire system during his time in Minnesota. Bombardir would make a good replacement for the next year or two on defence until the younger generation is ready to take over. He’s well liked and can be dropped straight into Julien’s system, which is a modified Lemaire system, as well as coming relatively cheap.
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Shoots |
Dan McGillis | 32 | D | $3,200,000 (BOS) | 6’2″ 230lbs | Left |
Dan is a hard-hitting, all-around defenceman with great size and great skating. With the departure of Quintal and possible Boullion, the Montreal defence core is running thin on talent and experience. McGillis would add size, scoring, and hitting, but would also make a good mentor to Mike Komisarek, who fits the same mold of a defenceman.
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Shoots |
Jaroslav Modry | 33 | D | $950,000 (LA) | 6’2″ 220lbs | Left |
A big defenceman, Modry is known more for his powerplay abilities more than his size. While he does’t get pushed around easily, Modry doesn’t use his size nearly enough. He is, however, a premier powerplay quarterback, and very responsible defensively. Owns great hockey sense and could bolster a lackluster Montreal powerplay while improving the quality of the D-core.
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Shoots |
Sean O’Donnell | 32 | D | $2,700,000 (BOS) | 6’3″ 230lbs | Left |
Another big bruising blueliner, O’Donnell can handle a lot of minutes and provide heaps of veteran leadership. Outside of his size, leadership, and meanstreak, O’Donnell isn’t offensively inclined and isn’t a go-to guy to tie up a game late in the third, but he can certainly help hold a lead. For a man of his limited talents, his asking price might be a little too high for Gainey, so it would take some skillful negotiatin to get Sean aboard.
Goalies:
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Catches |
Johan Hedberg | 31 | G | $1,200,000 (VAN) | 6’0″ 184lbs | Left |
A very capable backup/co-starter, Johan had an aggrivating season in Vancouver after GM Brian Burke decided to play the young and unproven Alex Auld during the playoffs while starter Dan Cloutier was injured. Regardless, Hedberg always keeps his cool on the ice, is good positionally, and has shown the ability to dominate games and carry teams deep into the playoffs, as was evident in his run to the conference finals with the Penguins in 2001. Hedberg would make a great backup in Montreal who would push Theo for the starting position and could take over the job temporarily if Theodore is injured.
Name | Age | Pos | Prev. Contract | Vitals | Catches |
Jamie Storr | 28 | G | $500,000 (CAR) | 6’2″ 195lbs | Left |
Still considered a project by some, Storr was pushed into NHL duty too quickly and has suffered ever since. Plays an increasingly rare stand-up style with great positioning and a wicked glove hand. A possible late-bloomer, Storr might be worth a chance in the organization.
More coverage of the free agent season will continue…
