Transition year Develop and be patient

Team: 2022-23 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Mar. 30, 2022

Published: Apr. 3, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

This year is a low pressure, transition year. Identify players and prepare them to start contributing the following season. Avoid UFA or acquisitions until next off season, when our needs are clear, beyond a player or two which will make the road a little less bumpy.

Drouin to Arizona for the small, zero pressure environment. They need to ice a roster and could use some skill in the lineup.

Change of scenery for two young players with Poehling/Steel.

Petry to Pens to replace Letang without committing more money and term beyond Crosby's contract. Offloading Zucker gives them some flexibility.

No rush to buy out Hoffman immediately, but if he isn't adding value to the roster. His spot might be better used giving other players opportunity. Buyout is an option if he can't be moved.

Sign a budget, short term RHD. Keeping others like Niku, Wideman, Lagesson, is an option to ensure depth, but not a priority. (Pysyk is just an example.)

Give several players 9 game trials. Get an idea of what they need to work on at the NHL level so we can develop them effectively. If they are REALLY good (not just decent), consider keeping them up. For the most part they should be sent to the AHL.
We should have a couple up to start the season and rotate one or two into the lineup at a time. As many as possible should get at least couple games. A taste can motivate their development.

Suzuki top line, Dvorak and Evans lines to cover defensively, and Steel line sheltered.
Try to help our goaltenders out a little with two responsible lines, as our defense is going to be a work in progress.

On the block for the trade deadline (or sooner):
Gallagher (Listen to offers. No rush to move him.)
Zucker (50% retained for whatever)
Hoffman (Free to good home unless he gets his head in the game)
Armia (Can stay or go depending on whether we need to free up a spot)
Allen (Give him a chance elsewhere while we aren't competing)
Savard (is needed for now, but available for the right offer or if we take a RHD back in another deal)

Keeping Byron on purpose. Extend him at a lower cap hit at a value reasonable for a 4th line/PK role.

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