Team: 2021-22 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 22, 2021

Published: Jul. 22, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

RFA's:
- KK's contract = roughly what Danault got % wise 3 years ago.
- Lehkonen's contract is minimum qualifying offer, he did not improve while playing under his last contract.
- Poehling's contract is one way league minimum so he makes $750k in AHL. He will be given every chance to make the NHL, but he will only be a regular if he is a top 9 C.

UFA's:
- All contracts are based off evolving hockey's contract projection that were used in the Athletic's top 50 UFA's article.
- Hamilton should be MTL's top target. With Weber done and Fluery drafted MTL is only left with Petry and Brook for RHD. Petry is 34 and Brook is likely not NHL ready. Getting a top pairing D locked up for 7 years would be a huge get for Bergevin and the organization. I could see a future pairing of Romanov / Guhle with Hamilton for the next several years. $9M is above the contract projection, but MTL can't play hardball here.
- Savard brought in to stabilize the 3rd pair. Brings size, stanley cup experience, and he is a native of Quebec which is a nice bonus with MTL losing Danault.
- Bunting is a low risk signing for the 4th line. I don't want Poehling playing wing at all so I felt it necessary to acquire a LW.
- Gaudreau is a depth signing, another Quebec native that could find himself in Laval or in MTL's bottom 6.
- Perry wants to come back to MTL and Bergevin wants to bring him back. I'm assuming he takes a team friendly deal like Spezza for the leafs.
- Getzlaf is a pretty important signing if MTL let's Danault walk. He would bring a veteran presence to a young C group and he is a real leader. At this stage of his career I doubt it is about the money, hoping his longtime friend and linemate convinces him to join the habs.
- Demers is 7th D / Taxi Squad. Another local who is almost at the end of his career and might sign cheap with MTL. I'd like Romanov to be in Laval playing top minutes all situations so he can develop into more of an impact player. Signing a 7th D man allows this to happen. I think this is best for Romanov's career and therefore it is best for MTL (it will also help keep his AAV down next year).

Other Notes:
- I opted to split up Caufield and Suzuki for various reasons. With Danault gone, someone will have to take on tougher matchups and I feel Suzuki is more ready for that than KK... so I've given Suzuki Gallagher at RW to help defensively and moved Caufield with KK. I put Drouin with KK and Caufield to hopefully give everyone the best chance for success in an offensive role. Drouin's playmaking should complement Caufield's goal scoring and vise versa... I also expect KK to be stronger on pucks next season and with his size he could help his wingers. This also might help KK break out offensively, MTL needs him to take the next step. For Suzuki, he is in a contract year so he needs to prove he can perform with different players IMO.