Benoit is on a two-way contract. So unless he’s waived for contract termination, it’s very very unlikely he hits waivers.

Even though he is on a two way contract he is still eligible to waivers, it just means he has a different salary if he plays in the AHL or the NHL

I think the only position the Habs may take someone is RHD and even then there ain't much there to take. Maybe Meloche because of the hometown factor but thats about it. These would all be fun guys to pick up but the Habs literally have no extra spots open. They'd be forcing someone else to go on waivers from the team. Kind of pointless.

Most of these don’t even make sense

I would waive Hoffman or Mohanan, not like anyone is gonna pick them

Why?

Both guys are vets who put up ok numbers (regardless of caphit) and won't be waived i don't think. Not just to make space for a waiver pickup at least. Not to mention that the Habs already have internal youth options that would be deserving to play like Ylonen or RHP over those waiver pickups.

Until Habs make a couple trades, I don't think they're picking up anyone on waivers to be honest. I do expect them to make a couple moves before the start of the season though so maybe they'll be able to pick someone up.

Some of these player IMO will be good future players. For example PIT Joseph, ANA Benoit, LAK Vilardi,

I am really not a fan of Hoffman and Mohanan is not the player he was a couple of seasons ago..

I would jump on Vilardi if he gets through waivers

This is why I suggest picking them if they go through waivers, don’t understand your comment

It kinda depends what happens between now and the start of the season.

Looking at the roster as its currently displayed on cap friendly I think its safe to say Schuenamen will be waived he is a veteran callup not a everyday roster guy.

Byron is probably on IR for atleast a few weeks.

So thats gets them to 23 with Slaf on the roster. If he starts in the AHL there is technically a roster spot open.

One other thing I wouldnt put past Hughes is waiving someone like Hoffman or Armia. Nobody is going to take them so if theres something he really wants it.

As far as the guys listed I could see a Fleury reunion, Meloche is a interesting option and finally I could see him taking a swing at Vilardi as he fits the mold of what they have been trying to acquire

True, things can change by the start of the year. Just judging by Hughes media avail today, Byron, Drouin and Monahan may all be ready to start the year/ a couple weeks in. Is bringing Vilardi in just to play 3rd/4th line minutes for a couple weeks before those guys come back really worth it though? Slaf may just start in the AHL but he may not. He's used to playing against men already and killed at the Olympics. I don't think this will be KK all over again. But even if he is sent down, 1 or 2 big games down there and he's up with the team. Once again leaving very little wiggle room on the forward group.
We got Pezzetta who can play the 4th line role very well and the top 2 lines are almost certainly locked already so any waiver pickup is going to have to push a guy like Gallagher/Dvorak/Hoffman/Armia from their spots which is highly unlikely. As much as a guy like Armia for example is on his way out in MTL, he is a legit good player still who fits a 3rd 4th line perfectly. Don't think the Habs are going to just lose good players for nothing to make space for a complete "maybe" whose on waivers and like you said no one is taking them right now so they might as well play and try to regain their value.

That's why I mentioned a RHD because the Habs are completely lacking in that position and a young RHD from waivers could actually supplant someone like Wideman if they play well in a short time. The forward group is so tough to crack right now because there is so many good players already. The D core is wide open IMO. The best 6 guys we got will take a spot on the roster. Even if a guy like Ylonen plays well in preseason, I don't think they're putting Hoffman or Armia on waivers to accommodate him and subsequently tank their value by playing them in the AHL or scratching them for long stretches of time.

I'd be totally shocked if LA put Gabe Vilardi on waivers.

Habs should honestly just sign Subban as imagine the headlines and for what its worth hes a good fill in option

1 year 1.2mill and then trade him at the TDL

I would rather grab a guy like Meloche off waivers than sign Subban personally. Also think a lot of teams want Subban so he's picking his spots and waiting for the best offer. I don't think he signs for 1.2M for 1 year unless its a contender. He has little interest in MTL probably and frankly the Habs don't have the cap for him anyway. Even at 1.2M.

I hope the Avs are targeting some of these guys, maybe even in a prospect swap before they hit waivers. Especially guys like Foudy, Anderson-Dolan, and Zetterlund.