Team: 2023-24 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Aug. 1, 2023

Published: Aug. 1, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

- Buyout Hoffman: If nobody is willing to take him for free without retention (I guarantee nobody would), let him sign wherever he wants and take the cap penalty for the next 2 years rather than play him over younger players who could have a future with the team

- Dvorak (75%) + Kovacevic for Addison: This probably won't happen, but that doesn't mean I can't consider what would happen if it did. To do this a 3rd team would have to retain 25% of Dvorak's contract ($1,112,500) and he would have to be traded to a team not on his 8 team NTC, but Addison seems a bit out of favor in Minnesota, having been scratched for 20 games last season while contributing decent numbers on paper. A young RHD who can run a powerplay is always an enticing piece but the fact he's yet to be signed and the wild have less than $2,000,000 remaining could be concerning.

- Give Comtois and Foote a chance: The fact that a 24 y/o Quebec born winger is available for free currently having shown promise in the past with 33pts in 55 games back in the 20-21 season is absurd to me. Either sign him to essentially replace Hoffman or give him a PTO when camp starts and let him earn a contract with his hometown team. As for Foote, a 6'3" RHD who turns 25 in december and was picked 14th overall in 2017 being a free agent in August also seems crazy to me. While his career stats are nothing special, they aren't bad and for any team towards the bottom of the league, taking a shot on Foote couldn't possibly hurt. Either he's good enough to flip for more assets, he becomes a long-term piece for the team, or he sucks and helps the tank. I don't personally see any downside to signing either of these players to a cheap short-term deal, giving them a change in scenery, and taking a small gamble on what could become a homerun signing. (there's other guys who are worth a shot too but they're not as young as Foote and Comtois, which is my sole reason in not mentioning them)