Winners and Losers from Day 1 of NHL Free Agency Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTg1MDUwODc1MTc5MTgxMzM3/usatsi_16018108.jpg] As the first day of free agency starts to wind down, the Montreal Canadiens made a move to help out their forward core with a name that has a long history of scoring when called upon. The Montreal Canadiens brought Mike Hoffman back to Canada by signing him to a three-year deal worth $4.5 AAV per season. Hoffman spent the 2020-21 season in St.Louis where he put up 36 points, good enough for third in team scoring. In Montreal, Hoffman will be a boost on Montreal's power play, which, last season, sat 17th in the regular season at 19.2 percent. The Canadiens' 29 power-play goals in the regular season saw them at 21st in the league. Last season, Hoffman's seven goals on the man advantage led the Blues in that category. Hoffman also has the sixth most powerplay goals in the NHL since the 2018-19 season. With Hoffman, what you're getting is a pure goal scorer (his career-high came in 2018-19 in which he scored 36 times with Florida), who'll be a great addition with a lineup that currently has Nick Suzuki, Tyler Toffoli, and Cole Caufield. The Canadiens will be a team to watch when it comes to seeing if they can recreate a level of post-season success as they return to the Atlantic Division. For Montreal, proving that they can hang with the best of the league outside of the now-defunct Scotia North is vital for the immediate future of this franchise.
