What's Next? Top Offseason Priorities for Hughes

With the NHL Draft, development camp, and the opening of free agency all in the rearview mirror, it's time to look at the next offseason priorities for Kent Hughes and the Canadiens.

Other than getting newly-acquired restricted free agent forward Alex Newhook signed to a contract, there are plenty of items that Kent Hughes and Montreal Canadiens need to address on their offseason to-do list before the rookies report for training camp in September.

Yes, Newhook's contract will be a big focus for most fans and media members, but getting the remainder of the team's RFAs inked to new deals should also be at the top of the priority pile. This week we saw Rafael Harvey-Pinard get a two-year extension, and now it's time for the Habs to do the same for Jesse Ylonen.

While Ylonen might not have all of the flash of RHP on the ice, he certainly makes up for it in his play. Besides having a wicked, deceptive shot, particularly on the power play, the 23-year-old skates very well, can be a dynamic playmaker, and is quite defensively responsible. Look for him and Harvey-Pinard to battle for an NHL opening-night roster spot in the preseason.

Jake Allen and Sam Montembeault may be foregone conclusions for Montreal in the crease next season, but it's what happens next in the depth chart that has me curious. Cayden Primeau is waiver eligible this year, and it's quite possible that he'll be scooped up on waivers when he is sent down to Laval at the end of training camp. If Primeau is lost to the waiver wire, that leaves young Jakub Dobes in the AHL crease without a veteran mentor to help guide him as he makes his professional debut.

The Rocket signed two goaltenders to AHL contracts this week, but Strauss Mann and Zachary Emond are likely more suited to split their time with the Trois-Rivieres Lions in the ECHL. So where does that leave the organization for the second part of the AHL tandem and/or NHL emergency goaltender callups?

Finally, the Joel Edmundson trade to Washington was the first of hopefully a few trades that Hughes can complete this summer to help shed some money off of Montreal's cap while also freeing up space and opportunities on the roster for younger players to step up. Who should be the next name on the trading block? There are three or four veteran players who come to mind immediately.

If you'd like to hear my full analysis of each of these summertime priorities, as well as my answers to some of the questions posed in this article, click this link to watch my latest Habs Hockey Report video on YouTube: Top 3 Priorities on the Habs' Summer To-Do List