Montreal Canadiens should pursue Quebec-born offensive talent in Free Agency
The Montreal Canadiens’ fan base desires Quebec-born talent. With the Free-Agent market officially opening at noon E.T. there is potential for the Habs to pursue after veteran offensive talent.
The Canadiens are interested in a tenured scorer, as evidenced by a report by Frank Seravalli detailing the team’s plan to pitch to Patrick Kane. Kane later signed a one-year extension with the Detroit Red Wings worth $ 4 million, with $ 2.5 million in bonuses.
Yet, there is still plenty of offensive prowess on the market. What would delight Montreal fans is a bilingual player. Quebec representation will always appeal to the fans, and experienced offensive players are a must for a Canadiens team with a young core. Here’s a look at three Quebec-born forwards that could be of interest to the Canadiens:
Jonathan Marchessault - Last contract six years at $ 30 million
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If Kane is out, but the Habs crave a bonafide goal-scorer, why not go with someone who recorded 42 goals and 27 assists in 82 games last season? That man is Cap-Rouge, Que. native Jonathan Marchessault.
Having a Conn Smythe recipient on your roster is a premium addition, but the Canadiens are not exactly ready to start contending for a playoff spot, let alone a Stanley Cup.
What Marchessault does help with is his history of handling adversity. Marchessault went undrafted after his time in the QMJHL, forced to prove himself with Connecticut in the AHL, to making the NHL, to then being a key component in the initial success of the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
The Canadiens have dealt with their fair share of adversity. From injuries plaguing the roster, rotating players in and out of the depth chart, or just a slew of young talent dealing with a last-placed finish in the Atlantic Division last year. Marchessault, if he’s okay with aiding a rebuilding team, would be an influential asset to the Habs' future success.
David Perron - Last contract two years at $ 9.5 million
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As much as the Habs truly need more of a goal scorer than another playmaker alongside the likes of Nick Suzuki, David Perron is still an intriguing option.
Perron has proven his worth throughout his career with his contributions on the ice. Some fans may remember his incredible 66-point season with the Vegas Golden Knights in their inaugural season. While it’s doubtful that Perron will reach that echelon with the Canadiens, a proven top-six forward is an ideal fit for this team.
Perron has remained relatively available over the last two seasons with Detroit, playing in 158 games and registering 41 goals and 62 assists during this stint. If he can remain healthy at the age of 36, then it could be ideal for an aforementioned, often-injured Habs roster. It will be of interest to see where the Sherbrooke-born winger will land.
Anthony Duclair - Last contract three years at $ 9 million
Duclair caps off the potential players the Habs could look at. The difficulty with him is that he has difficulty staying in the starting lineup in recent years. Duclair has tallied 53 points in the 93 regular season games in the last three seasons.
Where Duclair is useful for the Habs is the fact that he could be slotted in as a third or even second-line forward with deep ties to Montreal. Having been born and raised in Pointe-Claire, Que. Duclair spends his summers returning to the suburbs of the 514 to host his annual hockey camp with the Duclair Foundation. It’s this community work that lends to his respected reputation among Montreal supporters. Playing in his home city might be enticing enough for Duclair to sign a one-year contract with the Habs.