The Canadiens may have interest in Simon Edvinsson, but the fit looks shaky from just about every angle.
According to David Pagnotta on DFO Insider, “there is a lot of interest in Edvinsson from Montreal's side.” That much is clear. What isn’t as clear is why Montreal would push hard for a deal that creates more problems than it solves.
For starters, the Canadiens already have a crowded blue line. They can’t even find a spot for David Reinbacher, and with Mike Matheson out, Adam Engstrom has been in the lineup. Once Matheson returns, Engstrom will likely be the one squeezed out.
That alone makes Edvinsson a tough add to justify. Montreal does not need another left-shot defenseman in a group that already includes Lane Hutson, Matheson, Kaiden Guhle, and Engstrom. Hutson can slide to the right side if necessary, but that’s not an ideal long-term setup when so many players shoot from the same side.
The other major hurdle is money. Edvinsson still hasn’t played this season because he does not have a new contract after reaching restricted free agency, and any deal would require a serious commitment. The Canadiens already have Hutson and Noah Dobson on contracts with an AAV over $8.5 million, and Edvinsson would likely be looking for something in that neighborhood at minimum.
Then there’s the cap picture. Edvinsson’s first year would start right away, and Montreal would need to clear space to fit him in. Per Puckpedia, the Canadiens have just $1.8 million in cap space, which means salary would have to go out to make the move happen.
That kind of maneuver would come with a cost elsewhere, too. If Montreal opens room for Edvinsson, it could limit the team’s ability to add a Top 6 forward, which is probably the bigger need right now.
So while the interest may be real, the logic behind chasing Edvinsson just doesn’t line up cleanly for Kent Hughes. The Canadiens would be better served focusing their energy on other parts of the roster.
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