The Montreal Canadiens went into the offseason with a clear hole to fill on the blue line, and the right side was the place that stood out most. Last season, Montreal had only two right-handed defensemen in Alexandre Carrier and Noah Dobson, so adding balance back there would have made plenty of sense.
John Carlson looked like the best fit for that kind of upgrade. He was seen as a veteran option who wouldn’t need a long-term commitment, but could still give a team real help right away.
That possibility seemed to fade when Carlson’s negotiating rights were traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. But even after that move, the door didn’t fully close. The Hurricanes and Carlson never landed on a deal, and he was left looking around for other options.
Once Carlson became available again, Montreal was reportedly in the mix. Eric Engels said the Canadiens had interest, but the veteran defenseman ended up slipping through their hands and signing with a division rival instead: the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Carlson agreed to a two-year contract with an AAV of $8.5 million. That’s a number Montreal likely could have worked with given its cap space, and the Canadiens could have at least checked in to see whether he was interested. In the end, Carlson chose Tampa Bay.
The result leaves Montreal with the same imbalance on its blue line, while the team that eliminated the Canadiens in the first round got stronger. General manager Kent Hughes has already spoken about how frustrating it can be to try to get a trade done, and for fans, the lack of movement has to feel just as aggravating.
The bigger picture is not exactly getting easier, either. The Atlantic Division was already a grind last season, and it may be even tougher now. Montreal was battling the Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning a year ago, and this season those teams are likely to be joined by the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
For now, the Canadiens seem content to keep betting on the growth of their young core. That approach fits a rebuild. Still, when a chance comes along to add a veteran like John Carlson, it’s the kind of move a team can’t afford to miss.
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Three Current Canadiens Just Landed In A Familiar Summer Spotlight
Montreals summer hockey scene is about to get a familiar dose of NHL talent again, with the Living Sisu three-on-three league returning to the city beginning July 6-7 and rolling on with weekly games on Mondays and Tuesdays. The setup has become an annual bit of offseason theater in Montreal, mixing mens and womens games with a roster of pros who keep the rink conversation going long after the playoffs are over.
For Canadiens fans, the draw is obvious: there will be current team regulars in the mix, even as some of the other usual faces sit this one out. The event also carries a charitable edge, with proceeds helping the Pancreatic Cancer North America Foundation, which gives the summer showcase a little more meaning than the average pickup-skating circuit. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Development Camp Just Revealed More Than A Few Standouts
The Canadiens development camp wrapped with a scrimmage that offered a useful glimpse of the organizations next wave, and several names made their presence felt. Alexander Zharovsky, L.J. Mooney, Michael Hage, Logan Sawyer and Hayden Paupanekis all stood out in the session, giving Montreal a reminder of how much talent is bubbling up beyond the NHL roster.
Hage and Sawyer were especially noticeable with a pair of goals each, the kind of showing that tends to linger after camp ends and the pace shifts back to offseason work. Paupanekis also drew attention off the ice with his next step now set, while the Canadiens leave camp having gotten a clearer read on which prospects are ready to push the conversation forward. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Blue Line Buzz Just Took A Turn Fans Feared
The Canadiens have already shown how they want to approach their next move, keeping an eye on help up front without rushing into a commitment that could box them in later. Montreal had interest in Mason Marchment, but the hesitation to go long-term says plenty about where the club is headed: looking for real upgrades, yet still trying to protect its flexibility while the roster keeps taking shape.
Across the league, the rumor mill is spinning with familiar deadline and summer chatter, from Carolinas search for defense help to the Avalanches cap maneuvering and talks involving high-profile names. For Montreal, the bigger takeaway is that the market may end up doing more of the heavy lifting than free agency, and that is the lane the Canadiens appear most comfortable driving in as they sort out what comes next. [Read more 🡒]