3 interesting players targeted for a tryout contract with the Canadiens
We are almost mid-August, and several NHL players are still without a contract,
including some potential targets for Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens.
These players have not yet announced their retirement from professional hockey and still seem to be hoping for a call from an NHL team.
At this point, signing a contract is becoming increasingly unlikely. However, teams will consider the possibility of inviting one of these veterans to their camp with a professional tryout (PTO).
Ten players who could interest the Canadiens for a professional tryout, with three particularly intriguing
Here is a list of ten players who have not yet secured a contract for the upcoming season and would be perfect candidates for that coveted PTO:
James Van Riemsdyk
Tyler Johnson
Kevin Shattenkirk
Mike Hoffman
Max Pacioretty
Blake Wheeler
Kailer Yamamoto
Kevin Labanc
Nick Cousins
Mark Giordano
An option for the Canadiens?
The loss of Rafaël Harvey-Pinard for an extended period could open the door for one of these players. The organization could certainly replace him with a young player from the team, like Alex Barré-Boulet, but the veteran option should not be overlooked in this rebuild.
To that end, three names from the above list catch my attention: Max Pacioretty, Tyler Johnson, and Blake Wheeler.
Max Pacioretty
Let's start with the former Canadiens captain, Max Pacioretty. The 35-year-old veteran has not been spared by injuries in recent seasons. However, he returned to play at the end of last season with the Washington Capitals and showed that he could still play hockey. He recorded 4 goals and 19 assists in 47 regular-season games, adding one assist in the playoffs.
HF - Et si le Canadien signait Max Pacioretty?
Pacioretty's experience, particularly the experience he gained as captain of the Montreal team, is significant. In a less prominent role, he could return to finish what he started here by guiding the young players and being a reassuring presence in the locker room. For a low-cost season, why not?
Tyler Johnson
A 12-season NHL veteran and two-time Stanley Cup winner, Johnson knows how things work in the league. He was recently linked to the Canadiens by none other than Sportsnet journalist and insider Eric Engels.
Habs et LNH - Acquisition de Tyler Johnson par le Canadien de MTL? Une grosse surprise
Johnson, 33, played with the Tampa Bay Lightning (from 2012 to 2021) and with the Chicago Blackhawks (from 2021 to 2024). He recorded 31 points in 67 games in 2023-2024 and 32 points in 56 games in 2022-2023. He can still produce and could be a great Plan B after Plan A, Jonathan Marchessault, fell through.
Blake Wheeler
The 37-year-old (soon to be 38) American is, in my opinion, the one with a more uncertain future among the three. Largely sidelined last season due to a serious injury, he returned to play in just two playoff games. In a recent interview, he admitted that he still loves hockey but wants to be more present for his three children. He says his injury has nothing to do with his decision.
LNH.com - Un avenir incertain dans la LNH pour Wheeler
Nevertheless, with 1,172 regular-season NHL games and 66 playoff games under his belt, he would be the ideal veteran for the Canadiens. If healthy (as he claims), he could also contribute offensively, having recorded 21 points, including 9 goals, in 54 games with the Rangers before his injury.
Youth or experience?
The decision to sign a player for a tryout contract will greatly depend on the club management's confidence in its young prospects. Let's face it, few forward prospects, aside from Alex Barré-Boulet and maybe Emil Heineman, have what it takes to play in the big league. Kent Hughes might prefer to see them develop in Laval rather than stagnate as the 13th forward in the NHL.
| POLL | ||
Who would you be more likely to give a PTO to, if you were in Kent Hughes' position with the Montreal Canadiens? | ||
| Max Pacioretty | 152 | 21.2 % |
| Tyler Johnson | 171 | 23.9 % |
| Blake Wheeler | 129 | 18 % |
| Other/None | 264 | 36.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
