An analyst has identified a solid star player that Kent Hughes should acquire this summer

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Jeff Drouin
May 3, 2022 (2:14 PM)

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The NHL's uncompensated free agent market this summer is likely to be one of the most closely watched in recent years. With the quality of players on the market, hockey fans should be glued to their televisions on July 13, even though there is a very good chance of great weather outside.

For many Canadiens fans, the names Kristopher Letang and Patrice Bergeron will be on everyone's lips, but for one veteran analyst, there is one player that Kent Hughes absolutely must not pass up.

As reported by Jeff Drouin of Fanadiens.com, TVA Sports analyst Yvon Pedneault was on the JiC show and mentioned that the Habs must do everything they can to sign forward Filip Forsberg.

"I think we know very well that Kristopher Letang will be attractive. But there is one player that I really like among the uncompensated free agents and that is Filip Forsberg. For those of you who have watched the Nashville Predators over the last few years, Filip Forsberg is a player who doesn't hate the hard-nosed game, he goes into heavy traffic, he likes to go in front of the net, he's an extremely creative player and you can think, maybe dream, of him alongside Caufield and Suzuki."

The 27-year-old left winger is coming off a career-best season with 84 points, including 42 goals in 69 games. Forsberg was paid $6 million this season and can be expected to have salary demands in the $8-9 million per year range.

With all the big contracts the Habs have on their payroll, one has to admit that it will be very difficult for Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton to make room for a player of Forsberg's caliber. Even if players like Mike Hoffman and Jonathan Drouin were bought out, the money freed up probably wouldn't be enough to bring in a new player making close to $9 million a year. Not to mention that Nick Suzuki's new contract will be effective next year at $7.875 million per season.

Pedneault also commented on the case of Johnny Gaudreau, who will also be a free agent without compensation this summer. However, he expects that the Flames forward will either sign a new deal with them or will turn to a team in the greater New York area or the Philadelphia Flyers.