5 free agents the Canadiens can sign to get back to playoffs

4.  D Mike Green

Green is heading into unrestricted free agency with his peak years with the Washington Capitals getting further away at 32 years old. He’s also coming off a neck injury that shortened his 2017-18 season with the Detroit Red Wings, and required surgery on his cervical spine.

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill suggested Green had been playing with his neck issue for a year, with surgery inevitable, which explains why he was not moved at the trade deadline. After the surgery a two-month timetable was given for a full recovery, so Green should have no issue passing a physical when free agency starts.

The most recent of Green’s four career All-Star selections came in 2013, and his numbers (traditional and advanced) have been in decline. But he started fast this season, with four points in his first game and 11 points over his first nine contests. Just 22 more points over his final 57 games points to the neck/back issue becoming a bigger problem, but Green can still hold his own in spurts and something as simple as less ice time (23 and 22 minutes per game in the last two seasons) may do him wonders.

The Canadiens were burned by Weber’s foot issue this year, so adding another older blue liner who’s working his way back from an injury might not be considered ideal. But Green will not be in a position to break the bank, and he could go down as one of the real bargains of free agency this summer.