One free agent every NHL team should sign this offseason
By C.L. Kohuss
Montreal Canadiens: Evander Kane, Left Wing
What to do about the Montreal Canadiens? With $19 million available, who can transform this team? They do have the third pick in the upcoming draft, so let’s keep that in mind. The consensus at the moment seems to be that Montreal goes with left winger Filip Zadina.
It also only has four restricted free agents, none of whom are going to command a high pay raise. Adding Evander Kane could be a really good move for a club that has excellent talent at forward with Jonathan Drouin, Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher. Montreal finished 29th in goals scored per game with a paltry 2.52. Adding star power anywhere is going to give them an immense boost.
He does come with character risks, as many have noted. In fact, he was traded from the Buffalo Sabres to the San Jose Sharks for almost peanuts. Those concerns have followed him everywhere and he’s bounced around the NHL in a very young career so far (he’s only 26). That could lower his price tag, though it won’t go below the $5.25 he’s currently making.
Still, Kane has the ability to score 30 goals and put up 50 to 60 points a season, and his ceiling is probably even higher than that. We don’t see him getting John Tavares money, as he doesn’t have those numbers. But for a Canadiens club that looks to add youth, this is a definite move to consider. Who knows, they might even be able to pull off going for Tavares or Carlson, if the numbers swing right. Not that those two should sign here, but it’s something to ponder.