Équipe: 2024-25 Canadiens de Montréal

Date de création initiale: 14 août 2023

Publié: 15 août 2023

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

Without further moves, the Habs will likely have 12 NHL-projectable defensemen and 17 NHL-projectable forwards for 2024-2025.

The end result is the roster of players most likely to remain once the 2024-2025 is over. I put all the tradables and/or expiring UFA on LTIR for this purpose.

For the D corps, with Petry, Savard and Kovacevic all becoming UFA in 2025 and Matheson being a 2026 UFA, the transition towards - and consolidation around - the upcoming Ds should be organic enough - and should also likely fetch quality assets considering the high trade value of cost-controlled and/or veteran defensemen.

For the F corps, Dvorak, Armia and Evans are 2025 UFAs and only Evans having a chance at renewal, that should perennially open 2 roster spots for ELCs (3 if we count Monahan’s the previous year)

As for the ELCs, I see Beck/Kapanen battling for C3; RHP/Farrell/Heineman battling for LW3. Roy/Mesar/Ylonen battling for RW2.

Anderson and Gallagher (if not LTIRed) provide veteran leadership until their 3-years term near their respective ends and they become potential TDL 2027 assets.

Once ELCs will have been properly auditioned and the Habs identify their core’s missing piece (G1 and RW1 in all likelyhood), offseason 2025 will then be the opportunity to aggressively seek these missing pieces.