On the Montreal Canadiens …
Craig Custance of ESPN: Looking at the offseason priorities of the Montreal Canadiens.
1. Sign goaltender Carey Price to a contract extension – Getting Price signed to a contract extension should be GM Marc Bergevin‘s biggest priority. Price will be entering the final year of his deal that carries a $6.5 million cap hit. He can sign an extension after July 1st. Henrik Lundqvist is currently the highest paid goalie at $8.5 million per season, so can expect something around there.
2. Re-sign Alexander Radulov – The Canadiens can’t let the 30-year old pending free agent walk on July 1st. Both sides are apparently interested in getting a deal done.
3. Consider trading center Alex Galchenyuk – would keep Galchenyuk, but with the way the Canadiens moved him between center and wing and up and down the lineup, the Canadiens may not have the faith in him to be a top-line center. They may not have the patience anymore for the pending RFA. There had to Matt Duchene rumors during the season.
Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette: The Canadiens need to figure out Carey Prices intentions as soon as they can. Does he want to stay and how much would the Canadiens pay him? If they are not able to get him signed to an extension before next season, it may be time to trade him before he starts eyeing free agency. If they were to move him, he would get them the high-end center they desperately need.
Not sure what will happen with Alex Galchenyuk who struggled after returning from his mid-season knee injury. He may not be happy when he doesn’t get the big, long-term deal he may think he deserves.
The Canadiens need to score more goals next season. They need to find two or three capable centermen.