When David Savard announced the 2024-2025 season would be his last, it didn’t take very long for fans and analysts alike to consider who will fill his spot on the Montreal Canadiens defensive corps. While Savard had definitely lost a step while playing the last season of his career, the impact of his reassuring veteran presence on the young Canadiens defense should not be underestimated, as he was still used in crucial situations, protecting a lead and on the penalty kill.
After removing Savard from the equation, the remaining six defensemen that played for Montreal last season will have an average of 25,3 years of age. That is extremely young for a team aspiring to build on their successful playoff hunt last spring. This partly explains why, despite having interesting young players like Logan Mailloux or David Reinbacher knocking on the doors of the NHL in their prospect pool, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton will need to consider the possibility of adding a veteran defenseman, either via trade or free agency, to stabilize their defense.
The tricky part of this exercise is that Montreal management knows full well they are still in the rebuilding phase of their plan to make the Canadiens a team good enough to compete for the Stanley Cup. Adding a veteran on a multiyear contract cannot have as a consequence to prevent the growth and opportunities that should go to young players that will eventually be part of this team’s core.
The way I see it, Montreal has two options to replace David Savard effectively if they don’t believe their prospects are ready to take the next step as a regular defenseman in the NHL. They can look for a veteran defenseman willing to accept a one to two-year deal to fill the gap until the prospects are ready, or they can swing for the fence and acquire a player they see contributing in the long term for this team. In both cases, considering Montreal is currently overflowing with left-handed defensemen, notably forcing Lane Hutson to play the wrong side (not that he seems too bothered by it after posting record-setting numbers), that player would need to be a right-handed shot.
Let us analyze some candidates the Canadiens might consider this summer.
Potential UFA Targets
Aaron Ekblad, 29 years old, UFA
When the Panthers traded with the Chicago Blackhawks to acquire Seth Jones, it was both seen as a timely acquisition on the short term to help the team battle for the Stanley Cup (a success regardless of the outcome of their final against the Oilers) and a long-term replacement to Ekblad’s expiring contract. The competition for signing the former first overall pick in the 2014 draft will be fierce as Ekblad represents a complete defenseman with a winning pedigree, capable of playing in every situation if needed.
At 29 years of age, he will likely be looking for a long-term contract at a very high price tag. Montreal could afford him with the salary cap rising in the next few seasons but I’m not convinced Kent Hughes will want to enter a bidding war and likely overpay for a player who usually misses between 20 and 30 games every season and just got suspended for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA performance enhancing substances program.
Cody Ceci, 32 years old, UFA
I’ve had a hard time giving Cody Ceci the credit he deserves the last few seasons, the images of his mistake-prone style in his Ottawa Senators days being well-implanted into my brain. However, we’re talking about a player who’s been acting as a stabilizing force for both the Oilers and the Stars in the past four seasons. In my opinion, he would be a very good option to fill in for Savard as he won’t be a prime UFA target on July 1st and might be willing to accept a deal that’s under 4 years or under as he turns 32 years old next season.
If Reinbacher or Mailloux does end up being good enough to play in the NHL in the short term, signing Ceci at a reasonable cost would still likely represent an upgrade for the team, as Hutson could switch back to the left side, bumping either Struble or Xhekaj out of the lineup.
Jeff Petry (part 3), 37 years old, UFA
Now at 37 years old and having slowed down considerably, Petry could be seen as an option on a one-year, very cheap contract, bringing a veteran presence into a lockeroom that still dresses many of Petry’s former teammates. Unfortunately for fans of the American defenseman, the odds of a reunion between Montreal and Petry are slim. His family had clearly expressed their desire to play in the United States when he was first traded to Pittsburgh in 2022, and it’s doubtful they would consider moving back to Canada.
I am also far from convinced, after watching his being healthy scratched several times in Detroit last season, that Petry would be effective enough on the ice to justify giving him a contract in the first place.
Potential Trade / Offer Sheet Targets
Noah Dobson, 25 years old, RFA
There might not be a bigger “homerun swing” available on defense this summer than the idea to send an offer sheet to Noah Dobson, hoping to pry him away from the Islanders. It would certainly put newly appointed Islanders GM Mathieu Darche in an interesting situation if Montreal were to try and form a Hutson-Dobson first pairing for the long-term future of the team by signing Dobson to an offer sheet. Of course, as an RFA, the Islanders would have the possibility to match the offer, and currently having enough cap space, they likely would unless the amount given to Dobson is seen as a major overpay.
In my opinion, you are not getting him without approaching the 10M per season price tag and a compensation that includes two first-round picks, one second-round pick, and one third-round pick. It will probably sound a little pricey for some, but if Habs management is confident Dobson can take them to the next level and solidify their core moving forward, I certainly would consider it as he fits perfectly in the team’s potential championship window.
Rasmus Andersson, 28 years old, 1 year left at 4,55M per season with the Calgary Flames
While most observers would consider Montreal to use the trade route to acquire a second-line centre this summer, if Rasmus Andersson decides not to sign an extension with Calgary as he becomes eligible to one this summer, I am convinced the Canadiens will be extremely interested. I’m a huge Rasmus Andersson fan as I think he’s largely underrated around the league. Having proved he can manage first pairing minutes with the Flames and being only 28 years old, Andersson would be a perfect fit in Montreal if he is willing to sign a new contract with the Habs.
He would remain effective for the large majority of a new long-term contract and, if/when David Reinbacher is ready to take over as a first-pairing defenseman, Andersson would be a luxury on the second pairing. Don’t let his latest -38 +/- stat fool you, Andersson can both chip in offensively and defend with the best of them.
Who else should Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton consider to fill in on the right side of the defense? Let us know in the comments who your target would be and why!
Thank you all for reading and have a nice day!
Hugo Brossoit
Reinbacher
the guy was the first defenseman picked in his draft year, top 5 pick overall.
kalice on est rendu avec un 3e poulet ? 😉