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Conserving Cap Space Leaves Montreal Room to Improve

July 26, 2011, 3:09 PM ET [ Comments]
Steven Hindle
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Mmm, Mmm, Money...


As the Canadiens 2010-11 season was laid to rest in the final days of April, Montreal's general manager Pierre Gauthier set about the rather large task of deciphering who of his pending 17 UFA/RFA players he would resign while also figuring out if there were better ways to spend his $25+ million dollars in cap space.

With only 9 players signed through the 2011-12 season, it was clear that the Habs GM would have his hands full, yet no one was certain of what the outcome would be.

Incredibly, only 85 days after the Bruins dispatched Montreal in overtime of game seven in the opening round, that outcome has proven to be quite stellar.

Gauthier and his staff have now dealt with each and every UFA and RFA they needed to, while also finding time to proactively add talent to the roster.

It wasn't an easy job.

Of the eight unrestricted free agents, only three will be returning; Andrei Markov, Hal Gill and Mathieu Darche.

As for the rest, they were thanked for their time served in bleu, blanc et rouge and sent along their merry way.

Restricted free agents fared much better this summer as all but three of the nine RFA's will skate at the Bell Center next season.

Retained were defensemen Yannick Weber and Josh Gorges, while all RFA forwards but Benoit Pouliot and Tom Pyatt secured contracts. Returning are Andrei Kostitsyn, Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Ryan White.

Including "in-house" additions of Alexei Yemelin, Rafael Diaz and the return of Brock Trotter, and it appears that the Canadiens had done rather well, even had they not dipped into free agency.

But that is the beauty of the semi-conservative nature with which Montreal management approached their summer endeavors.

They sought out the players they wished to retain(and in some cases got value for those they could not), while also vigilantly pursuing upgrades.

Although there have been only two significant upgrades, the signings of both Erik Cole and Peter Budaj, the acquisitions further insulate a team that, if healthy, should have no problem playing with the best in the Eastern Conference.

And that brings us to the interesting part of Montreal's summer of movement, they still have money left over!

Although hard to imagine, the truth is that the Canadiens have locked up a solid roster for next season, improving in areas they definitely needed to, all while leaving plenty of space to play with before the 2011-12 season even draws near.

With 21 NHL caliber players signed to the roster(12 forwards, 7 dmen and 2 goalies), the Canadiens have $5.1 million dollars left under the salary cap ceiling with room to add two more players, should they choose to.

In that regard, one thing is certain, with Lars Eller "slated" to begin the season on the shelf, apparently until late October-early November, management will still need to add to their bottom six. If only for insurance purposes.

That being the case, count on a late summer signing(a la Jeff Halpern last summer) or for a trade.

With at least one spot due to be taken by a veteran, or so we assume, that leaves room open for a youngster to possibly steal a spot.

With Rafael Diaz, Aaron Palushaj, Brock Trotter and newly acquired Michael Blunden and Mark Mitera now in the fold and all near or approaching NHL ready, there is definitely the chance that one of them lands in the coveted #23 spot...but that's an argument better suited as we get nearer to training camp.

Instead, let's return to that precious $5.1 million that Gauthier has left in the bank.

Although there is always the guaranteed safety net of $1.5 - $2 million that Habs management likes to save for a rainy day during the season, that still leaves plenty of cash to spend on bona-fide help for the bottom six.

And by "spending" I don't necessarily mean acquiring another UFA.

Not at all.

Instead, I think that Montreal's current cap space is becoming more and more valuable by the day.

With plenty of cash to spend and room to add onto the 23 man roster, Montreal is in a pretty sweet position.

They have a very strong roster already compiled and, although injury worries will never go away in this town, the optimism of a healthy season could see these Habs help themselves to a very bountiful year on the ice.

With pieces already in place like the ones Montreal already has, patience then becomes the most valuable virtue of all.

No doubt Gauthier wants to spend the cash on adding another valuable asset, yet there's no rush to spend on the free market.

Despite knowing there's money burning a hole in his pocket.

Rather, one has to imagine that the open roster spots and free cap space the Canadiens currently possess is growing very attractive in the eyes of other GM's.

With 10 teams having already spent more than Montreal and five others seeking to get above or stay above the cap floor, Gauthier has got to have plenty of options available to him in the form of trades.

Taking on someone else's burden/problem will not be in the cards. That's a move better slated for a few of those teams seeking to get above the cap floor.

In the case of Pierre Gauthier and the Canadiens though, it's more a matter of playing it from a position of power.

The Habs don't need to offer up much to a team in need of shedding salary, there's plenty of clubs out there in that position. And as the clock keeps ticking, that cap space Montreal has just keeps getting juicier in the eyes of other GM's seeking to still fix their problems.

So, while options still exist on the open market, it's best for Gauthier to continue to let that money burn a hole in his pocket. For, as the new season approaches, those available dollars will double in value.

With August still yet to arrive, it's surprising to say but certainly not unjust in noting the Canadiens may have put themselves in the best possible position to succeed in 2011-12.

Again, there's plenty of time left before a puck is even dropped, yet as the current Habs roster stands, coupled with all that juicy cap space, I can't see how Montreal isn't finally, perhaps for the first time in a very, very long time, back in a position of power.





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