Is it officially time yet to start thinking about what kind of contracts the upcoming free agents on the Canadiens should be expecting?
Price, Subban, Emelin, Eller, Diaz and White are important players in the RFA category.
With Gomez and Kaberle in the picture, the Canadiens already have $44,745,476 committed to the cap.
It's estimated the cap will move to about $69 mil, but when the CBA expires in September, that number could come down to as low as $61 mil-- provided the new CBA brings sharing closer to a 50-50 split between players and the owners.
Currently, the players receive a 57% share of the revenue.
When you add it all up, the Canadiens will spend the bulk of their money on those RFAs.
As for Moen, Darche, Staubitz and Campoli, who are all unrestricted, who knows what the future holds for them? Though it's anticipated the club will keep Moen and Darche.
Also up for contracts:
RFAS: Blake Geoffrion, Aaron Palushaj, Mike Blunden, Petteri Nokelainen and Freddy St. Denis and Brendan Nash.
Kicker: Next season, David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty will be playing out the final years on their contracts.
It'll be really interesting to see what the new CBA yields regarding second contracts for RFAs.
If Desharnais continues to improve at the same rate, he could be one of those heavily compensated on their second NHL contract, provided the new CBA doesn't change in that regard.
As for Pacioretty--he's surely going to make bank on his next contract-- the third of his pro career. If the Canadiens play it right and get him done long-term, it should be his last contract before his eligibility to become an unrestricted free agent kicks in.
Will Geoff Molson be willing to park Gomez's salary in the minors? If he is, does anyone really think he'll add Kaberle's to the mix, and pay more than 12 million to have these two in rotting in Hamilton for another two seasons?
Seems unfathomable.
If they park Gomez, will they buy out Kaberle?
Much more likely, but still, such penalties for such high-priced mistakes.
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How soon after the season ends will the Canadiens have their new GM in place?
Does anyone still strongly believe Pierre Gauthier will keep his job?
Who's most likely to be the next bench-boss in Montreal?
So many questions, but the people in this town aren't wrong. There's ample opportunity to reshape this team and get them right back in the right direction, as early as this summer. But there are some real hard decisions to make--and a lot of uncertainty regarding the new structure for handing out contracts.
At least the Canadiens will be interesting to follow for one season of the year... too bad it wasn't Winter.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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