In the last few days, Marc Bergevin has added Nick Cousin and Ben Chiarot to his roster but he's yet to reach an agreement with Joel Armia, Artturi Lehkonen and Charles Hudon. To be honest, I really don't understand why Bergevin tendered a qualifying offer to Hudon. I think it's pretty obvious to everyone, number 54 included, that he is not part of the Canadiens' plans anymore and nothing was last surprising than hearing that he had turned down the qualifying offer.
Got to wonder why Bergevin gave Hudon a qualifying offer...after last year, he's kind of obvious that he is not part of the Canadiens' plans anymore... #GoHabsGo #Canadiens #CH #Habs pic.twitter.com/Pq5vWuZ7k2
— Karine Hains (@Pheebs888) July 6, 2019
Hudon was only called upon in 32 games last season and when he was in the line-up, he was mainly used in a way in which he couldn't shine. I'm not saying make way from the guy, all I'm saying is that he should not be held hostage so to speak. He saw his last bit of action on February 19th and had to just sit on the sidelines until the end of the season. While Bergevin said he likes to have depth, this is not that. It's letting a guy rot and more or less killing his career.
It's hard to know whether or not the 3 RFAs will put pen to paper before their actual arbitration hearing but we better hope so. About 7 years ago, I worked in a law firm that dealt with NHL arbitration and our office was always representing the teams and not the players. While I did enjoy talking and researching hockey and being paid to do it, I always felt bad for the players who did got to arbitration. I mean most of the briefs we prepared were brutal to the player. We basically spent a month researching their performance and highlighting everything that was wrong with it and listing reasons why they weren't worth what they thought they were. I don't know if most of you have ever read and arbitration brief but I did find one the Rangers had drafted about Mats Zuccarello back in 2013, I think it's quite interesting stuff to read:
At the very least, it gives you an idea of the kind of things the Habs might have to say about their 3 unsigned forward. Lehkonen played in all 82 games last season and put 31 points on the board but how many times do you remember saying the words Lehkonen and "oh so close!" together in those 82 games? How many chances were squandered? Too many and that's exactly what the Habs would say in an arbitration brief. For all the "yes but he is good without the puck" narrative that we keep hearing in Montreal, this brief will not be praising Lehkonen it will be formed of very harsh words aimed at a player who seemed to lack confidence at time last season and that is the last thing he needs.
Lehkonen might have had a career year last season, but that wasn't enough for the Habs to give him the money he thinks he deserves... #GoHabsGo #RFA #Arbitration #Lehkonen pic.twitter.com/DmqV6djdwO
— Karine Hains (@Pheebs888) July 6, 2019
As for Joel Armia, he only played 57 games last season having to deal with a serious knee injury thanks to a knee on knee hit from Brendan Smith of the Rangers and his personal point counter stopped at 23. Coming off a 1 year 1.85 M contract, he's probably looking for a pay raise but is he worth it? Would you give it to him?
Joel Armia has been in the NHL longer than Lehkonen but has never reached the 31 points total his fellow Finn managed last season. #GoHabsGo #CH #Habs #RFA #Freeagent pic.twitter.com/HRqqk4LzmY
— Karine Hains (@Pheebs888) July 6, 2019
Of course, filling for arbitration does not mean that they will get to the arbitration hearing as they may reach a deal before the set date for their hearing but even having to prepared for such a hearing can cause damages to the team/player relationship.