Though the majority of the Montreal Canadiens’ protection list was somewhat expected, there were certainly a fair number of surprises. One of the biggest takeaways from the protection list is that we now have a clearer picture of what general manager Marc Bergevin believes are the key components to a bright future in Montreal.
It would be dishonest to suggest that I agree with keeping every player on the list, but there is a silver lining to virtually every decision made by the organization’s upper brass. With that being said, I want to take a few moments to do a rundown of every protected player, addressing the ups and downs of each one.
So, without further ado:
Josh Anderson came under a lot of scrutiny throughout the 2021 Playoffs for appearing invisible on the ice, and it was at the moment when someone suggested this that he scored an important goal that turned the tide of the game. There is a lot to love about the 27-year-old, but there are certainly areas of concern, too. Bergevin clearly sees something worthwhile in keeping him around, seeing as how he was signed to a seven-year contract worth $38.5 million.
But we’ll get to this in a moment.
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Cons:
Bergevin electing to protect Joel Armia came as a surprise to me. I initially thought he would be left exposed as an unrestricted free agent (UFA), allowing the club to protect someone else in the hopes of re-signing Armia after the expansion draft (same goes for Phillip Danault). It obviously did not pan out this way. Ultimately, I’m happy to see that Bergevin believes Armia can add something to the team for the 2021-22 season.
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I like the move to protect Jake Evans. With a cap hit of $750,000, Bergevin made the right move in locking down one of the future players of the club. Evans isn’t going to be a 60-point player, but he always seems to be contributing in important ways. I am especially keen on his defensive game. Now that it appears the Canadiens will be losing Danault, it is important for Montreal’s forwards to step up in the defensive end.
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Not much more needs to be said about Brendan Gallagher. It’s no surprise that he was protected. As the 147th-overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, he has turned into a franchise player. If Shea Weber doesn’t return to the Canadiens, Gallagher may become the club’s captain. I will not be disappointed if this turns out to be the case.
Pros:
He is the grittiest player on the team, no question. He has been through thick and thin with the club, and I don’t see that stopping any time soon. Having only played 35 games in the 2020-21 season due to an injury, he still managed to rake in 14 goals and nine assists for 23 total points.
Cons:
Despite Gallagher’s ability to generate offensive chances, he hasn’t exactly been on a line built to score a lot of goals. He spent the majority of his time during the regular season on a line with Danault and Tomas Tatar. Danault is notorious for lacking offensive abilities, making it difficult for the winger to get anything going. It has yet to be seen how he will perform with different linemates for the 2021-2022 season.
This is another one where I wasn’t surprised. Jesperi Kotkaniemi was the third-overall pick in 2018, and he has lived up to the hype, for the most part. He is an important piece of the young core that Bergevin has sculpted, and I don’t expect him to be leaving the club anytime soon.
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I was taken aback by this one. Artturi Lehkonen has been a solid player overall, but he has had trouble finding the back of the net throughout his tenure with Montreal. Bergevin made a risky move here. I am curious why Paul Byron was not offered a position instead of Lehkonen — especially after Byron’s play in the postseason — but again, this could be another move to reinforce the idea that the club is moving to put more emphasis on the younger players. It’s hard to disagree with this strategy.
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I’m still curious if protecting Lehkonen was the right move.
Bergevin had to save Tyler Toffoli, seeing as how he was the top goal scorer throughout the regular season. He was also signed to a contract worth $17 million over four years last season. It was a no-brainer to keep him on the roster.
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Ben Chiarot was the right move by Bergevin, though many disagree with this. Some believe that Brett Kulak should have been picked over Chiarot. Still, it’s hard to expose him when he was part of the top-two pairings that effectively shut down every major offensive threat throughout the postseason (outside of the Tampa Bay Lightning).
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It was a great move by Bergevin to protect Joel Edmundson. He’s a big body (similar to Weber) who can effectively move the puck. There was no way he would be left out, considering the competition. It also helps that he chalked up 98 hits and 75 blocked shots during the regular season. By these numbers alone, it’s clear how engaged he is in every play while on the ice.
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Like Gallagher, Bergevin electing to save Jeff Petry was a choice made without much forethought. I think Petry is likely in the running for captaincy should Weber leave the club.
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This choice has been the top story of the expansion draft. Bergevin left Carey Price exposed to save Jake Allen. Though the details of this choice are not crystal clear, it’s assumed that Bergevin made this decision to ensure Allen would be the backup for next season. While the Seattle Kraken may very well take Price in the draft, Bergevin is banking on Price’s hefty contract and potential hip and knee injuries to act as a deterrent.
Of note on the Carey Price situation: He's owed an $11M signing bonus in September — a big upfront payout if #seakraken claim him.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 18, 2021
Price also only waived his NMC for expansion purposes. So he can't be claimed and flipped in a subsequent trade without his consent.
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The obvious downside to Allen being protected is that Price is left exposed, creating the possibility that the Kraken will pluck the Canadiens’ franchise goaltender out of the organization. There’s a big risk here, and Allen is not the kind of goaltender that can singlehandedly carry a team on his back like Price can (and has). Bergevin will have a lot to mull over in the coming months, should Price be taken.
I’m not completely sold that the Kraken takes Price, given what other goaltenders are available, but it’s a genuine possibility.
At the end of the day, protecting Allen was more about Price’s future than it was about Allen’s value as a starting goaltender. Allen is an excellent backup, and that’s what Bergevin is banking on for the 2021-22 season.
Overall, Bergevin made the right decisions. He has made it clear that the younger players are the primary concern, even if that means losing a quality veteran. The fail-safe on losing Price and Weber this offseason is that it will open up a giant hole in the club’s cap, allowing Montreal to bring in new talent that would (hopefully) shore up some of the holes in the roster.
It’s going to be an interesting offseason, that’s for sure.
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