Transition for Anton Lundell: Marco D’Amico’s idea

Everyone wants Sam Bennett to add “sandpaper” to the Canadiens’ game, but if the Panthers ever offer him a contract extension worth around $8 million per season, Montreal will have to look elsewhere.

You don’t have to look far, as the Panthers’ Anton Lundell could get a new contract from Sam Bennett. By offering Bennett a raise, Florida will have to make some roster changes to stay under the salary cap, and that’s where the Canadiens could take advantage, as D’Amico explains.

Anton Lundell is currently a third-line center with the Panthers, but his contract is worth $5 million to the team. Florida could trade him, but Bill Zito and his gang would have to be offered an attractive return.

This is where D’Amico is a little less confident. He’s not sure that Montreal has anything interesting to offer the Panthers, who will probably want to improve on the blue line.

His idea is to offer a first-round pick and Logan Mailloux to the Panthers. This would give the Panthers another first-round pick to trade at the next trade deadline and allow them to pick up a young defenseman with some potential, but who costs next to nothing.

Marco D’Amico explained, however, that Lundell doesn’t really have the makings of a second center on a competitive team, but that he could be a good solution for now. The Panthers’ center has collected around 40 points in each of his four NHL seasons.

At 23, Lundell is exactly the kind of player Kent Hughes, who often looks for youth in his acquisitions, might be interested in.

You also have to wonder whether Lundell’s 40-odd points per season might be due to the fact that he plays third center. Perhaps in a better position in Montreal, he could blossom and score even more.

Overtime

– Florida clearly won this deal.

– They’ll have to do better than they did last time out.

– Above all, don’t overpay!

– MLB deal.