Potential Montreal Canadiens Free Agent Exodus On The Horizon

The Montreal Canadiens are closing in on the 50-contract limit, meaning they’re unlikely to retain any of their pending free agents.

With seven unrestricted free agents (UFA) up for renewal, General Manager Kent Hughes and his group would have to decide who to retain before July 1.

The Canadiens want to shake up their roster in a big way this summer, in an effort to challenge for a playoff spot.

However, at the moment, NHL betting odds are not predicting the Canadiens to make it to the spring dance next season. That means they’ll have to be extremely selective, if not downright unapologetic, about letting their current crop of UFAs loose to venture into the free agent market.

One decision will be relatively easy, as veteran Chris Wideman may very well officially announce his retirement, after it was teased at the end of the season in April.

For the other six players, things are not looking good.

Tanner Pearson

Due to the Vancouver Canucks’ own salary cap issues, Tanner Pearson was swiftly traded to Montreal, for goaltender Casey DeSmith and a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

It was a great way for the Montreal Canadiens to optimize their cap space and solve their four-goalie rotation issue before the start of the season, all while extracting a 3^rd rounder from Vancouver.

However, Pearson was not much of a difference maker for the Canadiens this season, despite a strong start. Injuries and a lack of consistency saw Pearson stapled to the Canadiens’ fourth line, even in the face of injuries across the lineup.

The 31-year-old is likely to be let loose in favour of younger talent like Emil Heineman or Joshua Roy, as the club continues its youth movement.

Colin White

Much like Chris Tierney the year prior, Colin White was a timely waiver pickup for the Canadiens that was made at a time of dire need for depth up the middle.

At the time, injuries and the timely trade of Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets had forced the Montreal Canadiens to ice a roster with only three centres; thus making winger Raphaël Harvey-Pinard take the draws on the fourth line.

By plucking White off of waivers from the Florida Panthers, the Canadiens were able to secure a stopgap until the end of the season.

White didn’t register a single point in his 17 games with Montreal and is expected to be cut loose this summer.

Philippe Maillet

A native of Lachenaie, a borough just outside Montreal, the skilled forward made his way back to North America after a two-year stint in the KHL.

He was signed with the idea of being one of the Laval Rocket’s top-two centres, primarily to help a roster filled with talented wingers to find their bearings at the pro level.

For Maillet, there was also the potential of eventually being recalled to the Montreal Canadiens in the event of injuries, but, even in the face of bleak roster options at centre, he was never recalled.

Maillet was a good soldier for Laval nonetheless, notching 21 goals and 53 points in 67 games. However, there has been some chatter that he could be venturing back overseas, as the earning potential is much higher than the AHL.

Mitchell Stephens

After spending the entire 2022-2023 campaign with the Laval Rocket, Mitchell Stephens finally had his cup of coffee with the Montreal Canadiens this season.

Suiting up for 23 games, he registered two goals and one assists, all while playing a sound two-way game on the Canadiens’ fourth line.

However, his value, similarly to Maillet’s, was as a top-six centre for the Laval Rocket. After seemingly regaining his confidence during his stint with the Canadiens, Maillet became an important piece in the Laval Rocket’s late-season playoff push.

Although the club was unsuccessful, Stephens showed why he was so well-regarded within the organization.

However, with the likes of Owen Beck and Filip Mesar joining the club next season, playing time may be hard to come by. It’s not out of the question that Stephens will be re-signed, but you would fault the man for seeking a better opportunity elsewhere.

Arnaud Durandeau

A late-season addition just before the AHL Trade Deadline, Arnaud Durandeau, was brought in to help the Laval Rocket’s offence muster up more goals.

In his 10 games with the Rocket, Durandeau put up two goals and six points, which is respectable considering Laval was his third team in the 2023-2024 season.

However, with the glut of wingers already on the club, and the arrival of Luke Touch, Florian Xhekaj, and Filip Mesar, room is starting to dwindle along the wings.

One would expect Durandeau to be released.

Brady Keeper

Keeper was a solid veteran presence for the Laval Rocket last season, helping to stabilize the defensive corps whenever he was in the lineup.

With youngsters Logan Mailloux, Adam Engstrom, David Reinbacher and possibly even Lane Hutson expected to patrol the Laval Rocket blue line this season, it would be wise to have a veteran presence there to better support the youngsters.

Keeper was well respected within the room and could be one of the very few UFAs that is retained by the Canadiens.

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