Habs News: Montreal Canadiens, Marc Bergevin, NHL, Free Agent, Joel Armia, Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, David Savard, Cedric Paquette, Phillip Danault

ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | MONTREAL, QC. — It’s an exciting free agent frenzy as NHL teams look to add free agents and execute trades to put together next season’s roster puzzle.

Canadiens sign Armia

On Tuesday the Canadiens announced a four-year contract extension for forward Joel Armia worth $3.4 M per season. Armia was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 28th.

The 28-year-old right-winger recorded seven goals, seven assists for 14 points in 41 regular-season games.

Montreal #Canadiens update after signing Joel Armia

Cap space: $10.7M
Roster size: 17 (9F – 6D – 2G)

RFAs:
F Lehkonen
F Kotkaniemi
F Pezzetta
F Poehling
D Leskinen
G McNivenhttps://t.co/Rp3ulyoj4k

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) July 27, 2021

Canadiens unrestricted free agents

The NHL free agent market opens at noon ET on Wednesday as general managers, with their shopping lists in hand scour the pool of unrestricted free agents to determine who will be the right fit for next season.

Heading into free agency, several Montreal Canadiens unrestricted free agents are not expected to return to the club including forwards Phillip Danault, Eric Staal, Tomas Tatar, Michael Frolik, defencemen Jon Merrill, Erik Gustafsson, Gustav Olofsson and goaltender Charlie Lindgren.

Danault has committed to exploring the free agent market and despite the necessities in the media, sources say the decision to let him walk was made some time ago. Danault had rejected a six-year $30 million contract prior to the 2020-21 campaign. The 28-year-old scored five goals, 19 assists for 24 points in 53 games last season.

Veteran agent Don Meehan also confirms same to me, Phil Danault headed to market Wednesday. Which is no surprise, we reported a few weeks ago Habs were comfortable letting Danault see what’s out there. While keeping door open. https://t.co/CAwdBJ1kBC

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 27, 2021

Bergevin ready to make introductions?

RDS has reported that David Savard and Cedric Paquette will be signed as free agents by Marc Bergevin on Wednesday afternoon.

Savard won his first Stanley Cup with the Lightning this month averaging 14:07 per game in a third-pairing role for the playoffs. Savard tallied five assists in 20 playoff games after recording six points and a minus-27 rating in 54 regular season games in 2020-21.

Paquette was part of the Lightning championship team in 2019-20 but split the season between Ottawa and Carolina in 2020-21. Paquette had four goals, four assists for eight points and a minus-12 rating in 47 games last season.

Paquette has a physical edge, plays a moderately responsible defensive game but brings little to no offence. The 27-year-old had fallen out of favor in Carolina and was primarily a healthy scratch in the post-season.

Can’t beat ’em, join ’em?

Corey Perry has been on the losing side in two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals watching as the Tampa Bay Lightning hoisted the trophy. According to The Fourth Period, Julien BriseBois may have an interest in landing him.

As Tampa looks to reshape part of its roster, one player I believe they’ll pursue, if available, is Corey Perry. The Canadiens are still going to try to keep him, but if he hits the market, TB will be one the interested teams.

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 27, 2021

Corey Perry is an unrestricted free agent as of Wednesday noon but both Perry and Marc Bergevin have made it no secret that the two parties would like to work something out for next season if the numbers work.

Getzlaf on the Habs radar?

After being drafted in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Ryan Getzlaf has spent 16 seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. The 36-year-old centre has received a contract offer from the Ducks. But it appears that Getzlaf is open to seeing what the free agent market may bring.

Marc Bergevin had expressed interest in Getzlaf before the deadline last season but couldn’t get a deal done. Now he may have another opportunity. Pierre LeBrun reported that Montreal, Edmonton, Dallas and Boston have expressed interest in the veteran.

Canadiens Connection podcast

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