Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
At least one piece is missing from the Montreal Canadiens’ top six to address the club’s offensive shortcomings.
On that front, many names have been brought up over the past few weeks, even months, but Kent Hughes appears to be exercising patience before making a move.
As he usually does, he will press the button only when the right player becomes available, and at the right price.
In recent days, one name that had already circulated this summer is back in the spotlight, this time through Pierre McGuire.
On Tony Marinaro’s Sick Podcast, the former hockey executive suggested that the Habs look toward the Seattle Kraken to bolster their offense, more specifically at Jared McCann.
“Jared McCann would be a really good add… That guy would fit really well on Montreal” – Pierre McGuire
Two factors could, however, slow down-or even cool off-Kent Hughes on this file.
Jared McCann, an injury-prone player?
On December 10, during a game against the Los Angeles Kings, McCann was injured following a collision with goaltender Anton Forsberg late in the third period. It was already his second long-term absence of the season, after missing 17 games earlier in the campaign due to a lower-body injury.
Since the start of his career, he has played a full 82-game season only once, having entered the NHL in 2015-2016 with the Vancouver Canucks.
When it’s already frustrating to see Kaiden Guhle, Kirby Dach, and Patrik Laine continually on the injured list, acquiring another player of that type could be frustrating.
Another winger within the Montreal Canadiens’ ranks
Jared McCann is not a center, a position of need for the Habs, but rather a winger.
That said, he is capable of playing in the middle of a line, having taken 307 and 244 faceoffs over the past two seasons, respectively. This season, he has a 40% success rate in the faceoff circle. He also owns a career faceoff efficiency of 42.7%.
Is that enough? Personally, I’m tired of seeing the Habs try to slot a player at center who isn’t one, hoping it will work.
That said, I would still take McCann in my lineup despite the injury risk, because he is an excellent hockey player. His speed fits very well with Martin St-Louis’ style of play.
McCann is also capable of putting the puck in the net, with 189 career NHL goals in 679 games. He has also reached the 40-goal mark once in his career, during the 2022-2023 season. This season, in 11 games, the 29-year-old forward has recorded 5 goals and 3 assists for a total of 8 points.
According to his head coach in Seattle, Lane Lambert, McCann’s absence has hurt his team.
“Jared is a nearly point-per-game guy, and we really haven’t been able to have him with us this year.
That definitely hurts our offense.
But those are things we can’t control.
Injuries are part of the sport.”
– Lane Lambert
There would certainly be a place for McCann on the wing in the Habs’ lineup.
Knowing that the club could benefit, after Nick Suzuki, from another near point-per-game scorer would be invaluable.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics