The top free agents have already signed new contracts, so the remaining players without deals for next season aren’t particularly exceptional.
It seems like this:
We can agree that none of these players can play a significant role for a team aiming for a championship…
However, there are players who could assist a rebuilding club like the Canadiens. Looking at the available players, the only name that might be attractive to some is Daniel Sprong.
Should Kent Hughes attempt to recruit him, given the Habs’ need for goal-scoring players?
Tony Marinaro addressed this in his latest podcast episode with Eric Engels. Marinaro is straightforward: he believes Daniel Sprong is a sensible target for the Habs because he would immediately bolster their offensive capabilities.
When focusing solely on his offensive skills, Daniel Sprong presents an intriguing profile. Over the last two seasons, he has amassed 46 and 43 points respectively, demonstrating his ability to find the back of the net.
However, when discussing Daniel Sprong, one must also acknowledge his notable defensive shortcomings and his frequent team changes since December 2018, now on his fifth team. There are reasons for this.
The risk isn’t substantial. Sprong wouldn’t command a salary that would burden the Habs, and any contract offer from Kent Hughes would likely be a low-cost, one-season deal.
That being said, there’s no rush at the moment.
Kent Hughes still has time until the season begins to enhance his team through potential trades or signings, which will be his focus in the upcoming weeks.
If Sprong remains available by the end of August and Hughes hasn’t made any other moves, then perhaps discussions about bringing Daniel Sprong to Montreal to fill a gap in the top-six could start.
Nevertheless, there’s no urgency for Kent Hughes to offer him a contract immediately, even if Sprong is seen as the best available goal scorer in the free agent market.
