The Montreal Canadiens will have the opportunity to acquire Quebec forward Alex Killorn
As with the other eliminated teams, the end of the regular season in the NHL marks the beginning of the rumor period for the Canadiens. Many speculations about the team will circulate until the draft and the opening of free agency.
According to the website TSLH, the top unrestricted free agent for next summer has the perfect profile for Kent Hughes. It's not Vladimir Tarasenko or Patrick Kane, but rather Alex Killorn, who is at the top of their list.
Let's remember that he grew up in Beaconsfield, Quebec.
Although the blog author does not mention Alex Killorn in the context of the Habs' interests, we can easily do so.
Despite being 33 years old, the Lightning forward remains a top player with a current salary of $4.5 million. Killorn, who was selected in the third round of the 2007 draft (77th overall), is currently having the best season of his career with 25 goals and 36 assists. He is also leading the upcoming free agents in terms of points, ahead of names such as Patrick Kane and Patrice Bergeron.
Standing at 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 194 pounds, Alex Killorn is a forward who is appreciated for his ability to play in both ends of the ice. It seems that he is still capable of playing at a high level, and it is likely that he will continue his strong performance into next season.
Killorn could be an ideal veteran to help a young team like the CH, especially since he has playoff experience.
Could he be a good replacement for Josh Anderson, if he is traded this summer?
It is understandable to wonder why Julien Brisebois, the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, would be willing to let Alex Killorn go when he is such a valuable asset to the team. The answer to this question is simple: the team's salary cap is very tight.
According to CapFriendly, the Tampa Bay Lightning currently have only 15 players under contract for next season and are $2 million under the salary cap.
Furthermore, the Lightning will have to consider the upcoming contracts of some of their key players such as Mikhail Sergachev ($8.5 million), Erik Cernak ($5.2 million), and Anthony Cirelli ($6.25 million), who will all receive significant salary increases next season. Under these circumstances, it appears that Killorn is the most likely player to leave the Lightning.
The evolution of this situation will be closely watched this summer. Will Brisebois be able to find a solution to keep Killorn in the Lightning lineup? And if not, will Kent Hughes be able to convince the Halifax native to join the ranks of the Canadiens?
| POLL | ||
Would you like to see Alex Killorn with the Canadiens next year? | ||
| Yes | 96 | 45.3 % |
| No | 116 | 54.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
