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Dans les coulisses

Arpon Basu wants Kent Hughes to inquire about Tyler Toffoli

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 10: Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes addresses the media on February 10, 2022, at Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

During his short time in Montreal, Tyler Toffoli was a fan favorite.

He’s best remembered for his first season in a Habs uniform, and rightly so.

After all, the sniper scored 28 goals in 52 games (shortened season), which equates to a 44-goal pace in a full 82-game season.

The veteran will be as free as a bird this summer, and many wonder where he’ll start the next campaign.

Peter Baugh (The Athletic) mentioned the Rangers in a recent article…

But Arpon Basu wondered whether the possibility of a return to Montreal is on the table.

The journalist believes that Kent Hughes should do his homework and call the player’s agent to see if there’s any interest:

Four years isn’t far-fetched, although I think it’s a little longer than the Habs would like for a free agent.

If he’s willing to accept a four-year contract, then yes, Kent Hughes should at least inquire. – Arpon Basu

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The guys at Habs and NHL also wrote about this, referring to the fact that Toffoli was in Ireland recently with CH players to celebrate Jake Evans’ wedding.

The connection is easy to make because Toffoli’s wife has repeatedly said that the couple loved their time in town.

The player made chums in the locker room, his wife is from Montreal…

And it fits in with Kent Hughes’ needs, who’s looking to add a guy who can score goals to his line-up.

Tyler Toffoli is 32 years old and scored 33 goals last season with the Devils and Jets.

That said, adding him to the Habs’ lineup would add some offensive talent and, more importantly, we’re talking about a guy who has won the Stanley Cup in the past with the Kings.

From the standpoint that the Habs need a player like him, it’s a good idea. But as Arpon Basu pointed out in his podcast with Marc Antoine Godin, the price has to be right too…

And Kent Hughes shouldn’t fall into the trap either. The Canadiens’ GM wants to improve his club so that it’s more competitive next year, but he mustn’t handcuff himself to the salary for the next few years.

Because that’s what worries me about Toffoli: right now, he still has some value.

But Toffoli isn’t the biggest skater, and players like him aren’t as dominant at the age of 34-35-36 because they’re no longer advancing…

Is the “risk” worth it, even knowing that the salary cap will continue to rise over the next few years?

That’s the main question.

Overtime

– Speaking of Jake Evans’ wedding :

– Happy reading.

– He did the right thing.

– It would make sense.

– Coming up.