At least one person in Quebec believes Jeremy Lauzon should join the Canadiens’ third pair if he hits the free market this summer.
On Saturday, Marc-Olivier Beaudoin, an analyst, made the presentation. Beaudoin wants Lauzon, who will become a UFA if Vegas does not re-sign him, in Montreal the next season.
He created a detailed scouting report. At 29 years old, he stands 6 feet 3 inches tall, weighs 225 pounds, and distributes hits like Halloween candy while putting his body in front of pucks.
Montreal has been pursuing that kind of player specifically throughout the offseason.
Examine the pattern. Lauzon is the most recent, followed by Knies’ pursuit and Ristolainen’s near-miss. Kent Hughes keeps focusing on snarl, weight, and size.
Lauzon stepping up at the line to flatten a forechecker, then dropping to consume a shot moments later, sells the video stapled to the pitch.
Jeremy Lauzon is the guy I want on the Canadiens’ third pairing starting next season if the Golden Knights don’t re-sign him (he’s set to become a UFA this summer).
He deals out hits like Halloween candy, blocks shots, clears the crease for his goalie, and participates in the penalty killing at 29 years old, 6’3″ and 225 pounds. As an added plus, he’s from Quebec.
I’m not sure what kind of deal he’ll be seeking, but if he’s still on the market on July 1, I hope Kent Hughes calls Pat Brisson, his agent, to see what may happen.
However, he will undoubtedly receive a salary increase on his subsequent contract after completing a four-year contract with an average yearly compensation of $2 million.
Lauzon acts as a bodyguard for Lane Hutson.
The reasoning on the ice is as follows. Behind a blue line that transfers the puck brilliantly and hardly ever hits anyone, Montreal scored 106 points.
Lane Hutson collected 78 points at the age of 22. He is the future. He is also generously listed and gets targeted every time he touches the puck. Skilled defensemen like him need a deterrent two stalls down the bench.
Lauzon is that deterrent. His stat line, 13 points and a minus-3 over 68 games, tells you nothing, because his job was never to score.
The price is the prettiest part. Lauzon played this season on a $2 million cap hit, and third-pair muscle rarely costs much more than that on the open market.
For a team carrying real money up front, a cheap, mean depth defenseman is the definition of a smart shopping trip.
There’s a delicious wrinkle too. Lauzon is in the Stanley Cup Final right now, and he’s the same defenseman William Carrier appeared to hurt himself checking in Game 3. The man invites contact for a living.
Here’s where I land: this is the most sensible Montreal name floated all week, and it would barely dent the cap.
The hold-up is simple. Vegas might just keep him. Pending free agents have a way of never reaching July, and the best targets vanish first.
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