Even before free agency begins, Sergei Bobrovsky has given the Canadiens and Martin St-Louis yet another Atlantic Division headache.
With July 1st quickly approaching, Kent Hughes is directly affected by Montreal’s negative news.
According to Hockey Forever, negotiations between Bobrovsky and the Toronto Maple Leafs are moving in an obvious direction. If that reporting is correct, Toronto might find its new starter as early as tomorrow.
Even though Bobrovsky is 37 years old, his résumé is still impressive. He has won the Vezina Trophy twice, and Toronto has spent years trying to find a single goalkeeper who can settle the crease.
Montreal’s Atlantic race is becoming more competitive due to trade talks involving Bobrovsky.
They don’t simply gain name value if the Maple Leafs succeed in doing this. They respond to the biggest issue with their roster in one motion.
For Hughes and the Canadiens, this is terrible news as a result. A seasoned goaltender with that kind of resume immediately shifts the mood, and Toronto is already in the same division battle.
The whispered request is hefty, coming in at approximately $42 million for a period of six or seven years. Although this file is thought to indicate that Toronto may be prepared to make such a move, it is a brave figure.
This also arrives at a bad time for Montreal since the remainder of the East hasn’t been silent. In a fast-paced attempt to bulk up, the Florida Panthers acquired Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch while the Washington Capitals added Brady Tkachuk.
So, the board is simultaneously moving. The Maple Leafs may soon address their net, while the Panthers have become stronger in front and the Capitals quicker and deeper.
In Brossard, development camp is still ongoing within Montreal’s orbit, but the real strain is above the ice. Hughes now has a division that is not giving anyone a soft landing, a division that is giving nobody a soft landing, expectations, and cap room.
As a result, the Canadiens place a lot of importance on the start of free agency. Standing still would send the wrong message when their competitors are putting chips in.
In Toronto, Bobrovsky has not yet officially been confirmed. But the warning is already loud enough for Montreal.
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