Summer 2025: Here’s a portrait of the players who will need a new contract

As of yesterday morning, three Canadiens players have signed new contracts.

We’re talking about Arber Xhekaj, Justin Barron and Kaiden Guhle.

Now that it’s done, the picture is much clearer for the summer of 2025. And even though it’s a year away, it’s still relevant to draw up a portrait of the players who will need a contract next summer.

Up front, no fewer than six “regular” players will see their respective contracts expire next summer.

They are :

Christian Dvorak (UFA)
Joel Armia (UFA)
Jake Evans (UFA)
Rafaël Harvey-Pinard (RFA)
Michael Pezzetta (UFA)
Alex Barré-Boulet (UFA)

The list above includes players who will not be returning to Montreal for the 25-26 season.

I’d put $5 on the fact that Jake Evans has an excellent chance of being here for the first game of the 25-26 campaign, but I’m a bit skeptical about the rest.

Especially if the other players mentioned don’t find a way to be indispensable in Martin St-Louis’ line-up…

MONTREAL, CANADA – APRIL 4: Martin St-Louis head coach of the Montreal Canadiens looks on during the warm-up of the NHL regular season game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Bell Centre on April 4, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Vitor Munhoz/NHLI via Getty Images)
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The picture is also beginning to look brighter on defense, as Kent Hughes has already settled three important matters with the signings of Guhle, Barron and Xhekaj.

That said, among the regulars, only David Savard, Jordan Harris and Jayden Struble will be out of contract next summer… And on the goaltending front, Cayden Primeau and Jakub Dobes will also need a new deal.

All in all, Kent Hughes will have his work cut out for him, because now is the perfect time to be aggressive on the market.

The youngsters will be more mature, the club should have progressed… And Kent Hughes will have a lot to live up to in terms of salary.

Including the salaries of the regular players already under contract on July 1, 2025, the Habs should have a payroll of around $60 million (not including Carey Price’s contract)… And that’ll leave all the room in the world for Kent Hughes to move.

Especially since the salary cap is going up in the NHL…

All of which is to say that next summer promises to be an exciting one for fans.

Ivan Demidov is expected to arrive in town, and the Canadiens’ GM will have everything he needs to make one or two big moves on the market.

He’ll have room on his payroll, and in the event he doesn’t have the option of trading a defenseman at some point, he’ll also have the manpower to make a move.

Sounds promising!

Overtime

– Canada will be well represented behind the bench!

Four assistant coaches have joined Jon Cooper’s staff for the #4Nations Face-Off.

Four assistant coaches have joined Jon Cooper’s staff for the #4Nations Face-Off.

Bruce Cassidy
Peter DeBoer
Rick Tocchet
Misha Donskov@NHL | @LNH_FR | @NHLPA

– Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) July 31, 2024

– All means good!

Rangers defenseman prospect EJ Emery has an interesting way of getting the hands ready before today’s game vs. Finland at the World Junior Summer Showcase. pic.twitter.com/dqNrfM2xr4

– Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) July 31, 2024