Montreal Canadiens’ 5 Worst Free Agent Signings Since 2000 – The Hockey Writers – Canadiens History

Since the turn of the century, the Montreal Canadiens have made a number of bold moves in the pursuit of building a championship-calibre roster. While some signings have paid off in spades, others have quickly turned into costly mistakes. Whether due to underperformance, injuries, or simply poor fits, certain free-agent acquisitions have left Habs fans shaking their heads in disbelief. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Montreal’s five worst free agent signings since 2000.

5 – The Mike Hoffman Experience

In the summer of 2021, Marc Bergevin signed forward Mike Hoffman to a three-year, $13.5 million contract. The team was looking for a consistent goal-scoring winger to bolster their offense, and Hoffman, a proven sniper with a lethal shot, seemed like an ideal fit. Coming off a strong stint with the St. Louis Blues, where he scored 17 goals in 52 games during the pandemic-shortened season, Hoffman appeared to be the missing piece for a Habs squad that had made a deep playoff run in 2021.

However, the reality of Hoffman’s tenure in Montreal has not lived up to the hype. While he has remained a steady contributor in terms of goal-scoring, with 15 goals in his first season and 14 in his second, the overall impact on the team has been underwhelming. His defensive play has often been a liability and his inconsistency on both ends of the ice has drawn criticism.

4 – Lots of Money for an Enforcer

The Canadiens’ decision to sign Georges Laraque to a three-year, $4.5 million contract in 2008 came at a time when the team was looking to add more physicality and toughness to a roster that had been known for its speed and skill. However, Laraque’s time in Montreal turned out to be a disappointment. Despite his tough reputation, he rarely made a meaningful impact on the ice. Over the course of his three-year contract, Laraque only registered a goal and four assists in 61 games. His role as an enforcer wasn’t as impactful as the Canadiens had hoped, and his limited offensive production didn’t justify his $1.5 million annual cap hit.

3 – Too Much for a Veteran

After the Canadiens signed Daniel Brière to a two-year, $8 million contract in 2013, hopes were high that the veteran forward could provide a spark for a team that had just finished first in the Atlantic Division. Brière, known for his playoff heroics with the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers, was expected to offer scoring depth and…