Nick Suzuki has now proved he can be a legitimate first center on an NHL team, but the Montreal Canadiens still need to find a real second-line center. Kent Hughes has tried to address the issue a couple of times with the acquisition of Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, but neither showed up to the task.
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Perhaps Dach could have done it had he stayed healthy, but given how the Canadiens are progressing, the GM cannot afford to wait and see anymore. His young core has shown it’s ready to take the next step, and having a real second-line would go a long way towards achieving that.
One particular pending unrestricted free agent would be an excellent option: Sam Bennett. The 28-year-old former fourth overall pick by the Calgary Flames has been a significant part of the Florida Panthers’ success in recent years.
While he has never scored more than 51 points in the regular season, he shines brightly in the playoffs. His last three postseasons are proof of just how clutch he can be. In 2022-23, he put up 15 points in 20 games, then 14 points in 19 duels in 2023-24, and nine points in 10 games this year.
It’s not just the points; it’s the attitude, the sandpaper, and the intimidation factor. The six-foot-one and 193-pound center plays a big game and, sometimes, a game that toes the line. Remember that discreet hit to Anthony Stolarz’s head that went unnoticed by the referees? Like it or not, it was a turning point in the series.
Does Sam Bennett deserve a hearing with @NHLPlayerSafety for his collision with Stolarz? pic.twitter.com/B7LonzNEkG
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 6, 2025
And what about that brawl at the 4 Nations Face-Off with Brady Tkachuk? Bennet is a hard-nosed player who can get very physical but is still talented enough to exploit his winger’s potential fully, see what he has done with Carter Verhaeghe. Something tells me he could work wonders with Patrick Laine and Ivan Demidov.
As things stand, Bennet is in the last year of a four-season pact with a $ 4,425,000 cap hit. Undoubtedly, he’ll be due for a raise, but that raise won’t be as high as a point-per-game player raise. Some players get you to the playoffs, like Laine, according to Hughes, but some players allow you to be successful in the postseason, and Bennett is one of those.
As a soon-to-be 29-year-old, he’s not exactly young, and there’s a chance that he might not be as efficient in the later years of a long-term contract, but if his performances in the early years allowed the Canadiens to reach new heights, wouldn’t it be worth it?
Enticing free agents to come to Montreal hasn’t been easy, but now Hughes has a few new cards in his hand, a team that’s ready to take the next step, a respected coach who’s a Jack Adams Trophy nominee and Bennett has seen the Montreal crowd at its best at the Four Nations Face-Off.
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