NHL free agency 2026: Overpaid contracts and Canadiens' unfinished off‑season tasks

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes still faces a long off‑season to‑do list. As of early July, interim goaltending coach Marco Marciano and forward Martin St‑Louis lack new contracts, goaltender Samuel Montembeault has not been traded, and restricted free agents remain unsigned. The club has retained Ivan Demidov with an extension, added new players to the roster, and is searching for a replacement for former assistant coach Pascal Vincent.

Meanwhile, the 2026 NHL free‑agency market has produced several contracts critics deem overpaid. The Toronto Maple Leafs signed veteran goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to a three‑year, $21 million deal. The San Jose Sharks gave Jacob Trouba a four‑year, $33 million contract, and the Vegas Golden Knights re‑signed Rasmus Andersson to seven years for $59.5 million. Other notable deals include Leo Carlsson’s five‑year, $90 million offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers and Bowen Byram’s six‑year, $75 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.