In Montreal, Stu Cowan wrote Canadiens GM Kent Hughes “isn’t concerned about his ability to attract free agents to Montreal in the future.” There are “many reasons” NHL players might not want to come to Montreal, including the weather, language, taxes and because the Canadiens “are still in a rebuilding phase.” Cowan also noted the franchise is “also competing against American teams that have no state income tax where they play.” But, Hughes can “make the Canadiens a better team,” which he believes “would make them more attractive to free agents.” Hughes said, “Knowing what I know about Montreal, if I were a player I’d want to be in Montreal and I’m confident we can do that” (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 7/2).
LETTING GO: In Las Vegas, Jack Williams wrote it is “hard to think about the Golden Knights without [LW Jonathan] Marchessault,” who has “been a staple since the start of the franchise and someone who imbued the team with much of its energy on a daily basis.” Williams wonders because of that, why “is the most golden of knights being exiled from the kingdom?” It is “in part because Vegas got too risky with the salary cap.” Now there is a “lingering sense of betrayal in cutting him loose” after he “helped build the franchise into what it’s become.” Williams wrote, “No matter who Vegas can finish out of free agency, this was a failure. Marchessault wanted to retire a Golden Knight, and he should have been granted that wish” (LAS VEGAS SUN, 7/2).
PATH TO NOWHERE: In Pittsburgh, Paul Zeise wrote the Penguins “are the ultimate example of a team stuck in mediocrity that has no clear path out anytime soon,” mostly because of the “way they have handled the last few seasons.” The front office has had to try to “rebuild” around the “800-pound elephant in the room,” which is that they “must continue to try to win to keep the stars happy.” Zeise wrote it is a model “that has run its course but one that has led to a number of bad decisions” in terms of signing older guys to try to “win now.” Ziese noted there is this “irrational fear” that trading or moving on from D Kris Letang and C Evgeni Malkin would mean “the end of the franchise or something.” Now it is “too late to move on from Letang and Malkin” because they both have no-trade clauses and both “have made it clear they want to finish their careers with [C Sidney] Crosby and vice versa” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 7/2).
