The Montreal Canadiens are currently struggling with several injury concerns, particularly at the center position, with both Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach out of play. The team faced difficulties enhancing their roster as they recently missed out on signing veteran center David Kemp, who has been dealing with injury problems himself and was available as a free agent.
According to Pierre LeBrun from The Athletic, the Canadiens were among the teams interested in Kemp before he ultimately agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Vancouver Canucks. LeBrun noted, “They tried David Kemp, but the veteran free agent center chose Vancouver last weekend.”
It’s clear why the Canadiens sought Kemp, as they need additional depth in their center lineup. However, with Kemp now with the Canucks, Montreal will have to look for other options. Kemp became an unrestricted free agent after mutually ending his contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Prior to this, he appeared in four games for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies this season, tallying one assist. Shortly after entering the free agent market, he signed with Vancouver.
Had the Canadiens secured Kemp, he would have been a valuable asset to the bottom six forward group and an effective penalty killer thanks to his strong defensive skills. Kemp’s faceoff win rate has been 50.9% or better in seven of the last eight NHL seasons, which would have helped Montreal greatly in that aspect. Throughout his NHL career, Kemp has played in 537 games, scoring 48 goals, 95 assists for a total of 143 points, along with 243 takeaways.
Fan Take: This development is significant for hockey fans as it highlights how injuries and free agency moves can heavily impact team strategies and player dynamics. Montreal missing out on Kemp might shift the competitive balance in the NHL, especially since depth and defensive play down the middle are crucial in high-stakes games.
