5 Former Canadiens Still Looking for New Homes in Free Agency – The Hockey Writers – Montreal Canadiens

We are now more than a month removed from the opening of NHL free agency, and most of the biggest names have already found homes for the 2026-27 season. However, there are still plenty of recognizable players available for teams looking to add some depth before training camp.

That list includes several former Montreal Canadiens. Some were important pieces in Montreal for multiple seasons, while others had much shorter stays with the organization. At this point of the summer, none should command significant contracts, but they could still provide value to the right team. Here are five former Canadiens who remain available in free agency.

Patrik Laine

Patrik Laine is easily one of the most intriguing names remaining on the market. The former second-overall pick has always had the talent to be a dangerous offensive weapon. At his best, Laine is one of the league’s most dangerous shooters, having already reached the 40-goal mark earlier in his career.

Unfortunately, injuries and inconsistency have made it difficult for him to regain that level. His time in Montreal showed both sides of the equation. There were stretches where Laine’s shot, particularly on the power play, could completely change a game. There were also injuries and questions about what he could provide at five-on-five.

At this stage, teams are unlikely to make a major financial commitment to him. However, a one-year contract could make plenty of sense. For a team needing additional scoring and power-play help, Laine represents a relatively low-risk opportunity to add a player with legitimate goal-scoring upside.

Jonathan Drouin

Jonathan Drouin‘s career has taken another interesting turn since leaving Montreal. After his Canadiens tenure ended, Drouin joined the Colorado Avalanche and found some success alongside former Halifax Mooseheads teammate Nathan MacKinnon. He eventually left Colorado last summer to sign with the New York Islanders.

His stay on Long Island did not last very long. Drouin was traded to the St. Louis Blues at the deadline before seeing his contract bought out at the end of the season, putting him back on the free-agent market. Drouin is no longer the young forward Montreal acquired in 2017 with hopes of turning him into a franchise offensive piece, but his skill and playmaking ability could still make him an interesting depth addition. On a cheap, short-term contract, a team looking for secondary offense could give the 31-year-old another opportunity. A reunion back to Colorado could very well be an option here.

Jeff Petry

It has now been several years since Jeff Petry was a major part of the Canadiens’ blue line, but the veteran defenseman continues to hang around the NHL. Petry spent eight seasons with Montreal after being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in 2015. At his best, he was a legitimate top-four defenseman who could contribute offensively while playing significant minutes.

Those days are behind him, but that does not necessarily mean his NHL career has to be over. Petry could still be an option for a team searching for an experienced right-handed defenseman to compete for a bottom-pairing role. If nothing materializes before camp, Petry could also become an interesting professional tryout (PTO) candidate.

Mike Reilly

Another former Canadiens defenseman still searching for a home is Mike Reilly. Reilly played a couple of seasons with the Canadiens between 2017 and 2020 and has since bounced around the league as a useful depth defenseman.

That is probably the role he would be looking to fill again in 2026-27. Reilly can move the puck and provide some offense from the back end, making him an interesting option as a sixth or seventh defenseman. He is not someone a team should expect to play major minutes every night, but having an experienced defenseman capable of stepping into the lineup when injuries occur has value over an 84-game season.

Evgenii Dadonov

Finally, there is Evgenii Dadonov. Dadonov’s stay in Montreal was brief. He played 50 games with the Canadiens during the 2022-23 season before being traded to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Denis Gurianov.

Despite being well into his 30s, Dadonov has remained a useful offensive depth player since leaving Montreal. He is not going to drive a team’s offense, but he has plenty of NHL experience and can still contribute in a bottom-six role. For a contender looking to add another experienced winger without spending much money, Dadonov could be worth considering.

At this point of the offseason, opportunities are becoming harder to find. Laine, Drouin, Petry, Reilly and Dadonov may have to accept smaller roles and cheaper contracts than they would have earlier in their careers, but all five could still have something to offer an NHL team in 2026-27.