The Montreal Canadiens have just one restricted free agent left to sign before the season begins, and are expected to have that contract finalized in the next few days. Michael McCarron will ink a short-term deal with the Canadiens soon according to Richard Labbe of La Presse, who quotes McCarron’s agent in his latest piece. The 23-year old forward hasn’t yet been able to secure a full-time role with Montreal or pay off on his first-round draft pedigree, but will likely get another chance to do so in 2018-19.
In 18 games last season with the Canadiens, McCarron registered just a single point and was once again lacking any real offensive touch. The 6’6″ forward was drafted 25th-overall in 2013 with expectations that his two-way potential would catch up with his frame, but he’s struggled even in the minor leagues to find any consistency. With just 31 goals in 144 minor league contests, and eight points in his 69 NHL games, there’s not a ton of optimism that McCarron will ever become the power forward and net presence many had hoped. Instead, he’ll have to carve out a different role in a system that is starting to collect more talent up front.
It would be surprising if the “short-term” deal was anything but a one-year contract at this point, and this year might be the last chance McCarron really has to prove he’s an NHL talent. He’ll turn 24 before the season is up, and with younger forwards like Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jake Evans, Will Bitten, Ryan Poehling, Jesse Ylonen and Joni Ikonen getting closer to making an impact at the NHL level there won’t be many opportunities left for aging prospects. Perhaps his best look will be early in the 2018-19 season, if the Canadiens have to start the year without Paul Byron and Andrew Shaw.