Following Saturday night’s game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Columbus Blue Jackets, journalist Renaud Lavoie highlighted a potential offseason move that has many fans intrigued: including rookie forward Mathieu Olivier into the Canadiens roster.
Interviewed on TVA Sports, Lavoie reiterated that he thinks the Montreal Canadiens should court Olivier as a free agent next summer when he will be on the market as an unrestricted free agent. The suggestion? A $2 million contract for the 27-year-old enforcer with the onions of an impact player and the skills of a second liner.
Olivier has certainly been one of Columbus’ most valuable players this season, not only because of his presence on the ice but his scoring abilities as well, scoring 5 goals and tallying 7 points in 17 games – a strong performance for a player of this role. Lavoie said that although Olivier is characterized as being hard as nails, he is much more than just a fighter. Indeed, when Rick Nash became a member of the Blue Jackets management team one of the changes he recommended was that Olivier be in the line up many times in order to make life easier for younger players by having the dour presence of Olivier around.
According to Lavoie, the signing of Olivier may well make a significant difference for the club in Montreal. “I think it’ll be $2 million well spent,” Lavoie said, optimistically thanks to it helping to alleviate some of the physical pressure taken by Arber Xhekaj, who has become the Canadiens’ go-to tough guy. If Olivier was with them, Xhekaj wouldn’t be the only one doing the dirty work for the team. Lavoie also pointed out how Olivier is a fun guy, a character guy who’d be very popular in Montreal as well as a guy that’d bring some sandpaper.
This signing opportunity is particularly exciting because Olivier is only 27 and he will be playing close to home. For the Canadiens, a team that is still on the construction phase and focusing on youth and farm team, a player like Olivier could check all stress, starting from the physical approach to leadership and going through the depth of the team.
When Xhekaj clashed with Olivier after one of their previous fights, the two exchanged few friendly words, proving that despite giving no mercy on the ice both players respect one another.
Do I like the idea? Absolutely. Signing a player such as Mathieu Olivier may very well be what the Canadiens lack to help provide that aspect of physicality as well as add a fighter to the club’s bottom-line offence. If the contract is reasonable, it may be a very wise decision for Kent Hughes and the Canadiens going into the next season.
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