Michael Frolik would like to be the next member of the Montreal Canadiens, but is the feeling mutual?
According to a report Monday by TVA’s Renaud Lavoie, the unrestricted free agent would prefer to sign with Montreal Wednesday when the NHL’s free market opens.
The 27-year-old Frolik has met with “around 10 teams,” according to Lavoie, since the interview period for NHL free agents opened Thursday.
Frolik, a right winger, is coming off a deal with the Winnipeg Jets that paid him $3.3 million annually. He could conceivably replace winger P.A. Parenteau on the Habs’ roster.
Parenteau cleared waivers Monday and has been bought out by Montreal. Winning the Atlantic Division despite a below-average offence, the Canadiens are expected to make a significant addition to their forward corps this off-season.
Frolik scored 19 goals and added 23 assists in 82 games with Winnipeg in 2014-15, the Czech forward’s best season as a Jet. He was, however, held pointless in the playoffs.
Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press has estimated that Frolik’s agent, Allan Walsh, will be looking to land his client a multi-year commitment in the $5 million-per-season range, which priced the Jets out of the running.
