Xavier Ouellet is a 24-year-old left-handed defenceman, who was not qualified by the Detroit Red Wings after this season. He’s only had two seasons where he’s played more than 40 games at the NHL level, and despite decent underlying numbers, the cap strapped Red Wings chose to let him hit the free agent market for this upcoming weekend. While he wouldn’t alleviate the jam the Canadiens have on their left side, a reunion with his old QMJHL coaches might just be the thing to get Ouellet’s career back on the right track.
Let’s get right down to brass tacks, the Canadiens very much have a logjam on their left side of the defence, and it ranges from young, but unproven, to mediocre at best.