Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette: The Montreal Canadiens were $8 million under the salary cap ceiling for a second consecutive season. GM Marc Bergevin has the go-ahead from ownership to spend the cap next year.
“One-hundred-per-cent yes,” the GM said. “I always have permission to go to the cap. I always keep a small cushion, but I do have it and I’m willing to go there.”
Free agents who might be available include Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene and Jeff Skinner. There is no guarantee that any of those players are interested in playing in Montreal.