He does not come with a promised role in the team's lineup and he knows he will have to work hard to keep his starting spot. However, he knows that with a good contribution every night, he can help his team at the #4 center position. If he does his job defensively and plays with energy of course.
A role he has always played in the NHL and has made a career out of killing penalties and winning important face-offs on defense. That's what he sees himself doing on a regular basis with the Habs next year, as he has agreed to a one-season contract.
With the departures of Staal and Danault, that means that for now, we would have a center line of Suzuki, Kotkaniemi, Evans and then Paquette. Unless Ryan Poehling comes in to muddy the waters, but it still looks like something is missing.
In a way, Paquette got a chance to revive his career, as after winning the Stanley Cup with the Lighting in 2020, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators in the off-season and to the Carolina Hurricanes in the middle of the campaign. With 8 points in 47 games last year, it wasn't his best season, but he seems very resilient and ready to do whatever it takes to come back strong.
