The week’s hottest Montreal Canadiens topics and NHL trade rumors served without the sugar-coating and with little concern for bruised feelings.
It has been a remarkably quiet summer in Montreal. Almost suspiciously quiet. But while Kent Hughes has yet to pull the trigger on the kind of major move Canadiens fans have been waiting for, the NHL trade market is far from dead. In fact, with training camps approaching and GMs returning from well deserved holidays, salary-cap problems piling up and several teams needing to make difficult decisions, there are still plenty of opportunities for Hughes to find the right piece to improve his lineup. The clock is ticking, but there are still plenty of bullets left in the chamber.
MONTREAL
According to capwages.com, the Canadiens currently have approximately $11.5 million in projected cap space, but still have restricted free agents Zachary Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj waiting for new contracts.
Meanwhile, Kent Hughes has reportedly spent much of the summer working the phones, looking for exactly what Montreal still appears to need: a legitimate second-line centre or winger and a veteran right-shot defenseman.
In other words, the Canadiens may be quiet, but the rest of the NHL certainly isn’t.
COLUMBUS
It has been a hectic summer for Don Waddell in Columbus. Adam Fantilli remains unsigned as an RFA, while questions continue to surround Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko.
Marchenko has reportedly told the Blue Jackets he does not intend to re-sign after the upcoming season, making him one of those players whose name could become increasingly interesting as the season approaches.
And if you’re Kent Hughes, you probably keep that phone charged.
ANAHEIM
The Ducks have created their own cap headache after matching Philadelphia GM Daniel Briere’s rather aggressive $18 million AAV offer sheet for Leo Carlsson.
Anaheim now has roughly $9 million in cap space, while Cutter Gauthier has reportedly rejected a four-year offer worth $13 million annually.
Something may have to give. Chris Kreider, carrying a $6.5 million cap hit, and/or Alex Killorn at $6.25 million could become candidates to be moved.
https://x.com/GrumpaDotCA/status/2087521307814429142
CAROLINA
Alexander Nikishin remains unsigned, and his name has been floating around the rumour mill all summer. Carolina also tried unsuccessfully to move Jesperi Kotkaniemi and his $4.82 million cap hit, which runs through 2029-30.
The Hurricanes want more room to address their goaltending situation. Sometimes the cap isn’t a problem until you want to fix something else.
DETROIT
Dylan Larkin apparently still wants out of Detroit. The Red Wings, however, reportedly want a first-line centre in return, while none of the teams on Larkin’s approved list appears interested in paying that particular admission fee.
Then there’s Alex DeBrincat, who carries a $7.875 million cap hit and enters the final year of his contract before becoming a UFA.
Detroit could certainly be interesting, although “interesting” is sometimes hockey’s polite way of saying “messy.”
VEGAS
Rumours are circulating that 33-year-old William Karlsson is being dangled. He has one year remaining on his $5.9 million contract and carries a 10-team modified no-trade clause.
The Golden Knights are also reportedly trying to unload goaltender Adin Hill, who carries a $6.25 million AAV through 2030-31.
If Vegas is shopping, Hughes should at least look through the catalogue.
NEW YORK RANGERS
Defenseman Braden Schneider’s name has surfaced in trade rumours this summer. He has one year remaining at a $5.5 million cap hit before becoming an RFA.
A young, right-shot defenseman with NHL experience?
That sounds suspiciously close to something Montreal has been looking for.
MINNESOTA
The Wild are reportedly on Larkin’s list of acceptable destinations, but with less than $4 million in cap space, they would need to send money back to Detroit or shed salary in another transaction first.
And that is where one team’s problem can suddenly become another team’s opportunity.
BOSTON
Pavel Zacha has been a fixture in the rumour mill all summer. He has one year remaining at $4.75 million before becoming a UFA.
Boston has decisions to make. Montreal has needs. Hockey’s trade market has a funny way of putting those two things in the same sentence.
WINNIPEG
The Jets remain difficult to read, but we can’t ignore the continuing rumours surrounding Connor Hellebuyck and his $8.5 million AAV.
The addition of Stuart Skinner at $3.75 million only adds another wrinkle to Winnipeg’s goaltending picture. Hellebuyck’s involvement with the controversial American 4-Nations and World Championship “group chat” certainly hasn’t helped quiet the speculation.
PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh may be approaching the end of an era, whether anyone wants to admit it or not.
Sidney Crosby ($8.7 million), Evgeni Malkin ($5.5 million), Erik Karlsson ($10 million) and Samuel Girard ($5 million) are all entering the final year of their contracts.
That’s an awful lot of star power sitting on one year’s worth of tread.
CALGARY
The Flames need some changes, and several names could become available. Ryan Strome ($5 million) and Morgan Frost ($4.375 million) are both entering the final year of their contracts before becoming UFAs.
Defenseman Zach Whitecloud has two years remaining but has also surfaced in rumours this summer.
For Montreal, a right-shot defenseman like Whitecloud would certainly be worth investigating.
VANCOUVER
Just about everyone on the Canucks roster has been mentioned in trade rumours, but nobody more than Elias Pettersson.
His diminishing production, long-term $11.6 million AAV and Vancouver’s reported high asking price have kept him in British Columbia, at least for now.
Brock Boeser ($7.25 million) and Jake DeBrusk ($5.5 million) have also been regulars on the rumour circuit.
The Canucks may not be selling, but their garage door certainly appears to be open.
SEATTLE
The Kraken are also looking to shake things up this summer.
Philipp Grubauer ($5.9 million), Vince Dunn ($7.35 million) and Jared McCann ($5 million) are all pending UFAs at the end of the upcoming season, while Shane Wright has reportedly been discussed in potential trade scenarios.
Wright is particularly interesting because of his age, pedigree and untapped potential. If Seattle is willing to move him, Hughes would be doing his job badly if he didn’t at least ask the price.
SOMETHING IS COMING
For Canadiens fans, this summer has felt a little like watching a kettle that refuses to boil. Hughes has been quiet, but quiet doesn’t mean inactive.
There are still unsigned RFAs, teams struggling with the salary cap, veteran players entering the final year of their contracts and several organizations looking for ways to reshape their rosters.
Montreal could become involved directly in one of those major moves. It could also become the convenient third party when another team needs to shed salary to make a bigger transaction work.
That’s why I wouldn’t read too much into the silence.
NHL teams must submit their final, cap-compliant opening-day rosters to the NHL Central Registry by September 28, one day before the 2026-27 regular season begins.
As of today, Hughes has 36 days remaining in this off-season to improve the Canadiens. The summer may have been quiet in Montreal. The next few weeks probably won’t be.
RAPID FIRE
📌 Carey Price will be inducted in the the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 9th. The next day, he will have his name added to the prestigious Ring of Honour in a ceremony at the Bell Centre as the Canadiens will be hosting the Minnesota Wild.
📌 While some will argue against it, there are many who feel like Price should receive the honour of having his number retired as well. It’s important to note that the Ring of Honour is composed of players whose names were inducted into the Hall of Fame, and it has no impact on jersey retirement. Read the following to see for yourself why he deserves to be hanging with the greats in the Bell Centre’s rafters.
📌 Rookie sensation Jakub Dobeš is set to start the NHL season as the Canadiens’ starter for the first time in his young career. Of course, in spite of his solid play in the second half of the season and in the playoffs, questions remain about his ability to be an every day starter.
📌 Questions remain about whom, between Samuel Montembeault and Jacob Fowler, should be there to support Dobeš in his quest to prove he is the true number one. Monty struggled last year, even losing his backup spot to Fowler late in the season and in the playoffs.
📌 Former Canadiens’ great Yvon Lambert suffered a serious fall and required surgery after sustaining fractures to both his femur and his hip. Lambert spoke to Dave Stubbs of NHL.com, a good interview. The team at The Sick Podcast want to take this opportunity to wish him a speedy recovery.
📌 Former Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron is a huge fan of Nick Suzuki. In an interview at the Pro-Am Sun Life even in Québec City, he qualified the Canadiens’ player as a franchise player, no less.
📌 For those still hoping to see Michael Hage change his mind and sign his ELC to play for the Habs this season, don’t hold your breath. Even with his younger brother deciding to stay in the OHL this upcoming season, Hage is still planning on returning to Michigan.
📌 NHL teams have until September 15th to sign any of their own players for 8 years. After that, the maximum teams will be able to sign their own players will be 7 years. This could potentially create a deadline for sign-and-trade type deals.
