The Montreal Canadiens need a second-line center, and a new trade idea has them making a bold move to acquire one.
Heavy.com has a trade idea that sees the Canadiens acquiring Joel Eriksson-Ek from the Minnesota Wild in a blockbuster deal.
Canadiens acquire:
Wild acquire:
- Mike Matheson
- Owen Beck
- Filip Mesar
- 2026 second-round pick
The proposed deal would be a blockbuster as Montreal would add Eriksson-Ek, who would be the second-line center. Minnesota, meanwhile, would give up an NHL defenseman, two young NHL forwards, and a second-round pick.
Eriksson-Ek has four years left on his eight-year, $42 million deal. Given that Eriksson-Ek is under contract for years, he can be a key part of the core for years to come. He would also add some insurance should Kirby Dach’s recovery take longer than expected. Eriksson-Ek recorded 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points in 46 games.
In return, the Canadiens would give up a second-round pick and Matheson. Matheson’s name has come up in trade talks and would be an impact defenseman for Minnesota. He’s in the final year of his eight-year, $39 million deal. He’s an offensive defenseman who doesn’t have a clear role with the Canadiens.
Montreal would also give up Beck, who projects to be a bottom-six center. Beck is entering the second year of his three-year entry-level deal. He recorded 1 assist in 12 NHL games last season.
The Wild would also take a flier on Mesar, who’s a former first-round pick who hasn’t lived up to the hype. Mesar was selected first-round in 2022 but has struggled to crack the roster. However, he could help replace the void of Eriksson-Ek and be given a middle-six role with Minnesota.
Eriksson-Ek Would Fit a Need for the Canadiens
Eriksson-Ek would be the Canadiens’ second-line center and would fill a major need for the team.
As Montreal is looking to take another step forward and go on a deep playoff run, having a true No. 2 center is key. Currently, Dach projects to be the second-line center, but he’s been injury-prone and he may not be ready for Opening Night, according to Maxime Truman of DansLesCoulisses.
“Five months after his most recent knee surgery and about forty days before the start of training camp, Kirby Dach is still not recovered and ready to play,” Truman wrote… ““Let’s just say that the chances of Dach starting the season at the same time as everyone else is two months are still pretty slim, which is enough to worry those hoping to see the Canadiens make the playoffs in 2026.”
If Dach truly isn’t healthy, the need to acquire another center is even greater. Eriksson-Ek would be one of the top second-line centers in the NHL and would make Montreal that much harder to play against.
Canadiens GM Fine With Center Depth
Although a center has been considered a need for the Canadiens, general manager Kent Hughes is fine with the centers.
Hughes believes the team has plenty of depth at center and it isn’t as big of a need as many think.
“No, I think we’re comfortable. We know we’re not a finished product,” Gorton told RG in a recent exclusive interview when asked if fit was imperative to acquire a new second-line center before the 2025-26 regular season begins. We’re going to still look and try to improve our team always. A lot of people are talking about centers but we have centers in our organization, and we’re comfortable with that going into camp.
However, given that Dach’s health status is now in question, adding another center could be needed.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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