The Montreal Canadiens have been aggressively seeking a top-six forward to complement the club’s overall lineup depth. Rumors suggest the Canadiens want a center. However, that has proven to be a tough assignment.
Instead, Montreal is believed to be willing to trade for a top-six winger. If the price is right, the Habs could pull the trigger on a deal to add depth to the club’s promising forward group. One forward that has recently emerged in trade rumors is Chicago Blackhawks veteran Tyler Bertuzzi. The rumors stemmed from an August 11 piece published in The Hockey News.
Bertuzzi signed with the Blackhawks last summer to a four-year deal. He’s now entering the second year of said deal, carrying a $5.5 million cap hit. Considering the Blackhawks are still a rebuilding club, they could be willing to move Bertuzzi for more futures.
That’s an opportunity the Canadiens could take advantage of. So, here’s a look at what this proposed trade could look like:
Canadiens get:
Tyler Bertuzzi, F
Blackhawks get:
2026 second-round pick
2026 fourth-round pick
Joshua Roy, F
Despite Bertuzzi’s track record, it’s unlikely that it lands anything beyond a second-round pick. If the Blackhawks retained salary, they could push for a first-rounder. Since that is unlikely to be the case, the Canadiens can send a second and fourth-round pick as they have two of each in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Additionally, the inclusion of Joshua Roy is a prospect to offset the loss of Bertuzzi in the Blackhawks’ organizational depth.
How Bertuzzi Fits into Canadiens’ Lineup
The Canadiens could use a more experienced, veteran presence in their top six. The top line, currently consisting of captain Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky, looks solid. But it’s the second line that could use some more support.
Assuming Kirby Dach is healthy and able to contribute, it’s the wings where an upgrade could come. Also, assuming Ivan Demidov is the real deal, the left wing spot could use a boost. That’s where Bertuzzi could come into the picture.
Bertuzzi is a 20-goal scorer and could add some much-needed punch, grit, and toughness to complement Dach and Demidov. Having an experienced player like Bertuzzi with Demidov is crucial. It’s worth pointing out that Demidov is still adjusting to the North American game. That’s why Bertuzzi provides a measure of protection for the Russian phenom.
Bertuzzi Could Be a Risky Move for Montreal
Adding Tyler Bertuzzi to the mix does not come without risks for the Canadiens. Bertuzzi will be entering his age-30 season and is three seasons removed from his best year. While he’s notched back-to-back 20-goal, 40-point seasons, there may be concerns about his underlying performance.
His Corsi dropped from 53.70 in 2023-24 to 43.2 in 2024-25. His ice time also dropped slightly, while his goals-for percentage plummeted from 55.10 to 37.60. That drop could be the result of playing on a team like the Blackhawks. So, there might be room to believe his metrics could improve with the Canadiens.
But then again, these numbers may be an indication that a decline is forthcoming. As such, having Bertuzzi for three seasons at $5.5 million may not be the wisest investment. Still, it’s a risk the Canadiens should at least explore if such an opportunity emerges.
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