It’s no secret that the Montreal Canadiens are out to fill out their top six this offseason. The prevailing chatter has linked the Habs to a second-line center. But given the absence of one available either in free agency or via trade, the club is willing to settle on a scoring winger.
That approach could open up various options for the Canadiens to add a solid goal-scoring top-six forward. One player that comes to mind is Nashville Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault.
Marchessault signed with the Predators last offseason after scoring a career-high 41 goals with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023-24. However, Marchessault had a subpar season last year, scoring just 21 for the Preds. As such, trade speculation has ramped up surrounding the 34-year-old winger.
Perhaps a change of scenery could be what Marchessault needs to get back on track. So, a trade to the Montreal Canadiens could be just what he needs.
Here’s a look at what the trade could look like:
Canadiens get:
Jonathan Marchessault, F
2026 second-round pick
Predators get:
2026 second-round pick
2026 fourth-round pick
In this trade proposal, the Canadiens would be sending two draft picks for Marchessault given the team’s reluctance to trade prospects or current roster players. Considering the Canadiens could move Carey Price’s contract to LTIR, the team would have enough cap space to add Marchessault without going over the ceiling.
Canadiens Do Predators a Favor by Taking Marchessault off their Hands
The Canadiens would be doing the Predators somewhat of a favor by taking Jonathan Marchessault’s contract off their hands.
Marchessault’s $5.5 million cap hit for the next four seasons is an albatross for them at the moment. If the Predators are serious about rebuilding, they’ll want to get out from under that cap hit.
So, the Predators could be willing to let Marchessault go for a couple of draft picks. Of course, the price could change if there’s salary retention involved. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case at the moment.
How Marchessault fits into Habs’ lineup
Meanwhile, Marchessault could be a calculated gamble for the Canadiens. According to Daily Faceoff, the Habs’ second line features Kirby Dach down the middle with rookie sensation Ivan Demidov and Zack Bolduc on the wings. Marchessault would be a solid upgrade over Bolduc. He’s a proven goal scorer who could return to his former 40-goal self.
Additionally, the Canadiens could have question marks regarding injuries. Patrik Laine missed time last season with assorted injuries. Dach’s status is also in question for this upcoming season.
As such, Marchessault provides depth. The Canadiens will need all the depth they can get, especially if Laine goes down at some point this upcoming season.
The risk, naturally, is that Marchessault doesn’t work out. But even if the Habs get another 20-goal season from Marchessault, cap hit notwithstanding, it’s still more than they could expect from other players in the lineup.
Ultimately, adding Jonathan Marchessault is a calculated risk the Canadiens should be willing to explore. If the opportunity presents itself, the Habs should at least kick the tires on the veteran forward.
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