The Montreal Canadiens are looking to add a second-line center, which remains the team’s biggest need.
The Canadiens’ current second-line center is Kirby Dach, but injuries throughout his career have plagued him, so Montreal may have to add another center. Ahead of the start of the season, NHL insider James Murphy of RG.org reports that the Canadiens are shopping three young forwards in search of a center.
“The source said that Canadiens forward prospects Joshua Roy and Oliver Kapanen, as well as defenseman Jayden Struble, are names that continue to be bantered about in NHL trade chatter regarding the Canadiens’ search for a second-line center,” Murphy wrote.
A report came out earlier this summer that the Canadiens are shopping Roy, so his name isn’t a surprise. Struble, however, is a young defenseman who should have plenty of interest in him. Kapanen, meanwhile, is a young center who hasn’t been able to carve out a full-time role.
Struble is entering the first year of his two-year, $2.825 million deal with the Canadiens. The 24-year-old defenseman skated in 56 games, recording 2 goals and 11 assists for 13 points.
Kapanen, meanwhile, was a second-round pick in 2021, and he skated in 18 games last season, recording 2 points. He did skate in 3 playoff games, but the 22-year-old isn’t guaranteed a roster spot this season, which is why the Canadiens could trade him.
Roy, meanwhile, is 22 and has skated in 35 career games, recording 6 goals and 5 assists. He projects to be a bottom-six forward in the NHL.
Canadiens Interested in Pavel Zacha
As Montreal looks to add a second-line center, the Canadiens have been linked to adding one from a rival.
Murphy reports that the Canadiens are among the NHL teams that have called the Boston Bruins about trading for Pavel Zacha.
“The Canadiens definitely have interest in Zacha and have inquired about him, but they’re not the only team,” the source told RG recently. “Several teams — I’m told the Flames are one — continue to express interest in him.”
Murphy reports that a trade isn’t imminent, but different scenarios and packages have been discussed. If a trade happens, it would be a surprise that the two arch rivals finally made a deal.
“The fact that the Bruins’ most bitter rival, the Canadiens, is pursuing Zacha, though, is intriguing. While the Bruins traded the 69th overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft to the Canadiens for picks 79 and 108 this past June, this would be the first hockey trade between the two rivals involving a current NHL roster player since February 21, 2001,” Murphy wrote.
Zacha has two years left on his four-year, $19 million deal. He recorded 14 goals and 23 assists for 47 points in 82 games last season.
Montreal Could be Active After Carey Price Trade
The Canadiens traded the final year of Carey Price’s contract to the San Jose Sharks so the Habs could go under the salary cap.
Montreal doesn’t need to use LTIR, which will allow them to accrue cap space throughout the season. With that, NHL insider James Wilson of NHLTradeRumors expects the Canadiens to be active in trade talks.
“Shedding Price’s contract ensures Montreal won’t be handcuffed by LTIR gymnastics each year. Instead, Hughes and Jeff Gorton can accrue space and make aggressive deadline moves without jeopardizing development,” Wilson wrote. “Extensions are also on the horizon. Most notably for Lane Hutson, who will command a deal reflective of his rising value.”
The Canadiens have just over $4.5 million in cap space.
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