The Montreal Canadiens look like a legitimate playoff contender heading into 2025-26. Montreal made its first playoff appearance since 2021 last season. Though they lost to the Washington Capitals, the Habs put in a very good account of themselves. And they did not rest on their laurels this offseason.
Montreal made a significant trade this summer. Forward Emil Heineman and two first-round picks were sent to the New York Islanders. In exchange, the Habs acquired defenseman Noah Dobson. Dobson immediately signed an eight-year contract extension once the trade went through.
The Canadiens have a very good roster, and should be a contender once again this season. However, this team certainly isn’t perfect. Montreal can stand to make one more notable move before the 2025-26 NHL season begins.
Montreal specifically could look to add a center. The Canadiens have Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook competing for the second-line center role. These are fine players, but Montreal can upgrade its center depth behind team captain Nick Suzuki.
There are some trade candidates out there that make sense. And they could be had within Montreal’s price range. Heavy.com is proposing the following trade between the Habs and the Nashville Predators:
Montreal Canadiens acquire: Ryan O’Reilly
Nashville Predators acquire: Kirby Dach and a conditional 2026 second-round pick that becomes a first-round pick if the Canadiens make the Eastern Conference Finals and O’Reilly plays 50% of the games.
Ryan O’Reilly Is An Incredibly Dependable Player
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesRyan O’Reilly would be an invaluable member of the Montreal Canadiens.
O’Reilly is certainly getting up there in age. And that’s a concern for the Canadiens. However, they have the ability to make this trade without sacrificing too much. This deal allows them to wait for star prospect Owen Beck to become NHL-ready.
It doesn’t hurt that O’Reilly is a very good player, as well. The 34-year-old has become one of the most reliable players in the NHL. He is especially reliable in the defensive end of the ice. However, his offense has also come around in recent seasons.
O’Reilly signed with the Predators in 2023. In his two seasons with Nashville, he has scored 47 goals and 122 points in 161 games. This includes a 26-goal season during a 2023-24 campaign in which he played all 82 games.
The veteran forward could come and play an invaluable role for the Canadiens. He could serve as a mentor for some of the team’s youngest players. Moreover, he could help generate offense for those young stars on the ice. All in all, he would represent a fantastic fit for a Habs team actively trying to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Canadiens Make Tough Decision With Kirby Dach
This proposed trade sees Montreal trade Dach to the Predators. And it’s a tough decision for this team to make. Dach has a lot of potential in the NHL. However, he has struggled massively with injuries over the last few seasons.
The Canadiens need to make a decision at the end of 2025-26. The 24-year-old Dach is a restricted free agent next summer. And in 2027, he’s an unrestricted free agent. Montreal needs to decide if they want to extend him, or make a move to improve the team now.
Montreal is not in a position to wait and see. However, the Predators certainly have the ability to see what Dach can do. Dach could play high in the lineup and lean on some of the veteran wingers around him. It could be a very beneficial move for him at this point in his career.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Intriguing Canadiens Trade Pitch Adds Reliable $18 Million Star appeared first on Heavy Sports.