The Montreal Canadiens have a need for a centerman and could look at a division rival Florida Panthers, to help fix that.
Heavy.com proposed a deal that would see the Canadiens acquire Evan Rodrigues from the Panthers in a cap dump for Florida.
Canadiens acquire:
Panthers acquire:
- 2026 third-round pick
- 2026 third-round pick (New Jersey)
The Canadiens would acquire Rodrigues, whose name has come up in trade talks as Florida looks to clear some cap space. Montreal, meanwhile, has three third-round picks in 2026. So they deal their own and New Jersey’s while holding onto Boston’s in the deal.
Rodrigues has two years left on his four-year, $12 million deal and would be a perfect third-line center for the Canadiens. Rodrigues was a key part of the Panthers’ winning back-to-back Stanley Cups. But, he could be dealt after Florida brought back Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand.
Rodrigues recorded 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points in 82 games last season. In the playoffs, he had 2 goals and 13 assists for 15 points in 21 games.
Florida, meanwhile, is just over $2 million over the salary cap, so moving Rodrigues would put them under the cap. The Panthers would also get two third-round picks they could use the draft picks as trade chips at the deadline if needed.
Insider: Canadiens Will be Aggressive to Add Another Forward
Montreal was the youngest team to make the playoffs last season and is looking to add talent to the roster.
The Canadiens have a need for a forward, and NHL insider Frank Seravalli revealed on June 25 that Montreal is looking to be aggressive in adding some forwards.
“I think that they’re trying to make something happen. I think they’ve been pretty aggressive to this point and have been striking out. They’re willing to deal from a position of depth,” Seravalli said on DailyFaceoff Live. “They’ve got lots of picks. They’ve got lots of prospects. They also have a lot of defensemen. So, they’re willing to be aggressive to try and go out and land something. I think Kent Hughes has been pounding the pavement on that for two to three weeks now and hasn’t really gotten anywhere.”
The Canadiens did make one move for a forward on July 1, acquiring Zachary Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux.
Bolduc is 22 and was drafted 17th overall in 2021. He recorded 19 goals and 17 assists for 36 points in 72 games last season. Mailloux, meanwhile, was drafted 31st overall in 2021. He didn’t have a clear path to playing time after Montreal acquired Noah Dobson.
Panthers Could Shop Rodrigues
After Florida brought back their three key free agents, the Panthers may have to trade away some players.
NHL insider Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet named Rodrigues as a trade candidate to clear some cap.
“Evan Rodrigues is being contemplated as a trade candidate,” Kypreos wrote. “The 31-year-old was a productive member on back-to-back Stanley Cup winners (15 points in both playoff runs) and makes $3 million against the cap for another two seasons.”
With Florida needing to clear cap space, Rodrigues’ name has been brought up as the most likely to be dealt.
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