The Montreal Canadiens have a need for a second-line center, and a trade idea has them acquiring a future Hall of Famer.
Heavy.com proposed a deal that would see the Canadiens acquire Evgeni Malkin from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a blockbuster.
Canadiens acquire:
Penguins acquire:
- Kirby Dach
- 2025 second-round pick
The proposed deal would be a blockbuster as Montreal would acquire Malkin to be their second-line center for a young forward and a second-round pick.
The Canadiens would acquire Malkin, who’s entering the final year of his four-year, $24.2 million deal. Although the Russian forward is turning 39 at the end of July, he is still an effective player and would add some veteran leadership to the lineup. Malkin recorded 16 goals and 34 assists for 50 points in 68 games. He helped the Penguins win three Stanley Cups and won MVP in 2012, and is a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
In return, the Canadiens would give up one of their two second-round pick as well as Dach. Dach is entering the final year of his four-year, $13.45 million deal. He was drafted third overall in 2019, but he has dealt with injuries. Dach recorded 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 57 games last season. The young forward would fit in nicely with the Penguins’ rebuilding core.
Canadiens Linked to Malkin
Malkin is entering the final year of his deal, and his name has come up in trade rumors.
The Penguins won’t offer Malkin an extension, and one NHL executive believes he will get traded and links the Canadiens to trading for him.
“Or he gets traded, gets a chance to earn an extension somewhere else, or increases his value for the free agent market next year,” an NHL executive said to RG.org. “That would send a real message. This is a full-out rebuild in Pittsburgh, and fuel (Sidney) Crosby rumors even more. But maybe it’s best for all involved. I mean, would a team like Montreal be interested in him as a mentor for (Ivan) Demidov that can also still play and be a stopgap in the middle this season?”
Malkin has been a key member of the Penguins roster since he made his debut in 2006. But, with Pittsburgh looking to begin a full-out rebuild, his name has come up in trade rumors.
Canadiens GM Wants to be Aggressive
Montreal made the playoffs last season and is looking to build on that.
The Canadiens have had an active offseason, trading for Noah Dobson and Zachary Bolduc. The team also recently signed former first-round pick Joe Veleno.
Although Montreal has done quite a bit, Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes is open to making more moves.
“My focus is more so on what we can do to build a team that’s capable of competing for the Stanley Cup,” Hughes said… “The reality is, we’re not going to put the perfect team together over the course of one summer. We recognize we have other things we’d like to accomplish.”
Montreal is set to open its 2025-26 NHL season on Oct. 8 on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Habs’ home opener is set for Oct. 14 against the Seattle Kraken.
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