The Montreal Canadiens are the most storied franchise in NHL history. They have more Stanley Cups than any team in the league. In fact, they have nearly double the number of championships that the Toronto Maple Leafs have. Their championships are more than double the number of the Detroit Red Wings. And the amount of Hall of Famers that have worn the iconic Habs sweater cannot be overstated.
However, the Canadiens have recently fallen on hard times. Montreal made the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, but haven't made the playoffs since. But that could change sometime soon. The Canadiens missed the postseason in 2024, but put in a more than respectable effort this year. With the right moves, Montreal certainly could make a playoff push in 2025.
However, what exactly those right moves are is up for debate. Montreal likely wants to take a step in 2025, but they need to be mindful of their situation. With this in mind, here are two moves the Canadiens must make in NHL Free Agency and through trade this offseason.
Canadiens must keep trading for young, top-six forwards
The Canadiens have established a bit of a trend over the last few seasons. At the 2022 NHL Draft, the Habs made a shocking trade with the Chicago Blackhawks for Kirby Dach. Last summer, they made a trade to acquire Alex Newhook from the Colorado Avalanche. Both deals landed Montreal young, top-six potential forwards while dealing from a position of strength.
To be fair, the trades have been hit or miss. Dach showed promise in his first season with the Habs. He scored 14 goals and 38 points in 58 games. Both marks were career highs. However, he missed all but two games this season with a brutal knee injury. Newhook, meanwhile, scored 15 goals and 34 points in 55 games with the Canadiens this year.
Montreal is interested in making another similar trade this season. And it's certainly understandable why. They are acquiring young talent with NHL experience that can make an immediate impact. Furthermore, they are dealing from their strengths, so they can stomach the costs.
The Canadiens could target a few players this offseason. One player would be Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti. Perfetti scored 19 goals in 71 games this year but Winnipeg appears to have little room for him up the lineup. Montreal has NHL-ready defensemen they could trade to help the Jets deal with potential losses on the blueline.
Adding a player like Perfetti could allow Montreal to capitalize on the potential he has shown. And it gives them another promising player to build around moving forward. The Canadiens could benefit from a move like this, even with the inherently steep cost required to make it.
Canadiens must add veteran scorer
Perhaps talking about adding a veteran is a bit backwards after the previous section. But Montreal can't solely rely on young players. Especially if they want to take a step this upcoming season. The Habs need a veteran to bring the young players along. And they certainly could use an added scoring touch in their lineup.
Of course, Montreal is unlikely to add a scorer on a long-term contract. Players like Sam Reinhart are off the table as they will demand a big contract. But thankfully for the Canadiens, there are respectable options available on potentially short-term contracts in NHL Free Agency.
One name to watch is Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk. The Edmonton native scored 40 points for the Bruins in 2023-24. And he led Boston in postseason scoring in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. DeBrusk is 27 years old and may only demand a two or three-year contract. If Montreal wants to swing big, perhaps Jonathan Marchessault is an option.
In any event, the Canadiens have room to add additional scoring. Doing so allows them to be more competitive now and down the line. It'll certainly be interesting to see who the Habs target in NHL Free Agency this summer.
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