The Montreal Canadiens are looking to take a step forward in the rebuild after a tough 2023-24 campaign that saw the club finish dead last in the Atlantic Division. Although injuries played a role, it was a disappointing season for the Habs, who still haven't made the playoffs since marching all the way to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021.
But the Canadiens are targeting two players who could help the franchise in its quest to return to the dance in 2025, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.
Habs general manager Kent Hughes has checked in on both Carolina Hurricanes' Martin Necas and Anaheim Ducks' Trevor Zegras ahead of the NHL Draft on June 28, reported the hockey insider earlier this week.
“Other league sources suggest Montreal has inquired with the Carolina Hurricanes on Martin Necas, as have half the teams in the NHL,” wrote LeBrun. “I also believe Anaheim and Montreal have re-connected on Zegras, however, I’m not convinced that’s a path the Habs will ultimately pursue aggressively.”
LeBrun speculates that a postseason berth next year is “most likely still out of reach” for the Habs, but the franchise aims to continue playing competitive hockey deep into the 2024-25 campaign, Hughes told LeBrun.
“We’ve acknowledged that it’s important we take a step,” said the GM. “I guess the size of that step is something that plays out over the course of the year and is to a certain degree predicated on whether we do more this summer. We will try. We’ll explore our opportunities to improve our team. But with the continued condition that it has to be improving our team without compromising what we’re trying to do here.”
Improving the team is obviously the key to getting back to playoff contention, but health will also play a crucial role.
Canadiens will hope to be healthier next year
Last season, the Canadiens lost Kirby Dach for the entire campaign after the former No. 3 overall pick tore both his ACL and MCL in just the team's second game. That was a devastating blow, and Alex Newhook missed two months himself with a high ankle sprain suffered shortly after.
Dach and Newhook were two big acquisitions made by Hughes around draft time, and he might look to make another splash ahead of the 2024 iteration of the festivities in Las Vegas at the end of June, per LeBrun.
“I think so,” Hughes said about potentially making a trade before the draft. “If we can get a player, if we can trade up in the draft, we have to look at any way that we can improve this team. “We won’t be limited to something that has to make us better next season. But if it does, call that icing on the cake.”
Based on those comments, it certainly makes sense that Hughes would have checked in on both Necas and Zegras, who could immediately improve the team.
Zegras needs a change of scenery, and inserting him alongside his former US development program and World Junior teammate Cole Caufield would make a lot of sense. He's a natural center but could shift to the wing and excel in a new system, especially if that means lining up with Caufield and Nick Suzuki.
As for a winger of Necas' caliber, the price is probably a little bit higher considering his strong 2023-24 campaign in Carolina. He performed in the playoffs as well, and it's already been rumored that the price for the Czech forward is sky high.
Hughes could end up making a trade as late as draft night, with the Canadiens owning the No. 5 pick. Although Macklin Celebrini will go No. 1 overall to the San Jose Sharks, picks 2-4 are up in the air, and could affect the decisions made by the front office on the draft floor.
That is certainly intriguing, as trades made on draft night are always extra exciting. It'll be interesting to see if either Necas or Zegras have a new home by then, and if it'll be Montreal for one of them.
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