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The 2025–26 Prospects List for Montreal Canadiens

Published

9 months ago

June 4, 2025

This offseason, the Montreal Canadiens will be in a very different place than they were last year. After drafting Ivan Demidov fifth overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and trading for Patrik Laine and Alexandre Carrier, the youthful Habs team qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Last season, it appeared like Montreal was a long way from being a legitimate playoff threat. But after an unexpected breakout year, the Canadiens may only need a few moves to be dangerous.

So, let’s take a look at what the Montreal Canadiens need and want in this offseason.

Offseason Requirements for Montreal Canadiens

Right-Shot Defenceman to Pair with Lane Hutson

There is a good chance that Lane Hutson will win the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year after having a great first season.
Hutson was able to fix Montreal’s weak blue line all by himself.

The Canadiens, on the other hand, couldn’t find a trusted partner to play with him. All of the defensemen on the team were given chances, but Kaiden Guhle and Jayden Struble did the best.

Both Guhle and Struble play with their left hand, but Guhle is better suited to playing on his natural side in the long run.

It’s clear that Montreal needs to pair Lane Hutson up with a real player for next season. None of the present defensemen on the roster are ideal choices. Prospects David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux are also not ready for such a key part yet.

With David Savard also retiring, there is a hole on the right side of the defense that needs to be filled this summer. Players like Noah Dobson and Rasmus Andersson could be trade options for Montreal, even though it’s not possible.

Another big name choice is Aaron Ekblad, who could become a free agent on July 1.

Top-Six Winger

True Second-Line Centre Targets this 2025 Montreal Canadiens Offseason

Although Montreal is in need of wingers and defensemen, it is common knowledge that their most pressing requirement is for players in the middle of the field.

Since the arrival of Nick Suzuki, the Canadiens have been in desperate need of a genuine second-line center to play behind him. When Kirby Dach has been in good health, he has been the Canadiens’ second-line center.

However, Alex Newhook has been the Canadiens’ second-line center the majority of the time. In order to demonstrate that they are deserving of the job, neither player has provided Montreal with consistent productivity.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the pair is set to play the third-line center position or to go to the wing position with the team. Due to the fact that Christian Dvorak is most likely going to leave, there will be a vacant center spot that one of them can take advantage of during training camp.
All the same, Montreal is in desperate need of a genuine second-line center right away. It is someone who is capable of routinely scoring more than fifty points and who is able to play with talent players such as Demidov and Laine.
The Montreal Canadiens will undoubtedly have access to a few different choices when they go on the free market. The names Sam Bennett, John Tavares, and Matt Duchene are included in this group.

There are a few intriguing RFAs that Kent Hughes might be keeping an eye on, like Marco Rossi and Mason McTavish, included.

Both the draft money and the assets necessary to make a trade work are available to the Canadiens. Regardless of the path that they choose to take, the most important mission that Hughes will have to accomplish during this summer is to acquire a second-line center. This is a task that will most likely determine the Montreal Canadiens’ 2025-26 season.