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The 2025–26 Prospects List for Montreal Canadiens - soccertrend
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The 2025–26 Prospects List for Montreal Canadiens

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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

A top-six winger is the second most important thing the Montreal Canadiens want to get this summer. But this is more of a want than a need. As of now, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, and Patrik Laine are all on the radar for Montreal. While Laine was good at 5-on-5 play last year, he wasn’t always reliable. During his first season, Demidov will also likely play in a variety of ways.
This being said, getting a real top-six winger would be best for the team if they want to challenge. This off-season, a lot of famous wingers, like ace Mitch Marner, will be available for free.
That’s not likely to happen, though, with the Canadiens or Marner. Nikolaj Ehlers and Brock Boeser are two more realistic and cost-effective choices. You could also find veterans on the open market, like Patrick Kane and Brad Marchand. They might be cheap short-term choices.

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.

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