The Montreal Canadiens went from a rebuilding team to Stanley Cup contenders in very quick succession. The Canadiens took a huge leap this season, going from a team that clinched a playoff spot on the final day of the season last year all the way to an Eastern Conference Final appearance. Building this roster is over; the focus now is on fine-tuning it to make it a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. This year’s free agency class does not have many stars or players who fit the positions of need for the Canadiens. If Montreal wants to upgrade, they likely need to make trades.
Mason McTavish
This would not be the first time the Canadiens would be linked to the Anaheim Ducks centre Mason McTavish, but after playing in a diminished role this season, he may be ready for a fresh start. The Ducks took Leo Carlsson with the second overall pick back in the 2023 draft, and signed Mikael Granlund last offseason, leaving McTavish stuck on the team’s third line. After having a career best of 22 goals and 52 points last season, McTavish had a career worst of 17 goals and 41 points this season.
There was a point in the season when McTavish had to watch the game from the press box, being a healthy scratch in March. It is clear that McTavish has fallen down the pecking order in Anaheim, and with the Canadiens looking for a second-line centre, he could be worth the risk for the right price. The Canadiens have their own centre who has also fallen down the team’s pecking order in Kirby Dach, and if the Canadiens do decide to make a move for McTavish, he could possibly be used to acquire the Ducks centre.
Dylan Larkin
As of 48 hours ago, Dylan Larkin was not even on the radar, but after the Michigan native put in a trade request, he has now become a real option for the Canadiens. The 2014 15th overall pick has spent his entire 11-year NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings, but after only making the playoffs once in that tenure, he now wants to start the next chapter of his career, and the Canadiens should definitely be in the running. Reports have it that Montreal has kicked the tires on many of the available centres, like Vincent Trochek and Robert Thomas, and that will not be any different for Larkin.
Larkin is still as productive as he has ever been, recording his fifth consecutive 60+ point season, despite missing eight games this season. As for a fit with the Canadiens, there may be no player who is more suited to how Montreal plays than Larkin. He had explosive speed and a reliable two-way game, which fits the mould of how the Canadiens like to play. Montreal needs a reliable centre to play alongside Ivan Demidov, and Larkin would be a perfect fit. Trading for Larkin would not be cheap, but after the reports about what the Canadiens were willing to move for Matthew Knies, it would likely take a similar package to acquire the Detroit centre.
Alexis Lafreniere
Montreal’s number one priority is a second-line centre, but after that, it is between a scoring winger and a reliable right-hand defenceman. Likely, Montreal still hopes that by next season, former fifth overall pick David Reinbacher will be ready to step into the lineup, which would shift their focus to a winger. The Canadiens were close to acquiring Knies at the trade deadline, but that deal is likely off the table now with the Toronto Maple Leafs having new management. However, there was another winger on their radar, Alexis Lafreniere, who the team could potentially circle back on.
Lafreniere, a former first overall pick, has struggled to max out his potential in his six years with the New York Rangers and could be looking for a change of scenery now that the team is in the midst of starting a rebuild. The Canadiens have done an excellent job of developing their young players and could view Lafreniere as someone who has a lot of untapped potential. Lafreniere had a slow start to the season, but found his stride following the Rangers' trading Artemi Panarin to the LA Kings. He finished the season with 24 goals and 57 points in 82 games. Acquiring Lafreniere would give the Canadiens another physical forward with some upside on the goal front, making him someone who could potentially fit on the team’s second line, or if they believe Juraj Slafkovsky is a better fit with Demidov, could fill in on the top unit.
