It’s been a strong start in Montreal even without Nick Suzuki and Ivan Demidov, and the Canadiens have put themselves in a position where a big swing no longer feels like a luxury. After going 4-0-0 on their recent road trip, the Habs are sitting second in the Atlantic Division at 9-3-2, with Jacob Fowler giving them the hottest rookie in the league.
That kind of start changes the conversation. Around the organization, the sense is that Montreal wants a major addition - the kind of move that pushes the group from promising to legitimate Stanley Cup contender. And with so many public trade requests around the NHL right now, there are a few names that could fit the bill.
Dylan Larkin is the one that keeps coming up first.
He was identified as a natural fit for Montreal as soon as he became available through trade in June, ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, but the buzz around him has only grown since the season got underway. Montreal is not currently on his 10-team trade list, though Elliotte Friedman said on “Saturday Headlines” that list could change later this week as some teams, including Florida, Colorado and Vegas, appear to be out of the picture.
“He has a 10-team trade list that he’s willing to go to,” Friedman said. “I think over the next 24-to-48 hours, it’s possible we see that trade list altered.”
Montreal fans made their pitch loud and clear when Larkin came through the Bell Centre in early October. The crowd chanted “We want Larkin” throughout much of the game, and after the night was over, the former Red Wings captain addressed the reception this way: “I never would’ve imagined that in this building in my career, but they’re passionate fans.
In my opinion, it’s the best atmosphere in hockey and they’re knowledgeable and they love their team, and that’s how I read into it. And after a few seconds, it was just back to focusing on the game.”
If Larkin were to put Montreal on his list, the belief is that Canadiens GM Kent Hughes would be ready to pay the price. TFP’s David Pagnotta said on Daily Faceoff Live in mid-October: “It’s a complicated situation unless he expands his list; if him and his family say yes to Montreal... I have it on pretty good standing that he’ll be a Hab a few hours later,” TFP’s David Pagnotta said on Daily Faceoff Live in mid-October.
There’s also been some notable attention from Detroit’s side. The Red Wings organization has had scouts around Montreal recently, including AGM Kris Draper, who has been at multiple home games and on the road watching the Habs.
On the ice, Larkin would slide straight into Montreal’s second-line centre spot and could spend the rest of his contract next to Ivan Demidov, giving him a chance to join a core that, on paper, offers a strong path toward a Cup run. For now, though, the Canadiens are waiting on the player’s side of the equation.
Then there’s Nikita Kucherov, a name that would change everything.
The last two NHL MVPs have both requested trades, and one of those situations has already played out. Kucherov made his own move public on Friday, saying he will not re-sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning and wants to be traded.
Unlike Larkin, the reports here point in Montreal’s favor. Both Pagnotta and Friedman have said Kucherov would have the Canadiens high on his list and would welcome a move to the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge.
That kind of player doesn’t come available often. He’s a 100-plus-point winger with elite production, and there’s no doubt Hughes would be interested. The bigger questions are whether Tampa would move him this season, and whether the Lightning would even consider sending him to a division rival.
The price would be massive, too. A trade for the 33-year-old could look like a Mikko Rantanen/Martin Necas-style swap, and that kind of return might require Montreal to part with a core piece such as Juraj Slafkovsky. Hughes would have to decide whether that’s a price worth paying.
Ryan O’Reilly is the more practical name, but he’s still a meaningful one.
The acquisition of Shane Wright on Sunday morning created a scenario where Predators GM Chris MacFarland could consider moving the veteran center at the trade deadline if Nashville slips out of the playoff race. O’Reilly is 35, pending unrestricted free agent, and has opened his 2026-27 season with 15 points in 14 games.
He also brings 81 playoff games and a Stanley Cup ring from 2019 with the St. Louis Blues.
For Montreal, he would be the kind of short-term second-line center solution that helps bridge the gap until Michael Hage is ready for the NHL. O’Reilly’s name came up at last season’s deadline, and Montreal was among the teams interested, but he stayed put after saying he wanted to remain a Predator.
“It would be nice to have that security,” O’Reilly said after last season’s exit meetings. “You could settle in more.
But again, we don’t have a full idea of who the new guy will be. But I feel, if the guys want me here, I want to be here.
“It’d be nice to work something out. It’s part of the business.
I appreciate Barry treating me like I have a no-move (clause). Who knows what could’ve happened?
I’m hoping things work out and I can stay here.”
And while the focus is on those three names, there’s another one worth keeping in the back of the mind: Winnipeg center Mark Scheifele. He wasn’t part of the main list, but if the Jets keep sliding and head toward a full rebuild, Montreal could be a team to watch. Scheifele wants to win, he isn’t getting any younger, and he’d likely draw interest from the Canadiens if he becomes available.
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Canadiens Face One Huge Kucherov Question As Tampa Drama Grows
Nikita Kucherov keeps doing what he has always done best, which is making the Lightning harder to beat even as the noise around him grows louder. He set up two goals in a recent win over the Detroit Red Wings, a reminder that the trade speculation swirling around him has not changed his edge on the ice. For Montreal, the rumors are easy to follow because a player of his caliber would instantly reshape any conversation about the roster, but the reality remains that Tampa Bay is still getting elite production from a star who is very much in the middle of a winning team.
That is what makes this such a tricky situation for Julien Brisebois. The Lightning are undefeated at home, the standings are helping keep the focus on the ice, and yet the front office still has to manage a trade request from one of the leagues most important players without letting the season drift off course. For the Canadiens, the intrigue is obvious, but until the next move is made, the story is less about a deal than about how long Tampa can keep winning while one of its biggest names sits at the center of the drama. [Read more 🡒]