The Canadiens Are Ahead of Schedule - But Should They Accelerate the Plan?
The Montreal Canadiens are in a position few expected them to be in this deep into the season: third in the Atlantic Division and just a few points shy of the division lead. The offense is clicking, the vibes are high, and yes - Alexandre Texier is out here scoring hat tricks and delivering overtime winners like he’s been doing it his whole career.
So the question isn’t whether the Habs are good. It’s whether they’re ready to take the next step - and if so, should they?
Let’s start with what’s working. Montreal ranks fourth in the league in goals per game and total points.
That’s not a fluke - that’s a team that knows how to put the puck in the net. Their power play is humming along at a top-10 rate, and the young core, led by Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, is starting to look like it’s entering its prime.
Add in the early contributions from blue-chip prospects like Ivan Demidov and Lane Hutson, and you can see the foundation of something special being built in real time.
But this isn’t a perfect team. Defensively, there’s work to be done.
The penalty kill ranks 20th league-wide, and they’re giving up the tenth-most goals in the NHL. That’s not a recipe for deep playoff success - at least not without some reinforcements.
The good news? These are the kinds of issues that can be addressed at the trade deadline.
Now, there’s a fair argument to be made for standing pat. The Canadiens have spent the last four-plus seasons carefully rebuilding this roster, and any big move risks disrupting the chemistry that’s been cultivated.
General manager Kent Hughes has shown patience, rarely making impulsive deals. His track record suggests that if a move is made, it’ll be one that adds real value without sacrificing the long-term vision.
Still, it’s hard to ignore the opportunity in front of them. With the Lightning and Hurricanes starting to hit their stride, the Eastern Conference is shaping up to be a dogfight. If Montreal wants to be in that mix - not just as a playoff team, but as a real contender - the time to act might be now.
So where could they look to upgrade?
The Rangers are likely heading into a retooling phase, and that could make players like Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin available. Calgary is another team to keep an eye on - Blake Coleman has been linked to Montreal, though it remains to be seen whether a deal can materialize.
Other names that could surface include players from St. Louis, Vancouver, and perhaps even a marquee veteran like Steven Stamkos, should he hit the market.
Two names stand out as particularly intriguing fits: Vincent Trocheck and Ryan O’Reilly.
Trocheck brings a lot to the table. He was a key part of the Rangers’ run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2023-24, putting up 8 goals and 12 assists in the postseason.
He’s also one of the league’s most consistent faceoff men - winning a majority of his draws every season since 2015-16, including near-60% success rates in two of the past three years. That kind of reliability down the middle is exactly what playoff teams covet.
If Montreal were to swing a deal for Trocheck, they’d be adding a battle-tested center who can contribute on both ends of the ice. For the Rangers, such a move would clear nearly $6 million in cap space annually for the next three seasons - a significant chunk of change.
But the acquisition cost for the Canadiens wouldn’t be cheap. It would likely involve a top-six forward, and the name that comes up most often is Kirby Dach.
Dach, despite a promising 38-point season in 2022-23, has struggled to maintain that same offensive production - and injuries haven’t helped. Still, he carries a cap hit north of $3 million, and in a potential trade with the Rangers, his inclusion would help make the money work. A deal centered around Dach and a couple of early-round picks could be enough to get Trocheck in bleu, blanc et rouge - all without dismantling Montreal’s core.
Then there’s Ryan O’Reilly, whose playoff résumé speaks for itself. A Stanley Cup winner with St.
Louis, a key contributor in Toronto’s long-awaited playoff series win, and now a veteran leader helping Nashville stay in the hunt - O’Reilly’s been around the block. He’s not just a name; he’s a presence.
O’Reilly’s cap hit is more manageable at $4.5 million, and his contract runs through next season, making him more of a medium-term addition rather than a long-term commitment. If Nashville starts to slide in the standings - they’re currently just a few points out of the final wild card spot - they could become sellers closer to the Olympic break. That’s when Montreal might pounce.
The Predators are about $6 million under the cap, and moving O’Reilly would open up even more flexibility. A trade package involving Kirby Dach and a prospect like Owen Beck could get the job done, and it’s one Montreal could likely stomach, especially if it means adding a proven playoff performer for the stretch run.
There’s no question the Canadiens are ahead of schedule. That alone makes any deadline move a luxury rather than a necessity.
But there’s also something to be said for seizing the moment. Adding a veteran like Trocheck or O’Reilly wouldn’t just help this team in the short term - it would also provide invaluable mentorship for young players like Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov as they continue to develop into NHL regulars.
And maybe, just maybe, it signals something bigger: that the rebuild is over. That Montreal is ready to turn the page and start chasing something they haven’t lifted in 35 years - the Stanley Cup.
It’s not just about making a splash. It’s about making a statement.