The idea of Nikita Kucherov in a Canadiens sweater is enough to turn heads, but the reported asking price would force Montreal to tear into its future to get him.
A proposal from the Hockey Trade Rumors page sends Michael Hage, David Reinbacher, Kirby Dach, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Kucherov. It’s a massive six-piece deal, and it immediately raises the same question: would Montreal really pay that kind of price?
Kucherov has already requested a trade, and Montreal is said to be one of his preferred destinations. That makes the fit obvious enough. The hard part is the cost.
At 33, Kucherov is still producing like a star, with 22 points in 17 games this season, including five goals and 17 assists. He’s the kind of player you bring in to chase wins right now, not someone you acquire as the centerpiece of a long-term build.
The biggest pain point in the proposal is Reinbacher. The fifth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft is one of Montreal’s most important blue-line investments, and moving him before he’s reached his ceiling would be a major gamble.
Hage is another tough loss. Taken 21st overall in 2024, the center is still waiting to establish himself in the NHL, but he remains a key part of the prospect pool.
Dach is the more movable piece in the package. He has six points in 16 games and is still trying to find consistency, which makes him easier to include than two premium prospects. But even with Dach in the mix, the rest of the package is steep.
That’s especially true because Kucherov’s $9.5 million cap hit comes with an expiring contract. Montreal could end up sending all of that out for what might amount to a rental.
And for a Canadiens team sitting at 11-3-4, fifth overall in the NHL, with a 7-0-3 record over its last 10 games, the price looks even harder to justify.
Even Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime loss to Minnesota had its positives, with Jacob Fowler stopping 22 of 24 shots in another close game. Kent Hughes does not need to empty the cupboard to chase Kucherov, and if Tampa Bay insists on Reinbacher, Hage, Dach and two first-round picks, Montreal should pass.
In Other News...
Canadiens Suddenly Face A Bigger Concern Ahead Of Bruins Trip
Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans were both absent from Canadiens practice Wednesday, with the team classifying the missed session as maintenance following the clubs most recent game. Montreal confirmed the two forwards were not on the ice but did not offer any further detail, leaving the group to sort through a little more uncertainty as it prepares for a trip to Boston.
Suzukis status is the more notable concern because he briefly left Tuesdays game before returning and scoring Montreals only goal, while Evans had already been managing discomfort since Monday. For a team heading into a divisional matchup with the Bruins, any question about the availability of two important centers is worth watching closely, especially with no immediate update on whether either will be ready to go. [Read more 🡒]
Cole Caufield Just Sparked A Bigger Canadiens Debate Than The Loss
Cole Caufield turned a frustrating night into a larger conversation for the Canadiens after Montreals overtime loss to Minnesota, shifting the focus from the result to how NHL games are being officiated. The forward took aim at the way referees handle controversial calls, adding another layer to a game that already left the Canadiens with plenty to sort through.
What made his comments resonate was the broader point behind them: Caufield wants more accountability from officials and believes they should be able to explain what they saw instead of simply signaling a penalty and moving on. For a Canadiens team still chasing consistency, it is the kind of postgame critique that can linger well beyond one loss, especially when it taps into a league-wide debate about transparency on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Suzuki Scare Had Canadiens Fans Holding Their Breath
Nick Suzuki gave Canadiens fans a scare in the third period, leaving the game briefly before returning to the ice and settling things down in a hurry. Montreals captain has been a central part of the clubs offense all season, appearing in 12 of the teams 18 games and continuing to drive play at the top of the lineup.
The good news for Montreal is that the concern did not linger long after the final whistle, with the team indicating Suzuki is fine after his short absence. Even so, any moment like that tends to tighten the mood around a team that leans so heavily on its top center, especially when he has been one of the most important contributors to the Canadiens attack. [Read more 🡒]