Ryan O’Reilly has surfaced as a name worth watching for the Canadiens, but the fit comes with one obvious catch: the price.
Pierre Dorion views O’Reilly as the kind of center Montreal should be looking at, especially with the Canadiens needing help down the middle while Nick Suzuki is out of the lineup. O’Reilly also checks the playoff box, since Dorion sees him as a player who can still deliver at a high level when the games tighten up.
The numbers help explain the appeal. The 35-year-old has 15 points in 14 games this season, with seven goals, four coming on the power play, and two game-winning goals. His cap hit sits at $4.5 million.
Still, this is where the conversation gets tricky for Montreal. Giving up a top prospect such as Michael Hage for a veteran at this stage of his career would be too much. The Canadiens may like the player, but the return would have to make sense.
There is also a familiar connection between the Canadiens and the Predators. Kent Hughes has already made a significant move with Nashville, landing Alexandre Carrier for Justin Barron. More recently, he sent Jayden Struble to Nashville in a deal that brought back Vegas’ second-round pick in 2027.
One issue could complicate any serious push. According to Dans Les Coulisses, O’Reilly has said multiple times that he does not want to leave Nashville.
The previous management group reportedly handled him as if he had a no-trade clause, even though he does not. That stance could shift under the new management.
O’Reilly is also in the final year of his contract, which could make him easier to move before the trade deadline. But even with that in mind, a deal would not be cheap. Montreal would likely need to part with prospects and draft picks, though the cost would still be lower than what it would take to land Dylan Larkin or Mark Scheifele.
In Other News...
Canadiens Suddenly Loom In Two Massive NHL Trade Storylines
A fresh NHL trade market has already started to take shape after Seattle and Nashville swapped Shane Wright and Matthew Wood, a one-for-one move that sent two young players searching for a clean slate. For Montreal, the bigger significance may be what it signals around the league: the Canadiens are suddenly in the conversation on more than one front, with their name surfacing as a possible destination in cases where established players start looking for a change of scenery.
Dylan Larkin is currently sitting out while his situation unfolds, and Montreal could become part of the picture if he revises his trade preferences. Nikita Kucherov has also reportedly made clear he wants out of Tampa Bay, and if the Lightning ever decide to entertain offers, Montreal is among the teams being mentioned as a possible landing spot. For a Canadiens club still trying to position itself for the next step, simply being in those conversations matters, even if the real decisions are still to come. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Still Face One Big Question In Kent Hughes Trade Push
The Canadiens search for a top-six center has kept Kent Hughes active on the trade front, and the names floating around show just how ambitious Montreal is trying to be. David Pagnotta reported that the club has explored possibilities involving Kirill Marchenko, Matthew Knies and Robert Thomas as Hughes continues to look for a major addition that could change the look of the lineup down the middle.
Even with that kind of due diligence, the path to a deal has not gotten any easier. Montreal still has to navigate a market where some targets may not want to come, while Hughes also has limits on what he is willing to move out of the organization, which has slowed any blockbuster from materializing. For now, the Canadiens are still hunting for center help, but the biggest question is whether they can land it without paying a price they are not prepared to meet. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Loom In Dylan Larkin Trade Drama
Dylan Larkins situation in Detroit has quickly become one of the more watched trade storylines in the league, and Montreal has now drifted into the conversation as a possible fit. The Red Wings captain has removed himself from the lineup while he seeks a move, and talks have reportedly already touched several teams, including Minnesota, Washington, New Jersey and Carolina, with no agreement in place yet.
For the Canadiens, the intrigue is less about certainty than possibility. Montreal is being mentioned as a club that could help widen the market and create a path toward a deal, even if nothing is confirmed on that front. At this stage, the question is whether the Canadiens become part of the next round of discussions, and whether their involvement changes the pace of a situation that is still very much unresolved. [Read more 🡒]