The Canadiens have Adam Engstrom in the middle of a tricky kind of conversation: his name is out there in trade talks, but Montreal still sees enough in him to hold firm for now.
That tension makes sense when you look at what the 22-year-old defenseman has already done. Last season with the Laval Rocket, Engstrom took a clear step forward, putting up 10 goals, 34 points and a plus-14 rating in 45 AHL games. That followed his first year in Laval in 2024-25, when he finished with five goals and 27 points in 66 games.
His play in the AHL earned him a look with Montreal, too. Engstrom got into his first NHL action with the Canadiens last season and produced one assist along with a plus-2 rating in 15 games.
Now he’s heading into this season with room to keep climbing. He’s also, according to recent reporting, a player other teams have inquired about.
In a recent article for The Athletic, Arpon Basu wrote that the Canadiens are willing to talk about Engstrom, but still view him as a valuable asset.
"It is no secret Engstrom’s name is floating around out there. Teams have asked about him in trade discussions, and the Canadiens are open to those discussions. Engstrom has yet to be traded, largely because the Canadiens see him as having considerable value," Basu wrote.
That’s where the risk comes in for Montreal. The Canadiens have roster holes they could try to fill, but including Engstrom in a deal would mean giving up a 22-year-old defenseman with a chance to become a very good one down the line. If he keeps developing, he’s exactly the sort of player a team can regret moving too early.
For now, the 2022 third-round pick still has time on his side. Montreal would be wise to let this season play out before deciding whether Engstrom is part of its future or part of a trade package.
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