Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens are still looking for an impact signing in the 2026 offseason, and Marc-Olivier Beaudoin has floated a name that fits the low-risk, high-upside mold: Vladimir Tarasenko.
The veteran winger is not being framed as a cure-all. At 34, Tarasenko is no longer the star he once was, and that matters. But Beaudoin’s point is that the fit itself is worth a closer look, especially if Montreal wants to help young Ivan Demidov.
"I wonder what it would look like alongside his compatriot Ivan Demidov."
That pairing is the heart of the idea. Beaudoin sees a natural scorer lining up with a playmaker, and he believes the styles could mesh.
"A natural scorer playing alongside Demidov-it could work."
Tarasenko’s recent production gives the proposal some weight. He’s coming off a 47-point season, with 23 goals in 75 games, and he still brings size at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds. That physical presence remains part of his appeal.
There’s also the Canada factor. Tarasenko has already signed in Ottawa before, so the idea of playing north of the border shouldn’t be a problem.
Beaudoin’s suggested contract is short and manageable: one or two years at less than $4 million per season. That would make Tarasenko the kind of bet a team can live with.
If he clicks with Demidov, Montreal gets a useful finisher. If he doesn’t, the deal ends quickly and the Canadiens can move on.
The bigger point, though, is that Demidov needs a winger who can convert the chances he creates. At 20 years old and coming off a 62-point season, he’s earned that kind of support no matter who ends up beside him.
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Andersons comments also land at a moment when Montreal is sorting out its next layer of leadership. With Gallagher gone, the Canadiens may need to look within for another alternate captain alongside Nick Suzuki, and Anderson is at least part of that conversation by reputation and presence. He is one of the players who can speak to what Gallagher brought every night, which is why his tribute carried extra weight for a locker room trying to absorb a familiar heartbeat being taken away. [Read more 🡒]