The Leo Carlsson offer sheet has pushed restricted free agents back into the spotlight, and for the Montreal Canadiens, that means it may be time to think bigger.
The Philadelphia Flyers stunned the NHL by getting Carlsson to agree to a five-year deal carrying an $18 million AAV. It was only the second offer sheet of the offseason, after the New Jersey Devils tendered one to Utah’s Barrett Hayton, and the timing makes sense with this summer’s thin unrestricted free agent class. For Montreal, which has spent plenty of time trying to upgrade its top six without finding the right trade fit, the RFA market suddenly looks like a place worth exploring.
Of course, that route comes with a heavy price. Per Puckpedia, the Canadiens could go above $11.94 million in AAV, but that would mean surrendering four first-round picks if the original team declines to match.
A lower offer sheet, between $2.39 million and $4.8 million, would cost a 2027 second-round pick. That’s the kind of math that makes every decision matter.
Among the names that could fit, Connor Bedard is the obvious headline grabber. The Chicago Blackhawks center was the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and has 75 goals and 128 assists in 219 games.
He’s also coming off a career season with 75 points, but there are still questions about whether he’s already the kind of player who justifies a deal in the $12 million to $15 million range. Add in the fact that he appeared to suffer a serious injury during practice this week, and the risk only grows.
Bedard would clearly upgrade Montreal, but the cost - both in money and four first-round picks - makes him a long shot.
Jason Robertson is the next name that demands attention. He may be the only other RFA who realistically fits the Canadiens’ offer-sheet lane at around $15 million AAV, with Montreal willing to pay the four-firsts price tag.
Earlier in the week, it was reported that the Canadiens were a team Robertson would consider joining. If that report holds any weight, Kent Hughes has to pay attention, especially since Robertson hasn’t seemed eager to commit to many teams.
Trevor Zegras is a different kind of opportunity. The Flyers just made the Carlsson move, but they still have Zegras unsigned after acquiring him from the Ducks before last season.
The 24-year-old bounced back in a big way, posting 67 points in 81 games, his best output since the 2022-23 season. He would fit neatly into Montreal’s young core, and unlike some of the bigger names, he could be a long-term answer on the second line.
The Flyers may not have the cap space to keep him if the Ducks don’t match Carlsson’s offer sheet, which opens the door for Montreal to explore a trade instead of walking straight into a massive offer sheet. Zegras could also play center or wing, and that flexibility would not block Michael Hage from eventually reaching the NHL.
Adam Fantilli is the other RFA the Canadiens should keep firmly on the radar. The Columbus center, taken third overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, has played 82 games in each of the last two seasons and finished with 54 points in 2024-25 after 59 the year before.
Montreal and Columbus have been linked in recent conversations, though those talks centered on Kirill Marchenko before the Blue Jackets’ general manager said Marchenko would be on the roster to open the season. That doesn’t mean Hughes should stop calling.
Fantilli looks more like a player who could be targeted through trade than one who warrants a contract north of $12 million and the loss of four first-round picks.
With offer sheets suddenly back in the conversation, the Canadiens have a chance to attack a real need. Whether it’s through a bold offer sheet or a more practical trade, the RFA market has given Montreal another path to a forward upgrade.
In Other News...
Canadiens New Defense Prospect Is Already Raising Eyebrows Inside The Organization
Timofei Runtso arrived in Montreal with the kind of profile that can make a draft room lean in a little closer. Taken 57th overall by the Canadiens, the defense prospect has already started settling into the organizations Russian pipeline, a useful early step for any young player trying to find his footing in a new market. He also comes with a clear sense of identity on the ice, with a style he wants to model after one of the more recognizable names to wear that position in recent years.
For Montreal, that matters because Runtso is not just another late-round flyer hoping to blend in and wait his turn. He has a background in the NAHL and has already shown he can adapt to a different level and a different environment, which is part of what makes him intriguing inside the organization. The next question is how quickly that comfort off the ice turns into traction on it, especially as he begins building relationships with teammates and carving out his place in a crowded development picture. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Anderson Honors Brendan Gallagher As Canadiens Lose A True Heartbeat
Brendan Gallaghers exit has left more than a roster spot behind in Montreal. Josh Anderson, whose own game has long been built on the same kind of straight-ahead competitiveness, made clear how much Gallagher meant to the Canadiens and to the city, praising the edge and persistence that defined his teammates time here. For a team that has leaned on veteran voices as much as on production, the loss of a player like Gallagher is felt in the room as much as on the ice.
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 🡒]
Canadiens Linked To A Veteran Winger Fans Will Instantly Debate
A veteran winger is already popping up in early offseason chatter around Montreal, and the appeal is easy to understand. Marc-Olivier Beaudoin floated the idea of a low-risk addition for the 2026 summer, pointing to a player with size, proven scoring touch and enough experience to help stabilize a young forward group without forcing the Canadiens into a long commitment.
The discussion gets more interesting because of the potential fit with Ivan Demidov, a pairing that would give Montreal a mix of youth and polish on the wing. Beaudoin framed it as the kind of short-term move that could make sense if the price stays reasonable, but for now it remains nothing more than speculation, the sort of idea that will draw plenty of debate long before the Canadiens have to make any real decision. [Read more 🡒]