Kent Hughes is still looking for a meaningful addition to his lineup, and one name that has surfaced is not the one most Canadiens fans would expect: Columbus Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier.
JD Lagrange of the Sick Podcast Network put Olivier on his list of possible targets, a suggestion that immediately stands out because it doesn’t fit the usual top-six template. Olivier is not the classic high-end scorer, but that’s part of what makes him such an interesting fit for Montreal.
The Canadiens have been searching for more size and power up front, especially in their top six. Alex Newhook showed some encouraging signs, but injuries disrupted his consistency, which is part of why Montreal could still look elsewhere for help.
Olivier brings a different kind of value. His size, physical edge and better offensive feel would give the Canadiens something they don’t currently have. He also offers the kind of puck retrieval and gritty corner work that can make skilled linemates more effective.
That’s the logic behind the idea: every scoring line can use a player who does the heavy lifting, battles along the boards and makes opponents uncomfortable. Montreal has talent, but it could use a physical presence who helps create more space for that skill to operate.
And Olivier isn’t just about the rough stuff anymore. His offensive instincts have taken a step forward, too. He quietly put up 26 points in 61 games last season, with 15 goals, showing there’s more there than just muscle.
Pairing a player like that with Ivan Demidov would be a natural fit.
In Other News...
Canadiens Blue Line Logjam Just Cost Them Another Young Defenseman
The Canadiens defensive depth has become one of the more persistent talking points around the organization, and William Trudeaus latest move is another sign of how crowded that lane has become. After several seasons with the Laval Rocket and only limited NHL opportunities in Montreal, the former Canadiens defenseman has moved on to the New York Rangers organization, where he sees a clearer path to the league.
Trudeau said the depth chart in Montreal was part of the equation, even as he spoke respectfully about his time with both the Canadiens and Laval. For a young blue-liner trying to turn steady development into an NHL look, the appeal of a fresh start is obvious, and his departure adds one more name to the list of prospects who found the road blocked before it ever really opened. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Big Bolduc Decision Next To Suzuki And Caufield
Zachary Bolducs first season with the Canadiens offered both encouragement and frustration, which is usually how these things go when a player is trying to establish himself in Montreal. Acquired from the St. Louis Blues, he opened fast enough to make people notice, then settled into a more uneven stretch as the year wore on, with his production cooling off and his role shrinking at times.
Still, Bolducs playoff play gave the Canadiens something to think about going into next season, especially with the possibility of him being asked to skate in a far more prominent spot alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. For a team looking to sort out the best version of its top end, his progress in the spring matters almost as much as the uneven regular season that came before it. [Read more 🡒]
Kent Hughes May Be Ending The Canadiens Quiet Summer Soon
The Canadiens have spent much of late summer in a holding pattern, but that quiet stretch may be nearing an end. Montreal is expected to make at least one official announcement soon, and the buzz around the team has centered on Kent Hughes possibly closing the book on a relatively uneventful offseason with a late move or roster update.
The exact nature of the news remains unclear, with no confirmations yet from the club. Still, sources indicate something could break early in the week, giving Canadiens fans a fresh point of attention before the calendar turns fully toward the next phase of team business. [Read more 🡒]