The Canadiens’ offseason could have taken an even bigger swing, at least in Pierre LeBrun’s eyes.
On a recent appearance on TSN690, LeBrun said Nico Hischier was the perfect target for Montreal. In his view, the Devils captain fit what Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton were trying to build from the start, and his contract would have worked within the Canadiens’ current cap picture.
Hischier instead stayed in New Jersey, landing a five-year deal worth $11.7 million per season with the Devils. That was the outcome Hughes and Gorton couldn’t get to, even though LeBrun believed the money itself would have made sense for Montreal.
The bigger obstacle was the cost. Hischier, the first overall pick in 2017, would have required a massive trade return, and LeBrun made it clear that getting him out of New Jersey would have been very, very expensive. Sunny Mehta, the Devils’ new general manager, held firm and ultimately got the extension done.
From a hockey standpoint, it’s easy to see why LeBrun liked the fit. Hischier put up 66 points last season, including 28 goals, in 82 games. He’s still not at a point-per-game pace, but his defensive work is described as flawless, and LeBrun placed him alongside Nick Suzuki as one of the NHL’s most complete centers.
LeBrun also compared Hischier to Dylan Larkin, pointing to similar all-around qualities. Larkin may offer a little more offense, but the overall impact is close. One difference is that Larkin remains under contract with the Detroit Red Wings for five more seasons, and his no-trade clause gives him full control over any move.
In Other News...
Canadiens Sent David Reinbacher Down For A Bigger Reason
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The timing matters, too, because the Canadiens are getting healthier on the blue line. With Kaiden Guhle edging closer to a return, the immediate need for an extra defenseman has eased, leaving Montreal with a choice that favors development over depth. For now, Reinbacher stays where the games can give him more responsibility, even if the path back up becomes clearer again soon. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Make A Tough Early Call On David Reinbacher
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For now, Reinbacher should get the kind of heavy workload in Laval that can be harder to guarantee in Montreal, where the club had to balance roster spots, waiver concerns and its depth chart on defense. The door to the NHL is hardly closed, though, and if he keeps building through the season, the Canadiens are leaving themselves plenty of room to bring him back up when the timing makes sense. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Trade Interest Just Raised The Stakes For Kent Hughes
The Canadiens spent part of the summer exploring a bigger swing, with Frank Seravalli reporting that management had considered packaging Kirby Dach in a larger deal if it meant bringing immediate help back the other way. It was the kind of roster-thinking that makes sense for a team trying to accelerate its timeline, and it also showed how aggressively Kent Hughes has been willing to survey the market when there is a chance to reshape the lineup.
Montreal had Kirill Marchenko in mind as a possible target before he was moved to Toronto, which forced the Canadiens to keep searching for another path. The Edmonton Oilers also showed interest in Dach, but Hughes appears to be holding out for a more significant trade opening, leaving the next move tied to whether a better fit comes available. [Read more 🡒]