With training camp just a few weeks away, the Montreal Canadiens have spent most of the offseason in the background. The silence has lasted longer than many fans expected after that deep playoff run, but the door still looks open for something bigger before camp opens.
That possibility got a fresh push recently when Pierre McGuire appeared on Toronto Sports Rush and said this about the Atlantic Division: "Toronto's made some moves, Montreal is about to make a move, I think. You know Florida made moves, Tampa Bay made moves, but Detroit is floundering."
McGuire’s point was really about how the division has shifted around the Canadiens, with the Maple Leafs, Panthers and Lightning all making notable improvements while the Red Wings have not. Still, his mention of Montreal stood out because the Canadiens have not actually completed a move yet. His comments suggest he believes that could change soon.
So what might he be talking about?
Kirill Marchenko has been tied to the Canadiens for much of the summer, and that remains a possibility if the Blue Jackets are willing to listen. That would be the splashier move, the kind that would fit the idea of Montreal joining the other Atlantic teams that have already made additions.
There are also the restricted free agents Zachary Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj to consider. Montreal could simply try to keep both, but Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette has also raised the possibility that they could become sign-and-trade candidates.
Even so, it is tough to believe McGuire was pointing only to a pair of re-signings. Grouping the Canadiens with Toronto, Florida and Tampa Bay makes it sound like he expects something more significant than just keeping the current roster intact.
That fits with what has been clear about general manager Kent Hughes: he is willing to talk to teams about players who are not necessarily sitting on obvious trade boards. That was the case last summer when the Canadiens landed Noah Dobson.
If Montreal does make a meaningful addition, the top six looks like the area most likely to get attention. From there, the list of realistic targets gets murky. Adam Fantilli remains a restricted free agent, and the Blue Jackets could decide a trade makes more sense if contract talks stall.
Dylan Larkin is another name to watch, at least in theory. He asked for a trade earlier this summer, but the Red Wings have not dealt him. His no-movement clause and the limited list of teams he provided complicate matters, and the Canadiens are not on that list.
For now, Montreal fans are still waiting for the offseason to produce something more concrete. If McGuire is right, that wait may be nearing its end.
In Other News...
Ducks Face A Tough Price If They Push For Arber Xhekaj
Arber Xhekaj keeps showing up in trade chatter for the simple reason that teams looking for defensive help notice what he brings. The Montreal defenseman has the kind of edge and presence that can appeal to a club trying to toughen up its blue line, and Anaheim has been floated as a fit if the Ducks decide to keep pushing for more depth on the back end. For Montreal, though, the broader picture matters just as much as the player itself, because any discussion of moving Xhekaj would have to make sense for a team that still sees value in what he adds.
The obstacle for Anaheim is not just whether Xhekaj is available, but whether the price is worth it while the Ducks juggle cap concerns and the need to get Cutter Gauthier signed. Even in a hypothetical framework, the ask would have to be substantial enough to interest Montreal, which is why these talks tend to circle around prospects and draft capital rather than a simple hockey trade. For now, there is no sign the Canadiens are looking to make Xhekaj available, which leaves this more as a useful reminder of his market value than a deal on the verge of happening. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Delay On Arber Xhekaj And Zach Bolduc Raises Bigger Questions
The Canadiens still have two restricted free agents waiting for contracts in Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc, and the delay has become more interesting than the usual summer paperwork. Anthony Di Marco noted that there is uncertainty not just about the terms, but also about the timeline, with Montreal still working through how it wants to handle both players as part of its roster planning.
Xhekaj and Bolduc are in very different spots, which is part of what makes the situation worth watching. Xhekajs next step appears tied to how the club values him in the depth chart, while Bolducs case carries more weight because of the way Montreal acquired him and the flexibility he brings. Until the Canadiens sort out those negotiations, there is a small but meaningful question hanging over how the organization sees each player in the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]