The Toronto Maple Leafs have already done plenty of roster shuffling this offseason, but more depth could still be on the table, and PTOs may be one way to find it.
Andre Leal of The Hockey News pointed to three players who have recently landed PTOs: Chris Driedger with the Canucks, Cal Peterson with the Capitals, and Alex Nylander with the Flames. Against that backdrop, he floated a few names Toronto could consider if it wants to keep adding competition and insurance.
One option is Nick Blankenburg, a 28-year-old right-handed defenseman who stands 5′ 9″ and brings some speed to the table. Last season, he posted 24 points in 60 games with the Predators and Avalanche.
Another name is Curtis Lazar, a center who has logged more than 600 games across seven teams over 12 seasons. He can play all forward positions, which makes him a useful depth piece if a team wants flexibility.
Leal also mentioned Adam Boqvist, the former eighth overall pick and a puck-moving defenseman. He has appeared in only 98 NHL games over the past three seasons, but he did put up 24 points in 46 games with the Blue Jackets in 2022-23.
On the Montreal side, the conversation centered on what should be at the top of the Canadiens’ shopping list.
On The Sick Podcast with Tony Marino, Pierre McGuire was asked about Montreal’s biggest need, and the discussion quickly narrowed to the middle of the ice. Marino laid out the picture this way: “So, what’s your gut feel if they do make a move?
We know what they shore have to shore up. In an ideal world, they’re looking for a second-line centerman.
Michael Hage might end up being that guy if he ends up joining the Montreal Canadiens late in the season. But who knows?
By the time he actually comes into his own, might be a couple of years after that.
At one point, there was talk of a power forward on that second line. Slafkovsky actually played 31 games on that second line last year.
We know the Montreal Canadiens, in an ideal world, can use some character and some energy and some physicality on the fourth line. And we also know that the Montreal Canadiens, in an ideal world, can really need and use a big right-handed stay-at-home defenseman to play with Lane Hutson.
So we’ll probably get into this at another, into this at another point and more in detail. But if they had to make a move, and you think that they might, if they do, out of all the needs, priority number one is?”
McGuire’s answer was direct: “Second center. And that’s no disrespect meant to Oliver Kapanen.
And that’s no disrespect meant to any other player that might have an option to play their Owen Beck or whomever it might be. I think they need a second center, a legit second center.”
In Other News...
Canadiens Rebuild Suddenly Has Room For Something Much Bigger
The Canadiens have spent the last stretch of their rebuild doing the hard part well: locking up young talent without boxing themselves into a corner. Montreals recent contract work has given management a cleaner salary-cap picture, and the result is a roster that should be easier to keep together while still leaving room to improve it. For a team still trying to turn promise into something more durable, that matters just as much as the standings.
What makes the setup interesting is that the Canadiens are not simply planning to ride out the next few seasons with a decent young core and hope for internal growth. The structure they have put in place gives them a chance to stay flexible if the right trade or free-agent opportunity comes along, while still maintaining the long-term approach they have preached throughout the rebuild. In other words, Montreal may finally have built enough stability to chase something bigger when the time is right. [Read more 🡒]
Owen Beck Has A Real Chance To Force Montreals Hand
Owen Beck has spent the past two seasons in that familiar prospect holding pattern, bouncing between limited NHL looks and steady work with the Laval Rocket. For the Canadiens, the 22-year-old center remains one of those players whose value goes beyond the box score, especially because the organization still views center depth as a spot worth sorting out carefully.
Becks case is interesting because he has already shown enough at both levels to keep himself in the conversation, even if the offensive breakthrough at the NHL level has not arrived yet. With Montreal still weighing how much room there is for him moving forward, the next step is less about whether he belongs in the picture and more about whether he can keep forcing the club to make a harder decision on him. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Trade Pressure Is Rising As Kent Hughes Eyes One Key Need
As training camp approaches, Kent Hughes is still trying to shore up the Canadiens forward group, and the search appears to be centered on adding another piece who can lift Montreals top half of the lineup. Arpon Basu of The Athletic reported that the general manager remains actively interested in landing a top-six forward before the season begins, with the club continuing to sift through trade possibilities rather than settling for a quick fix.
The most obvious need is down the middle, where Montreal has been exploring ways to add more support to its scoring group. Hughes has not closed the door on other options either, but the market has not broken in the Canadiens favor yet, and no deal is done as the calendar turns toward opening night. For a team trying to keep building around its core, the next move still feels like it could shape how the entire forward group looks once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]