What if Nathan MacKinnon ever hit the market?
That’s the kind of swing the Canadiens could actually take, according to Jimmy Murphy. And while there’s nothing out there saying MacKinnon is available, the idea is built around a simple reality: Montreal has positioned itself better than most teams to pounce if a true star ever shakes loose.
The Canadiens’ appeal in this kind of hypothetical comes from the pieces already in place. They have a core that is reasonably priced, plus quality prospects and valuable draft picks. That combination gives Kent Hughes the kind of ammunition a team needs if a blockbuster opportunity ever lands in front of them.
That was the backdrop for Murphy’s comments on the Sick Podcast, where he floated MacKinnon as the sort of player Montreal could dream about if Colorado ever made him available. A center of that caliber would instantly change everything for a team.
The wrinkle is that this isn’t about MacKinnon being on the block right now. It’s about what could happen down the road. He remains under contract through 2031 at $12.6 million per season, a number that still looks manageable for the level of impact he delivers.
But Colorado has another huge financial question coming. Cale Makar’s deal runs out after the 2026-27 season, and his next contract is expected to be massive. Murphy raised the possibility that Makar could become the first NHL player to reach the $20 million-per-season mark.
That kind of number would create real pressure on the Avalanche’s cap structure, and Murphy’s point is that it could eventually have ripple effects for MacKinnon’s future in Colorado.
For Montreal, the advantage is patience. Hughes doesn’t have to force anything.
He can wait, stockpile assets and hold out for the kind of name that changes a franchise overnight. If that ever turned into MacKinnon - or even Connor McDavid, however unlikely that might be - the wait would be worth it.
In Other News...
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TVA Sports journalist Renaud Lavoie has cast doubt on the idea that Bolduc is ready for a big-ticket payday, pointing to the growing pains that still come with a young player finding his place. For the Canadiens, the question is less about urgency than timing, with management weighing his development and eventual role before deciding whether he is ready to be paid like a core piece or still needs another step first. [Read more 🡒]
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For Montreal, that creates a familiar but frustrating bind. The organization has long leaned on future assets when exploring major moves, but this situation sounds far less flexible than a standard market negotiation, especially with Detroit trying to be careful about the message it sends to core young players like Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider. That kind of stance can narrow the field fast, and it leaves the Canadiens trying to figure out whether there is a realistic path to make an offer that fits both timelines. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Depth Plan Suddenly Puts Evgenii Dadonov In Focus
Evgenii Dadonovs name has surfaced again in the kind of offseason chatter that tends to follow veteran forwards with options still on the table. Reports have him drawing interest from KHL clubs such as Traktor Chelyabinsk, Shanghai and Ak Bars Kazan, but the bigger detail for a North American audience is that he is reportedly trying to stay on this side of the ocean. For a player at this stage of his career, that makes the next move less about speculation and more about fit, leverage and timing.
The Canadiens also have their own reach into that same Russian and European talent stream to keep an eye on, with prospects Vinzenz Rohrer and Alexander Gordin heading toward different opportunities abroad. Rohrer is expected to sign with EV Zug in Switzerland, where he could land among the leagues top earners, while Gordin has been dealt to Izhstal Izhevsk. In a market where rights changes and overseas landing spots can reshape development paths quickly, Dadonovs situation stands out because it is still unresolved and still tied to where he ultimately wants to play. [Read more 🡒]