In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, there’s more speculation about the Canadiens’ offseason plans, and a rumor claiming the Islanders could be shopping Mathew Barzal.
THE LATEST ON THE CANADIENS
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan examined possible offseason moves for the Canadiens.
General manager Kent Hughes intends to be busy working the phones this summer searching for players to improve his roster. However, he said it’s “unlikely” that he’ll trade for short-term fixes at the expense of the future. Hughes hopes to continue adding players that can help them now and in the future.
Hughes and Jeff Gorton, the Canadiens president of hockey operations, understand that their roster must be better defensively and be more physical. They also took from their series with the Carolina Hurricanes just how hard it is to reach the Stanley Cup Final.
Cowan noted that forwards Brendan Gallagher, Patrik Laine, and goaltender Sam Montembeault won’t be back next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Gallagher and Montembeault each have a year left on their contracts.
Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher (NHL Images)
Gallagher carries an average annual value of $6.5 million ($4 million in actual salary) and a six-team no-trade list for next season, while Montembeault’s AAV is $3.1 million. They will be traded or bought out this summer. Gallagher indicated that he’d like to play for his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks. Montembeault could draw some interest from clubs seeking goaltending depth.
SPORTSNET: Eric Engels reports the Canadiens must add an established second-line center and “a seasoned, high-quality, right-handed defense partner” for Lane Hutson. They also need “two more big, tenacious, intimidating depth wingers”.
The Canadiens have nearly $11 million in salary-cap space for 2026-27, and could free up another $6.5 million if Gallagher is traded.
Engels noted that Gorton and Hughes hope to add more to the Canadiens’ core. They will try to address as many of their roster issues as possible, even if it means blocking or trading a prospect who could eventually fill a void but won’t be able to in short order.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have plenty of trade capital, especially in promising young players. It could mean peddling someone such as center Michael Hage and winger Alexander Zharovsky to accomplish those goals.
TVA SPORTS: Hughes also mentioned that he could revisit the significant deal that he was working on at the trade deadline. “It depends on the other team,” Hughes said. “That doesn’t stop us from making the appeal and revisiting it.” However, he also said that what was available in March might not be available in June.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation at that time linked the Canadiens to Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthews Knies and St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas.
The Leafs are under new management, which could ensure Knies stays in Toronto. The Blues set a high asking price for Thomas, who has a no-trade clause and insists he wants to stay in St. Louis.
Nicolas Cloutier believes it could be easier for the Canadiens to trade Gallagher than some people think. He suggested a rebuilding club, such as the Canucks, could take on Gallagher’s contract to stay above next season’s salary cap floor, which $76.9 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cloutier pointed out that the Canucks could drop below the cap floor by trading one of their expensive veterans. He noted that Gallagher’s actual salary for next season is lower than his cap hit, which could be appealing to some teams.
Renaud Lavoie shot down a rumor linking the Canadiens to Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.
The speculation claimed McDavid was in Montreal during the Formula 1 Grand Prix looking at houses in the area. However, Lavoie reports the Oilers superstar wasn’t in Montreal at the time and wasn’t house shopping. McDavid’s wife was in Montreal at the time, attending an event to which she had been invited.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Last year, it was “Sidney Crosby to Montreal.” Now, it’s McDavid. Next summer, it’ll be McDavid, or Auston Matthews, or Brady Tkachuk.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports it’s rumored that the Canadiens were in talks with the New York Rangers regarding Vincent Trocheck at the March trade deadline.
Garrioch believes Trocheck would be a “perfect fit” to fill the Canadiens’ second-line center role. He’s also signed through 2028-29 with an AAV of $5.625 million. However, he’s not sure if Trocheck was the player at the center of the deal that fell through.
Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere was also linked to the Canadiens. He has a big cap hit at $7.145 million through 2031-32, but Garrioch suggested the Habs should “swing for the fences.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trocheck’s age (33) would be a concern as his production will inevitably decline over the remainder of his contract. There’s also his desire to remain on the East Coast as close to New York as possible. He also might not be keen to join a Canadian team.
As for Lafreniere, he doesn’t address the Canadiens’ priorities. He’s neither a center nor a right-shot, top-four defenseman.
ARE THE ISLANDERS SHOPPING MATHEW BARZAL?
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports a league executive informed him that the New York Islanders are exploring the trade market for Mathew Barzal.
The Islanders want to clear some salary cap space. Barzal carries an AAV of $9.15 million through 2030-31.
Garrioch claimed the Utah Mammoth “kicked tires” on Barzal last summer, but opted not to make the move.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrioch included the Barzal tidbit among possible trade targets for the Senators, who are reportedly seeking a top-six forward. He believes Barzal’s cap hit would be difficult to swallow when they’re going to talk contract extension with winger Drake Batherson, who could seek between $9 million and $10 million annually.
Moving Barzal won’t help the offensively anemic Islanders, who must boost their scoring punch if they hope to be a playoff contender next season. He also has a 22-team no-trade list.