The Montreal Canadiens are suddenly on the brink of elimination. After getting shut out 4-0 by the Carolina Hurricanes at Bell Centre in Game 4, the Canadiens now trail the Eastern Conference Final 3-1 and are officially down to their final chance to keep the season alive.
But even with the playoffs still underway, offseason speculation around Montreal is already beginning to heat up, especially after two massive names resurfaced on NHL trade boards.
Montreal Canadiens Linked to $88.5M Trade Duo
The two players currently connected to Montreal are Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies and Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish. Knies has five years remaining on his six-year, $46.5 million contract, while McTavish has five years left on his six-year, $42 million deal.
Knies was linked to Montreal around the March trade deadline after Canadiens GM Kent Hughes revealed he explored a big move, though he never named the player. Many believed the rumors were about Knies because he fits Montreal’s young core perfectly.
Meanwhile, trade rumors about McTavish began last offseason, when his contract talks with Anaheim reached a roadblock. Montreal was reportedly interested in whether the Ducks considered trading him, and speculation has picked up again this summer.
Now, both players have appeared on NHL analyst Chris Johnston’s latest trade board.
McTavish ranked No. 4 on Johnston’s list. Johnston noted that the Ducks expected much more after signing the 23-year-old to a six-year, $42 million extension last September.
“Not only did the 23-year-old find himself an occasional healthy scratch (including during the playoffs), he saw a decline in his average ice time and offensive production… While there is no real sense of urgency here from the Ducks’ end of things, that hasn’t stopped other teams from trying,” Johnston said of trade speculation around McTavish.
Knies came in at No. 12 on the same board. Johnston described him as the type of young power forward that teams almost never move because of his rare mix of size, skill, and long-term value. “That’s partly why the Maple Leafs considered it ahead of the March trade deadline. They felt he could bring back a bonanza of assets to reboot a program short on prospects and draft picks,” he said.
He also noted that new Toronto executive John Chayka has reportedly told teams that Auston Matthews is the only untouchable player on the roster, leaving the door open for calls on Knies.
Adding either Knies or McTavish would instantly strengthen Montreal’s young core and top-six forward group. Landing both would completely reshape the Canadiens’ future.
The biggest obstacle, however, is money. Montreal is projected to have roughly $10.9 million in cap space, making it extremely difficult to absorb the combined $14.75 million cap hit without major roster moves or sacrificing valuable future assets.
Still, with Kent Hughes aggressively looking to bolster their roster, the Canadiens are expected to remain active in trade discussions this offseason.
