Report: Montreal Canadiens Talked Trades For Two Huge Players
The Montreal Canadiens were more active behind the scenes than their quiet trade deadline suggested. According to Elliotte Friedman, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton "tested the waters" on acquiring star forward Mikko Rantanen before his eventual trade to the Dallas Stars. Sportsnet's Eric Engels had previously reported the Canadiens’ strong interest in Rantanen, and Friedman’s comments suggest Montreal at least explored the possibility. However, he also noted that Rantanen had concerns about joining teams that weren’t immediate contenders, which may have played a role in his decision to go elsewhere.32 Thoughts Trade Deadline WrapLinks to your preferred platform, here: https://t.co/io7Mr1QEpm— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 8, 2025
Pierre LeBrun later revealed that Hughes also pursued Dylan Cozens before he was traded to the Ottawa Senators in a deal involving Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker. Montreal reportedly put together an offer centered around Kirby Dach and Logan Mailloux but ultimately fell short of Ottawa’s package. Hughes confirmed in a press conference that he had been working on a major deal, saying, "These negotiations will resume next summer," indicating that the Canadiens remain aggressive in their search for top-tier talent.STARS DEBUT GOAL FOR MIKKO RANTANEN!!!! pic.twitter.com/GkZEfYho3S— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) March 9, 2025
While Montreal didn’t land a major acquisition, these reports make it clear that Hughes is aiming high in his rebuild. The Canadiens showed interest in two high-profile forwards, and with significant cap space and trade assets, they could be poised to make a major move at the 2025 NHL Draft or in the offseason.Photo Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images...
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