Canadiens News & Notes: Montembeault, Centre Rumours & More

The countdown to the NHL Entry Draft has officially raised the stakes in Montreal, forcing Canadiens general manager (GM) Kent Hughes into a critical summer where patience might finally give way to aggression. There is an undeniable sense that a changing of the guard is brewing at the Bell Centre. The looming, emotional exit of 14-year veteran Brendan Gallagher marks the end of an era, but it also signals a calculated push toward a youth movement. Moving on from Gallagher’s contract wouldn’t just open up a leadership void for the next generation to fill; it would unlock the crucial roster and financial flexibility Hughes needs to aggressively hunt for a high-impact, top-six centre.

With the draft floor historically serving as Hughes’s preferred hunting ground for blockbusters, the rumour mill is spinning at top speed. Insiders suggest the Canadiens are actively targeting a premier pivot to solidify their top-six forward group and permanently accelerate their competitive timeline. But the shopping list might not stop down the middle. Whispers are growing louder that goaltender Samuel Montembeault could also be on the move, serving as a highly valuable trade chip for a team looking to weaponize its roster depth and maximize its return on draft day.

Canadiens Still Hunting Top Six Help

NHL teams have reportedly been calling the Toronto Maple Leafs to revisit the availability of forward Matthew Knies. This was reported by Darren Dreger on Tuesday, following the trade between the Maple Leafs and the Philadelphia Flyers.

Knies was involved in heavy rumours during the last trade deadline. According to several sources, the Canadiens had completed a trade with the Maple Leafs for the power forward, in exchange for top prospect Alexander Zharovsky, one other prospect and two first-round picks. But the NHL ruled that the information had been submitted late, after the 3 p.m. deadline. This power forward with a rare profile amassed 66 points, including 23 goals, in 79 games this season. He is under contract at an average annual value of $7.75 million until 2031. Without mentioning a specific player or team, Hughes indicated during his end-of-season review that he would revisit his mystery trade deadline file.

However, its outcome will depend on the willingness of the team in question. It wouldn’t be surprising if Hughes is kicking tires on Knies again; the surprising part would be if the Maple Leafs actually trade the 23-year-old.

Canadiens Using Fresh Bait

Landing Knies would have been a blockbuster trade and a solution to the size and skill needs in their top-six, but it would not have solved their centre problems. That need means the Canadiens are linked to any centre that could be on the market, which is likely why Sportsnet’s Rory Boylen made a bold prediction that Montreal will not only hunt for a centre, but use Zharovsky as the centrepiece of that blockbuster trade. Well, it’s not that bold of a prediction, especially after the noted failed trade above.

The young Russian has been impressive since his selection in the second round in 2025, becoming the second-best hockey prospect (over fellow Canadiens centre prospect Michael Hage) not yet in the NHL. The forward racked up 42 points in 59 games in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Salavat Yulaev Ufa this past season. He also broke the U-19 KHL points record in his rookie year and was nominated for the KHL Rookie of the Year. Now, he is in Montreal with his childhood friend, Ivan Demidov, training for the summer.

It’s now a seller-beware situation for Hughes, because potentially trading away Zharovsky would be risky. He may take a few years to develop and adjust to the NHL, and Hughes and the Canadiens may not be willing to be patient enough to wait. If they do move on from the promising young forward, it will likely only be for a big-name centre that fits the Canadiens’ long-term needs.

Centres Yes, Vincent Trochek No

Despite the obvious need for a centre, it doesn’t seem Vincent Trochek is on the Canadiens’ list. According to Vincent Mercogliano of The Athletic, several teams that inquired about Trocheck at the trade deadline are picking up the phone once again. However, that doesn’t include the Canadiens.

“Many of the teams believed to have interest are the same as The Athletic reported in March, but others have emerged as potential suitors in recent weeks. The Montreal Canadiens are not one of them, according to a league source, who noted there has been no contact between the two clubs about Trocheck.”

-Vincent Mercoliano (What is Vincent Trocheck’s trade value? Evaluating 7 mock offers for the Rangers center, The Athletic, 12 June, 2026)

Trocheck still has two more years left on his contract, but his age, 33 years old this upcoming season, makes him far less likely to be a target. The Canadiens don’t want a short-term fix this offseason and would rather acquire players like Noah Dobson, who fill a need, are still young and can be signed long-term. Yet, if the centre is still available in August, and the Canadiens haven’t addressed their need for a top-six forward, it wouldn’t be surprising if Hughes revisits this file.  

Canadiens Not Looking at Carlson

Anaheim Ducks veteran defenceman John Carlson has notified the club that he will be heading to free agency. Carlson wants to return to the Eastern Conference and is coming off a 60-point season that saw him play an average of 23:10 per game. Clearly, he is a top-four right-handed defenceman who could still play on a top pairing. Before fans clamour for Hughes to throw a contract his way, they should think twice because Pierre LeBrun also noted that the 36-year-old defender is likely looking for a two-year, $10 million AAV deal.

Montreal has cap flexibility, and the Canadiens are searching for ways to build on a breakthrough playoff run; however, the question to be explored, beyond the salary, is whether the player is a fit for the Canadiens. Marco D’Amico believes the connection may be much weaker than many assume.

Carlson remains a high-end offensive defenceman, but Montreal’s blue line already features two players expected to drive the team’s power play for years to come. Bringing in another expensive puck-moving defenceman would create a triple redundancy rather than solve a pressing roster need, which is an addition of size and grit on the backend.

Canadiens Goaltending

The Canadiens’ goaltending seems to be in great hands as Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler have turned out to be an excellent tandem. Their progression into the NHL has left an odd man out in Montreal, and that is Montembeault. He fell from grace this season, playing a total of 25 games in the NHL, with a record of 10-8-4, a 3.43 goals-against average, and a .872 save percentage. While some may believe that keeping a veteran goaltender as the backup for Dobes is the best path forward, the fact that the NHL season has expanded to 84 games and that it is likely the Canadiens will platoon their goaltenders, giving each over 35 starts per season, does point to a positive environment for Fowler to develop while providing Dobes support.

In early June, LeBrun was on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer and stated that “Montembeault is not going to play another game for the Montreal Canadiens and he’s under contract, so they’re going to have to move him, he’s a backup at this point, I think, for someone.” And now, according to Maxime Truman, the Edmonton Oilers have checked in on the Canadiens former starting goalie. The goaltending market this summer could be busy via trade, and Hughes may not have difficulty moving the veteran. However, the return value may not be enough to satisfy some of the fanbase or the local media, especially considering he is a Quebec native. 

Gallagher’s Exit Plan

What may be the first trade of the offseason for Hughes could lead to Gallagher’s exit from the only NHL team he’s ever played for. There is known interest from the Vancouver Canucks that could help his exit happen soon. They are looking to reset their culture as they dive into a rebuild, looking to step away from the toxic past that helped drag them down from their 100-point season just three seasons ago. And for any long roster rebuild, what’s not to covet with Gallagher, a 34-year-old who spent 14 years as the heart and soul of the Canadiens. He has one year remaining on his contract paying him $6.5 million, and his usage (or lack thereof) in the playoffs as well as his comments following their exit from the Eastern Conference Final made it clear he isn’t part of the Canadiens’ bright future.

Thomas Drance of The Athletic has Gallagher as a target for the Canucks (from ‘Canucks 2026 trade targets: 14 players Vancouver could add this offseason,’ The Athletic, June 17, 2026), and Ben Kuzma of The Province looked at methods that Vancouver could add Gallagher, exploring even waiting for the buyout option.

With the buyout window opening on June 17, the Canadiens can save some money, but this spreads a cap hit over two years at a time when Hughes needs as much of the cap space as possible to set the team’s core group up long term. Montreal needs a second-line centre, so moving Gallagher’s $6.5 million salary cap hit would be more helpful on that front, as it creates more space. Which makes Jeff Marek’s idea of flipping Filip Chytil somewhat interesting.

While the 26-year-old centre has only one season remaining at $4.4 million, the salary cap implications aren’t really an issue, but Chytil’s extensive concussion history is the real red flag here. There is no denying what he brings to the table when he is 100 percent. He is an imposing force who skates with tremendous power through the neutral zone, protects the puck exceptionally well, and possesses high-end playmaking instincts.

The trouble is, it’s basically what Montreal has seen from Kirby Dach: fleeting glimpses of a player that could play in the top-six. While the Canadiens could try to convince themselves that Chytil is finally fully recovered after a lengthy period of healing, we have heard that exact same script before. If the goal is to wait for Hage’s arrival, maybe this becomes an option, but that doesn’t seem to fit any long-term plans. Yet, it may be the best return possible while also giving Gallagher the fit he is in search of.

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