Montreal Canadiens weigh trade options as NHL offseason deals surge

Several NHL teams made minor trades and draft‑pick exchanges ahead of the upcoming free‑agency period. The Colorado Avalanche acquired forward Fyodor Svechkov and Zachary L'Heureux from the Vancouver Canucks, while the Nashville Predators received Jack Drury and a 2029 third‑round pick. Buffalo sent David Kampf to the Washington Capitals for Alex Tuch and a future pick, and Columbus swapped Valeri Nichushkin with Colorado in return for multiple future selections. Additional moves involved Pittsburgh, Florida, New Jersey, Montreal and Columbus, largely involving depth players and late‑round picks.

The Montreal Canadiens have kept a low profile but are reportedly aggressive behind the scenes. Sources say the club has contacted the Columbus Blue Jackets about Kirill Marchenko, reached out to the Toronto Maple Leafs regarding Mason Marchment, and inquired about Bo Horvat, though the latter is unavailable. Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes is said to be evaluating free‑agent options and potential trade partners as the team approaches the draft. If no deals materialize, Montreal may rely on its 28th‑overall draft pick to address roster needs.