Welcome back to another edition of NHL Rumours from the crew at Last Word on Hockey. October is almost over, and teams have a good sense of where they stand this season. One of those teams is the Montreal Canadiens. The young up-and-coming team has been off to a hot start, but there are still areas to improve. One of those areas is at the centre ice position. In this edition of NHL Rumours, we focus on just that.
All NHL rumours come from their original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours: Canadiens Eyeing Veteran Forward
Rumour: Pierre LeBrun was a guest recently on TSN’s Overdrive. Jeff O’Neill asked LeBrun about the chances of the Canadiens looking to add a centre sooner rather than later.
Analysis: Lebrun confirms that the Canadiens have accumulated a list internally of centres who are potentially going to be available between now and next season. One of those names being Nazem Kadri. Kadri’s name has been in the rumour mill often with the Calgary Flames struggling, and the Canadiens are a team that are currently on his list of teams to which he would accept a trade to. Which shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering he grew up cheering for the Canadiens.
It’s been no secret that the Canadiens have been in the market for a number two centre to play behind Nick Suzuki. Even though they’re off to a hot start and Kirby Dach has been playing well to start the year, there’s always room for improvement. Kadri would provide just that.
Kadri has proven to be a very valuable two-way centre capable of producing points. He has scored 309 goals and 718 points over his 996-game career thus far. He is also a Stanley Cup champion, winning it as a member of the Colorado Avalanche during the 2021-22 season. Kadri is also a left-hand shot, which is something the Canadiens are in the market for, as currently, all four of their centres are right-handed. Alex Newhook is the only centre who is left-handed on the roster; however, he is currently playing the wing next to Oliver Kapanen. A position he is certainly better suited for. Acquiring Kadri would give the Canadiens that left-handed option on the draw, which would prove extremely valuable, especially in their defensive end on a right-handed centre’s weaker side.
Cost to Land Kadri
Of course, to acquire a valuable player, you need to give something of value up in return. This is where it could get tricky for the Canadiens. While they most certainly have the pieces to make any deal work, what is Kent Hughes and company comfortable moving? Surely, they’re not going to overpay for a 35-year-old centre who carries a $7 million cap hit until he’s 38 years old. However, Calgary isn’t just going to hand him over either. You’d have to assume any deal would have to include at least a first-round pick and a solid prospect or young NHL player.
Calgary will have no shortage of suitors for Kadri, so Kent Hughes could end up in a bidding war to acquire his services. However, if the team keeps playing the way they are and he feels they are legitimately close to contending, he will certainly pull the trigger on any deal that gets them that much closer.
Main Photo: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The post NHL Rumours: Montreal Canadiens Looking to Add Veteran Forward appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.