The Montreal Canadiens are rolling to begin the season as they hold a 5-2 record through seven games. There haven’t been many negatives during the small sample size to begin the year. However, there still is one glaring concern. It’s been evident for a long time that Montreal needs a second-line centre behind captain Nick Suzuki. Kirby Dach was supposed to be the answer. However, injuries have derailed his career up to this point. Dach began the season in the number two spot, but five games were all it took before he went down with yet another injury. His health makes him an unreliable option down the middle. Even when healthy, Dach hasn’t lived up to his potential offensively.
Montreal Canadiens Search Down the Middle Continues
As a result, the Montreal Canadiens have reportedly been on the hunt for some help in the centre department. But what are the Canadiens current options down the middle, and how would a trade shake up the team? Let’s take a look at some trade options and what that might look like for the Montreal Canadiens.
Montreal Canadiens Current Internal Outlook
Currently, the Canadiens have two solid centres as Suzuki has blossomed into a true number one pivot, and Jake Evans is a reliable fourth-line centre. However, the middle-six has caused some concern. Rookie Oliver Kapanen has been solid as the team’s third-line centre, thus far. Kapanen has recorded four goals in seven games. He also plays on the team’s penalty kill and has found some chemistry with fellow rookie Ivan Demidov. Kapanen hasn’t been bad, but some support for the rookie down the middle would give the Canadiens more options with their line combinations. With Dach’s injury, Joe Veleno has stepped into the lineup. Veleno has performed admirably in his short stint. In contrast, he doesn’t provide the offence necessary to hold down a middle-six role.
With the injuries to Dach and Patrik Laine, Montreal has been forced to shuffle its lines to compensate. Dach’s health is a major concern throughout the season, and Montreal can’t afford to deal with the uncertainty he brings as they don’t have the depth down the middle to step in. It seems inevitable that the Canadiens will make a deal to bolster their weakest position, but the question is, how soon? The reality is that it’s the sooner the better for the Habs as they don’t have any internal options. A trade before Christmas that brings in the long-sought-after centre would be ideal.
Options on the Trade Market
There are several options on the trade market that the Canadiens could look at. The first that comes to mind is Pavel Zacha of the Boston Bruins. The Bruins started the season hot but have since lost four straight. They are expected to be a basement dweller this year as they’ve lost the depth they had just a couple of years ago. As a result, Montreal could capitalize as the Bruins look to sell. Zacha is still only 28 and brings size and reliability to the lineup. He is no slouch offensively either, as he had 59 points only a year ago. The only issue with a Zacha trade is that it would likely come closer to the trade deadline as the Bruins look to maximize the return for their asset.
Trading for a player like Pavel Zacha makes a lot of sense for Montreal. The package to acquire him wouldn’t be overwhelming. Despite the Canadiens and Bruins being rivals, the franchises are headed in opposite directions, so their rivalry shouldn’t get in the way of facilitating a deal. However, the Canadiens could also swing for the fences and try to poach an elite player from Buffalo like Tage Thompson. Thompson has five years left at a very affordable $7.1 million cap hit. It’s no secret that the star players are unhappy in Buffalo. If tensions finally boil over and Thompson requests a trade, Montreal could be a legitimate destination for the star forward.
Acquiring a player of his calibre would change the dynamic of the Canadiens offence and give them one of the best centre duos in the league. It’s worth noting that he has played a lot on the wing in Buffalo as well, so a deal would only work if the Canadiens view Thompson as a centreman long-term.
What a Deal Would Mean For the Montreal Canadiens Lineup
Making a trade for another centre would likely mean that a roster player is on the way out in the deal. This could be Kirby Dach himself, who has one year left at a manageable cap hit. Patrik Laine‘s expiring contract could also be moved to an organization with an abundance of cap space. Regardless of who it is, there would undoubtedly be some roster fallout from this type of move.
As for what it would do to the lineup, it would give rookie Ivan Demidov and sophomore Zachary Bolduc a legitimate pivot to play alongside. The two young forwards have been playing between Dach, Kapanen, and Veleno throughout the year. Adding a proven centreman would give the team the ability to form a dangerous second-line. This is something the Montreal Canadiens haven’t had in a long time.
Main Photo: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
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