4 Canadiens Most Likely to Be Traded This Offseason

Where does that leave Montembeault? The 29-year-old finished with a 3.43 goals-against average and an .872 save percentage in 25 games, numbers that reflect a goalie who lost his grip on the crease rather than a legitimate starter. With Dobeš firmly entrenched and Jacob Fowler developing as the organization’s long-term answer, Montembeault’s path back to meaningful NHL minutes in Montreal has effectively closed.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that a trade involving Montembeault this summer is likely, given the depth chart now stacks three goalies ahead of anyone else on the roster. His $3.15 million cap hit is manageable enough that a team in need of a capable backup could view him as a reasonable reclamation project, especially given what he showed in earlier seasons with the Habs.

Kirby Dach: The Uncertain Bet

Kirby Dach is the most complicated name on this list. The 25-year-old has dealt with significant injury setbacks since arriving in Montreal, and he heads into this offseason as a pending restricted free agent (RFA) with an uncertain place in the team’s long-term plans. The Canadiens must decide whether to invest in a player who has shown real promise when healthy or redirect that money toward a more reliable piece.

Multiple analysts have suggested that cutting ties with Dach makes sense given the organizational direction, particularly with Michael Hage developing in college and the forward group growing younger and deeper. Montreal still lacks a true second-line center, and if Dach isn’t the answer to that need, keeping him long-term at a price that reflects his upside might not be the best use of resources.

This doesn’t mean Dach is without value; a team that believes in his ability to stay healthy could see real return on a low-cost acquisition. But from Montreal’s perspective, the conversation this summer is about what they get back, not what they’re giving away.

Jayden Struble: A Surplus Problem

Jayden Struble is a good NHL defenseman. That’s precisely why he’s a trade candidate. With Montreal carrying a surplus of left-shot defensemen, Struble represents a genuine chip that Kent Hughes could use to address a more pressing need elsewhere on the roster. He posted two goals and 12 points in 59 games this season, solid but unremarkable production for a player entering his prime years.

The issue is that with Noah Dobson anchoring the right side, Lane Hutson locked in as a cornerstone, and David Reinbacher developing, the organizational priority on the left side has shifted. Struble is still an RFA, which means Montreal controls the negotiation. But rather than pay him for a fourth or fifth defensive role, moving him as part of a package, perhaps in a deal targeting a center or a right-shot defender, could deliver more value.

The Bigger Picture

These four potential trades aren’t just about subtracting from the roster; they’re about creating the space and assets needed to make Montreal a true contender. The Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference Final by being young and fast and relentless, but the next step requires more depth, more experience, and more certainty in key spots.

As detailed in a recent analysis of Montreal’s cap situation, how Hughes handles this offseason will define the timeline of this rebuild turned contention. The moves this summer aren’t the end of something; they’re the beginning of the next chapter.