Gavin McKenna could help the Canadiens find a top-notch center

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 10:34 AM ET

In the club’s most important week in years, will the Canadiens be able to get their hands on a top-notch center to back up Nick Suzuki?

We don’t know.

What we do know, however, is that it’s going to be tough, but that the Canadiens are going to try anyway. Maybe he’ll come up short… but maybe on Friday, Sidney Crosby will arrive in town. #TheSpectrumIsLarge

Would it be the end of the world if the Canadiens couldn’t get their hands on a second-line center this week? No, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

It wouldn’t be ideal, though.

But there’s another way of looking at things on the heels of a market where everyone-except the Penguins-is selling. What if Kent Hughes waited until November to buy a center?

Eric Engels (Sportsnet) put in a good word for us in a recent article. The journalist doesn’t rule out a market that will come to life very quickly during the 2025-2026 season, if certain clubs realize that buying in the summer of 2025 was a mistake.

The Montreal Canadiens are one of many teams looking to improve their current roster and contend next season – which makes trading one of their first-round picks for an established player all the more challenging(@EricEngels) https://t.co/LPUTOeFqEq

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 23, 2025

In fact, because Gavin McKenna will be available at the next auction, some clubs may decide to throw in the towel very quickly in 2025-2026, in order to give themselves a chance of going after the young star at the 2026 draft. This could bring some centers onto the market.

Even Arpon Basu raised this possibility on The Athletic.

So if the Canadiens, who won’t be aiming for the Stanley Cup as early as 2026, don’t get what they want this summer, they can take the risk of being patient and hitting the market during the season.

I absolutely don’t believe that this is the Habs’ #1 plan, of course. But as a plan B, if need be, it’s certainly an idea to keep in mind.

overtime

– No surprises here.

Elliotte Friedman: If Jonathan Marchesseault got traded, he would have asked to have gone somewhere with low taxes similar to Nashville so his contract wouldn’t be worth less – 32 Thoughts Podcast

– NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 24, 2025

– Happy reading.

Adam Engström on his first year in North America and off-season goals https://t.co/nVPkpa28bX

– Montreal Hockey Talk (@mtlhockeytalk) June 24, 2025

– Ottawa to watch.

Ottawa Senators will likely show interest in Brock Boeser in search for scoring help https://t.co/WxeYIkxxZV via @ottawacitizen #Sens #ottsports #ottnews #Ottawa #GoSensGo #FreeAgentFrenzy

– Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) June 24, 2025