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Maple Leafs and Flyers Talked Big Trade for Canadiens Star

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Mar 19, 2026 2:15 PM ET

The Montreal Canadiens may not have made a splash at the trade deadline, but it’s becoming increasingly clear they were far more active behind the scenes than many realized. It’s already known that the Canadiens were working on “something big” that didn’t go down. They may revisit those talks in the offseason. But what about rumors involving Patrik Laine?

That cloudy picture is starting to get a little clearer.

According to Elliotte Friedman:

“The Canadiens have done a nice job of shielding their true intentions. There were rumours of a defenceman, of Knies, and even something else they might wish to revisit. They definitely explored moving money. There were discussions about Patrik Laine ending up either in Philadelphia or Toronto, but it obviously didn’t work out.”

That last part is intriguing. The Canadiens had potential takers for Laine, including Toronto and Philadelphia.

How that would have looked and why the Leafs or Flyers would have done it remain unclear. Perhaps both teams thought they had a shot at the playoffs. Maybe one or both figured getting him now would mean a better chance to re-sign him on a team-friendly deal. Either way, it didn’t pan out.

What Would Have Been Coming Back to the Canadiens?

At various points, the team was linked to a potential move for a defenceman. In Toronto, there was talk about moving Brandon Carlo and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. In Philly, speculation surrounded Rasmus Ristolainen. Perhaps those weren’t the names in any trade conversations, but neither scenario materialized.

There were also indications that the Canadiens were simply looking into moving money as part of a larger strategy and would have dumped him for little return.

The level of activity suggests Montreal was close to making a significant move. Perhaps they will revisit similar opportunities when the offseason begins.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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