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Pierre LeBrun Doesn't See Canadiens Doing 'Stupid' Offseason Moves

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jun 25, 2025 8:12 AM ET

The Montreal Canadiens are coming off their first playoff appearance since making it to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, and while their exit came quickly in the first round, management is focused on building off that progress.

According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, the Canadiens are scouring the forward market to know everything about it and who might become available for trade at some point during the offseason.

General manager Kent Hughes has been actively working the phones ahead of the draft, with cap space and two mid-round first-round picks at his disposal.

“Habs GM Kent Hughes is leaving no stone unturned in surveying the forward market and trying to line up potential trade scenarios for this week and perhaps into the summer," LeBrun reported. "The search for a No. 2 center might be too hard this offseason, so a compromise might be a top-six winger with pop. Some of those calls Hughes is making are in that direction.”

INSIDER TRADING - @PierreVLeBrun on the Leafs & Tavares trying to find the sweet spot in contract talks, Florida’s Big 3 UFAs: https://t.co/uAIroPSHig pic.twitter.com/DxGAqCn7YZ
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) June 24, 2025

The Canadiens hold the No. 16 and No. 17 picks in the 2025 draft, giving them flexibility to pursue younger trade targets like the Buffalo Sabres' JJ Peterka or the Minnesota Wild's Marco Rossi.

Veterans such as the New York Islanders' JG Pageau or the St. Louis Blues' Brayden Schenn are also on the Canadiens' radar, but that'd depend on how they're valued by their franchises.

In any case, LeBrun emphasized the team will focus on building for steady playoffs contention instead of chasing instant gratification with moves that might compromise the long-term future of the organization.

"This isn’t about making sure they stay in the playoffs and not just about next year," LeBrun reported. "The Canadiens want to build a contender that takes multiple cracks at it over the next decade. So, it’s not about next year.

"Of course, they want to stay a playoff team, but they’re not going to do something stupid and overpay for a short-term hit."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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