Canadiens reportedly favorites to land 40-goal scorer in trade

Jonathan Marchessault. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Montreal Canadiens reportedly favorites to land 40-goal scorer in offseason trade

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated May 29, 2025 2:27 PM ET

The Montreal Canadiens took a huge leap in 2024-25, and now it appears they could be looking to target a star winger.

Coming into the 2024-25 season, hopes were high for the Montreal Canadiens, but no one quite saw them being as good as they were, as they won one game against the Washington Capitals in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

With two picks in the first round, they've got the ammunition to get a deal done, with the team being linked to many veteran players who could help improve their roster.

Now, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli, Nashville Predators star Jonathan Marchessault is open to being traded, with the Canadiens quickly forming as a favorite to land the Quebec native via trade.

Marchessault, 34, had a down year this past season, tallying 21 goals and 56 points for an offensively inept Predators team. But if he could find himself on a team full of young, dynamic players like Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov and Nick Suzuki among others, he could still be a very elite player at the NHL level.

The Canadiens have been linked to other veterans as well, and with the team having the potential to be a genuine Stanley Cup threat in 2026, they may end up looking to move both of their first-round picks to make significant additions this offseason.

However, there may not be any players in the NHL who would fit this roster better than Marchessault. After winning the Conn Smythe in 2023 with the Vegas Golden Knights, if this team gets to the Stanley Cup playoffs, he brings the skill and the experience to make them a genuine threat.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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