The Montreal Canadiens are working the Canadiens trade market in search of a top-six forward, with a priority on finding a reliable second-line center to play behind captain Nick Suzuki, according to Bleacher Report. The problem for Montreal is that the type of player it wants is in short supply across the league right now.
Montreal sits at 4-3-1 overall and 3-2-0 at home through its first eight games, a modest start for a team that has been connected to center upgrades in back-to-back offseasons. The Canadiens came close to landing one at the March trade deadline, when they pursued Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko before he was shipped to Toronto in the deal that brought Matthew Knies to the Blue Jackets. Montreal also made a run at acquiring Knies directly from the Maple Leafs before that trade was finalized, per Bleacher Report.
The Main Development: A Thin Market At Center
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin is the lone established second-line center on the market after requesting a trade from the Red Wings this summer. That alone would make him an obvious target for a club still searching for center depth. The complication is that Larkin has full control over his destination under his contract, and his list of preferred trade destinations does not include any of the seven Canadian teams, Montreal among them, according to Bleacher Report.
That has not stopped speculation from building around a potential fit. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on Oct. 8 that people were trying to talk Larkin into joining Montreal’s rising young roster. The idea gained public traction days later, when Canadiens fans chanted “We want Larkin” during Montreal’s Oct. 10 game against Detroit, a chant stoked by Montreal radio host Georges Laraque.
Supporters of the idea have argued the pairing makes sense given Suzuki’s standing in the lineup. “He’d be a perfect fit as their second-line center behind team captain and Selke Trophy winner Nick Suzuki,” per Bleacher Report.
None of that amounts to confirmed trade talks. Larkin’s preferred list working against Montreal is the operative fact, and no source has reported the Canadiens’ front office making a direct approach for him or any other player.
What It Means For Montreal’s Roster Needs
The scarcity of top center options puts Montreal in a position where it may need to wait out the market rather than force a move. The Canadiens’ preference for a true second-line center suggests general manager Kent Hughes views the position, not just scoring depth in general, as the specific gap behind Suzuki. With Larkin unlikely to land in Montreal given his stated destination preferences, no other established second-line center alternative has surfaced in trade coverage to date.
Context: A Banged-Up Lineup
Montreal’s roster is dealing with a notable injury list as it navigates the opening weeks of the season. Forward Nick Suzuki has already missed time with an upper-body injury this season, underscoring the value of center depth beyond the captain. Forwards Florian Xhekaj and Ivan Demidov are both out with lower-body injuries, defenseman Mike Matheson is day to day with a lower-body issue, and goaltender Samuel Montembeault is sidelined with a lower-body injury as well. Lucas Condotta and Bryce Pickford are both out with undisclosed injuries, according to FOX Sports and NHL.com.
On the ice, Montreal has also been one of the league’s more penalized teams, committing 43 total penalties through its first games, an average of 5.4 per contest that ranks fifth in the NHL, per FOX Sports data tied to the team’s Oct. 20 game against the San Jose Sharks.
What’s Next
No cap figures, trade timeline or specific front-office contact with other teams has been reported, so any center addition remains speculative for now. Montreal continues its schedule with center depth and health among the issues to track, and any formal trade activity would mark the next confirmed development in this story. The Canadiens’ recent moves, including the trade of Jayden Struble to Nashville for a 2027 pick, show the front office remains willing to make roster changes as the season unfolds.
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