Hockey

Report: Canadiens Looking To Upgrade, No Lateral Moves

Published: Sep 20, 2024, 5:57 AM
4 min read
Updated: Jul 22, 2025, 7:52 AM
Fact checked by:
Sergey Demidov
David Savard

David Savard (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

 

It’s the start of training camp and the Montreal Canadiens appear to be set with their roster, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still on the lookout for a deal.

According to a well-placed RG source in the Eastern Conference, the Canadiens remain active on the phones despite being content with their roster.

With four picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 NHL Draft, along with a boatload of prospects, it won’t be for lack of assets that a trade doesn’t go down.

The Canadiens have reportedly informed their colleagues that they’re not looking for lateral deals and will be looking to make clear upgrades at positions of need.

This was made evident in their acquisition of Patrik Laine this summer, in exchange for a stable, albeit expendable, defenseman in Jordan Harris.

It was further evidenced by how quickly their trade talks with the Nashville Predators ended when GM Barry Trotz requested top prospect Jacob Fowler in exchange for Yaroslav Askarov.

The Canadiens aren’t looking to go sideways, they’re looking for clear upgrades.

But where?

Biding Their Time For The Right Deal

The Canadiens spent most of the summer looking for the right deal to come along.

They were involved in conversations for Trevor Zegras, Martin Necas and even Rutger McGroarty around the 2024 NHL Draft. Ultimately, those deals fell through because the Canadiens were able to acquire the type of elite talent they were looking for in Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage.

The Canadiens still aren’t fully satisfied at forward, especially when it comes to goal-scoring. Yes, they acquired Laine, drafted Demidov, and already have Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, but championship rosters generally have six forwards that can pot 20+ goals.

But, especially for this upcoming season, the right side of their defense is where the most attention will be given on the market.

A Clear Upgrade On Defense

The same source told RG that Montreal will have difficulty evaluating its next move at the position, with veteran David Savard’s contract coming to an end this season.

Youngsters Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher and Justin Barron are in the fold but too young for full-time, top-4 duty. Meanwhile Bogdan Konyushkov still has two years on his KHL deal.

A lot of unknowns, some well-earned hope, but very little concrete results to ensure that such a vital position is covered moving forward.

The Canadiens have put a stopgap to their problem by slotting left-handed Kaiden Guhle on the right next to Mike Matheson, but that likely won’t be a long-term solution.

And it’s not by chance that team defense has been the word at Canadiens’ training camp so far, as the organization has set a goal of shoring up the play in their zone.

The Canadiens believe in their youth and want to give them every chance to prove themselves. But if things take longer than predicted, they will need a clear upgrade on defense to hit the next level.

It’s an organizational tipping point, and one that will be tested this season as the Canadiens look to take the next step in their rebuild over the next few years.

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Senior News Editor
Marco D’Amico is an accredited hockey reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens, with a strong focus on NHL prospects, the NHL Draft, and player development. His work has appeared on TSN, RDS, CBC, and more, and he’s interviewed top talents like Lane Hutson, Shane Wright, Ivan Demidov, Logan Cooley, and Nathan MacKinnon.
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Content Marketing

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Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria Tuboltseva has worked as a sports journalist since 2014 and has specialized in hockey coverage since 2016. She’s reported from some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the Olympic Games (Beijing 2022), the FIFA World Cup (2018), the IIHF World Championships (2016–2019, 2021), the IIHF World Junior Championship (2019), and every Gagarin Cup Final since 2017.

Her work has appeared in leading Russian sports outlets like Championat.com and Sport24, as well as on the official websites of the KHL and the Women’s Hockey League (WHL). Daria has conducted exclusive interviews with some of the sport’s most recognized names, including Alex Ovechkin, Jaromir Jagr, Kirill Kaprizov, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Igor Shesterkin.

Beyond her writing, Daria brings extensive on-camera experience. She hosted NHL Today on Yandex.Efir and has produced powerful long-form projects such as the documentary Lokomotiv Crash and the series Hockey Country, featuring stars like Ovechkin, Malkin, Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy, and Panarin. Her work has taken her to NHL games across North America and international events like the NHL Global Series in Europe.

In addition to her media career, Daria is a certified integrative nutritionist with a focus on sports nutrition. She works one-on-one with KHL players, helping them optimize performance and recovery through tailored nutrition plans. Her ability to blend media expertise with athlete support gives her a unique presence in the professional hockey world.

Daria publishes in both English and Russian and is the creator of the Telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth, where she shares insights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the hockey world.

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