2023-24 NHL Prediction: 5 Montreal Canadiens Who Won't Be Traded

The 2023-24 NHL season is upon us and let's continue to enjoy some fun during prediction season. We've showcased a few teams who won't be trading away their top talent this season and for today's piece, we head to Montreal to zone in on the Canadiens and more specifically, five players who GM Kent Hughes will not be moving this season. They include:

Nick Suzuki

Suzuki was recently named captain and isn't going anywhere anytime soon. He's starting to come in his own as a two-way force in the league and look for Suzuki to have a big year in 2023-24. The 24-year-old could hit 80 points for the first time in his career.

Cole Caufield

One of the reasons Suzuki could hit career high in points is based on the fact Caufield could be lighting the lamp a lot this season. The former first-round pick scored 26 goals in 46 games last season and if he can stay on the ice for an entire season, 40 is easily within reach.

Mike Matheson

Recently named assistant captain, the veteran defenseman came to Montreal after a big trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins a couple of years ago and hasn't looked back. He has three seasons left on his contract at a very reasonable $4.87 million per year and don't expect to see him changing jerseys anytime soon.

Samuel Montembeault

The Canadiens crease is packed but Montembeault isn't being moved. Hughes would trade Jake Allen or newly acquired Casey DeSmith before moving the 26-year-old with tons of potential. Montembeault suited up for Team Canada during the offseason and is proving to be developing nicely into a 1-B netminder. 

Kirby Dach

If Dach was getting traded, it would have happened already as the trade talks were running wild during the offseason. Pierre-Luc Dubois ended up in Los Angeles because Hughes wasn't including Dach in the deal with the Jets. The 22-year-old has all-world talent and a ton of potential. It's going to be one of those 'best trades we never made' scenarios.

Photo credit:  Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports