NHL Rumors: 3 Available Players Montreal Canadiens Could Go After

The Montreal Canadiens find themselves in a unique and favorable position due to substantial salary cap relief brought about by a combination of factors.

The extended absences of key players Carey Price and Christian Dvorak, along with Kirby Dach's season-ending injury, have created a significant surplus in cap space, totaling over $15 million.

This newfound financial flexibility has ignited rumors of potential moves, with the Canadiens eyeing available players like Conor Garland of the Vancouver Canucks, Anthony Mantha from the Washington Capitals, and Adam Boqvist of the Columbus Blue Jackets, all of whom are currently on the trade market, according to Montreal Hockey Now's Michael D'Amico.

Two beauty goals to kick off the hockey season. 🤩

Conor Garland’s backhand tuck or Willy Nylander gettin’ stylish: who had the better goal?

Goals of the Week | Presented by @KalTire pic.twitter.com/mtwYc4pScy

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 16, 2023

General Manager Kent Hughes is at the helm of these strategic considerations.

He may choose to act decisively and leverage the Canadiens' cap space to make early-season moves to bolster the roster.

Adam Boqvist scores his first goal as a Blue Jacket! Great set-up by Alexandre Texier #CBJ pic.twitter.com/TmE4wb7EKF

— SpecmenceCBJ (@SpecmenceCBJ) September 28, 2021

Boqvist has garnered particular interest from the Canadiens due to his manageable $2.6 million cap hit, which aligns with Montreal's cap space.

The 23-year-old Boqvist, a former first-round pick (8th overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, had a career-best season last year, scoring five goals and 24 points, along with a -12 plus/minus rating over 46 games played last season.

Last season, the 27-year-old Garland scored 17 goals and 46 total points across 81 games played with the Canucks.

Mantha, on the other hand, had a particularly underwhelming season last year, as he managed to score only 11 goals and tally 27 points across 67 games.

This Anthony Mantha goal had some mustard behind it. 💨 pic.twitter.com/ZsMdsGQcUK

— NHL (@NHL) October 20, 2022

In any case, the Canadiens' financial advantage positions them as active players in the NHL trade market, with the potential to shape the team's trajectory for the remainder of the season and beyond. Photo Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports