2 Canadiens Defensemen Targeted By Ducks In Potential Zegras Trade

Trade rumors are picking up around Anaheim Ducks' Trevor Zegras as we inch closer to the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and the Montreal Canadiens are one of the teams that keeps coming up.

There are a few reasons for this. Zegras and Cole Caufield have a friendship from playing together years ago and the Canadiens could use a young center. It is also seeming like Zegras is being pushed out of Anaheim with the acquisition of Cutter Gauthier for Zegras' good friend Jamie Drysdale and the drafting of Leo Carlsson.

The Ducks could use with replenishing their defense and according to Arpon Basu, the Ducks want David Reinbacher or Kaiden Guhle in return for Zegras. Both of these young d-men appear to be big pieces for the future of the Canadiens' defense along with Lane Hutson. The Habs have to eventually decide which young defensemen they're going to keep and who they are going to move. This might help in that decision as there are still Arber Xhekaj, Justin Barron, Jordan Harris, Logan Mailloux, and Jayden Struble on top of the other three mentioned, and that is only the young d-men.

Zegras had a down season, but was also hurt at times. It did impact his trade value a little bit after scoring six goals and 15 points in 31 games, but the 23-year-old also had back-to-back 23+ goal, 61+ point seasons in his first two full seasons.

Zegras can absolutely fill a role in the top-6 for the Canadiens and give the team another option at center, but moving one of the two aforementioned top young defensemen might come back to haunt them as well. There has to be a decision made in Montreal sooner than later and if reports are true, the Ducks are willing to somewhat help the Canadiens out and benefit themselves at the same time.