Canadiens Rumors: Montreal "Working The Phones" For Roster Upgrades

The Montreal Canadiens are reportedly "working the phones" in search of upgrades to their roster ahead of the 2024-25 season, according to Marco D’Amico of RG.org. 

Despite entering training camp content with their current group, the Canadiens remain active in trade discussions. 

Armed with a wealth of draft capital, including four picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 NHL Draft, and a deep pool of prospects, Montreal is well-positioned to make some moves. 

"They’re not looking to go sideways, they’re looking for clear upgrades," a source emphasized, as the Canadiens look to bolster their lineup in key areas.

Patrik Laine makes his Canadiens debut tonight pic.twitter.com/Ucm0hJOmIR

— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) September 23, 2024

A top priority for Montreal is strengthening their right-side defense. 

While young blueliners like Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher, and Justin Barron hold promise, there are concerns they may need more time to develop into full-time, top-four roles. 

Veteran David Savard is in the final year of his contract, and with uncertainty surrounding Bogdan Konyushkov's timeline in the KHL, the Canadiens are seeking a more immediate solution. 

They’ve temporarily shifted left-handed defenseman Kaiden Guhle to the right side alongside Mike Matheson, but this is seen as a short-term fix. 

According to D'Amico, the Canadiens are actively pursuing a top-four right-shot defenseman to solidify their blue line for both the present and future.

Kaiden Guhle only needed 35 seconds to score this beauty 🙌 pic.twitter.com/oorfcfRh68

— ESPN (@espn) March 10, 2023

Offensively, the Canadiens have already made a splash by acquiring Patrik Laine in a trade for defenseman Jordan Harris, further complementing their forward group after drafting elite talents Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage. 

While earlier trade talks involving high-profile forwards like Trevor Zegras, Martin Necas, and Rutger McGroarty fell through, the Canadiens have since shifted focus to defense. 

"They're not interested in lateral deals," D'Amico notes, emphasizing the team’s determination to make improvements as they push to accelerate their rebuild.

Photo Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images