The Montreal Canadiens are still on the hunt to continue to improve their roster. So far this offseason, the Canadiens have elected to make most of their major offseason acquisitions through trades rather than overpaying for a lacklustre free agency class. The Canadiens have already acquired defenceman Noah Dobson and forward Zachary Bolduc. However, another move could be on the horizon, with rumours surfacing that the team could be going after a two-time Stanley Cup champion.
More details here, found the rumored trade as well as analysis for both teams. #Bolts Cirelli to #Habs looks possible, but not probable as of now. https://t.co/hgdJDmzEjQ https://t.co/jA8IC8HU8F
— Roger Hicks NHL Insider (@RogerHicksNHL) July 1, 2025
The bleu blanc et rouge have seemingly kicked the tires on several centres so far this offseason, but none would make more sense for the franchise than trading for Tampa Bay Lightning centre Anthony Cirelli. I should preface this by saying Cirelli has a no-trade clause for this upcoming season and next year, making it very difficult for the Canadiens to facilitate a trade. But if the Canadiens could pull it off, Cirelli could be the missing piece that makes the team a bona fide Stanley Cup contender.
Cirelli would slot in perfectly between Patrik Laine and Ivan Demidov. Laine and Demidov are two of the best offensive players on the Canadiens roster, but do little defensively, which could be a problem if they play on the same line. If the Canadiens could acquire Cirelli, lining him up between those two could make it much more manageable. Cirelli plays a great two-way game and is recognized as one of the best defensive forwards in the league today.
His point totals are not eye-popping, but his offensive game has improved in nearly every season of his career. Cirelli is coming off his best season of his career, posting career highs in goals (27), assists (32), and points (59). His offensive uptick did not come at the expense of his defensive play, as he finished third for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, the best placement in his career.
Cirelli may also have one of the best cap-friendly contracts in the entire league. He has a cap hit of $6.25 million per season running until the 2030-31 season. With the salary cap going up in the next couple of seasons, and seeing players like Mikael Granlund and Brock Nelson signing deals this offseason over that, the Canadiens could get a guy who could be their second-line centre on a bargain contract. Being 27, he aligns well with the team's goal of contending now while building for the future.
It will not be easy to acquire Cirelli, as he has a no-trade clause in place for the next two years, which means he would have to agree to the trade to come to Montreal. If the Canadiens can somehow convince the Lightning and Cirelli to make a move, he would immediately make the team better and make them one of the Stanley Cup favourites going into next season. Who knows what kind of trade package it would take to acquire a player like Cirelli, but if you can get a deal done where you are not losing a key player from your current roster, then it is a move worth exploring.