Is it time for the Canadiens to re-open Trevor Zegras trade talks?

I didn't support the Montreal Canadiens' rumored pursuit of Trevor Zegras in the offseason. It didn't make sense for the front office to add another center to the mix when they had Kirby Dach and Nick Suzuki on the roster, Alex Newhook and Jake Evans as bottom-six options, and Michael Hage in the pipeline as any of those players' future replacements. Avoiding the center addition looked like a more significant success when people believed the Canadiens would be a lottery team again.

Plans can change on a week-to-week basis in the NHL, and it looks like that could be happening again for the Canadiens. In a matter of a week since Juraj Slafkovsky suffered an upper-body injury, the entire trajectory of the season has changed. Kirby Dach has found a home on the right wing with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, breaking up a line that was the only one written in stone to begin the season. It leaves Slafkovsky on the second line with Alex Newhook and Joel Armia in his return to the lineup.

Having Slafkovsky on a line with Newhook and Armia isn't ideal for developing the former first-overall pick. Slafkovsky could bring the line more success than Dach did, but we saw how much the latter struggled to begin the season. If the new first line stays the same, finding Slafkovsky better linemates would be ideal, and I have a solution to make that a reality.

The easy first step in the solution is the return of Patrik Laine. Laine will automatically slot into the Armia's spot, immediately improving the line. However, Newhook may have a better role on the third line. Newhook can hold that position until Hage's debut, but if the Canadiens are serious about being in the mix this season, they may want to upgrade that position earlier.

It may be a perfect time for Kent Hughes to explore a Zegras trade. Zegras had fallen out of favor in Anaheim before this season, and he started this year with one goal and one assist in eight games on the first-line left wing. Zegras can play either wing or center, but he is more comfortable in the middle. It'd still be a steep price due to Zegras' potential, but Pat Verbeek will soon have to accept that Zegras' value isn't what it used to be.