Could the Canadiens still be active in the trade market before the season begins?

The Montreal Canadiens could have been content with their roster moves after they acquired Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets. They had enough to contend deeper into the regular season, setting the table for their remaining prospects to develop and become a playoff team in the next two or three years. However, a new report from Marco D'Amico on RG.org tells us that the Canadiens may be in the market to make another trade.

The Canadiens have four picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 NHL Draft and plenty of prospects, which could be in play to make a trade that benefits them immediately. The Canadiens aren't interested in making a lateral move but will swing for the fences if the opportunity arises.

The right-side of their defense would make the most sense for an upgrade. They currently have too many left-handed defensemen on their roster with the emergence of Lane Hutson, so let's make up a hypothetical trade here. Hutson making the team would push Kaiden Guhle to the right-side, but there is a move they could make to solve all those problems.

If the Canadiens can find a trade suitor for Mike Matheson, it would open up a place for Hutson to play on the first powerplay. They could then move Guhle back to the left-side, and take a big swing at acquiring a right-shot defensemen.

You may be thinking there aren't many teams willing to part with a right-shot defenseman. The archetype is highly sought after by NHL teams, and once you have an elite one, you don't get rid of them. However, one team that could make sense is the Calgary Flames. They are rumored to be interested in trading MacKenzie Weegar or Rasmus Andersson, which would be great fits on the Canadiens blueline.

David Savard is likely in his last season with the team, and the Canadiens may not be ready for David Reinbacher to be their No. 1 right-shot defenseman. How would a blue line that looks like this perform next season?

Kaiden Guhle - Rasmus Andersson
Lane Hutson - David Reinbacher
Adam Engstrom - Logan Mailloux

I think plenty of Canadiens fans would be thrilled with this lineup, and it could be the Canadiens' core for a long time.