Montreal Canadiens Rumor: Habs Called Anaheim Ducks About Trevor Zegras

The Montreal Canadiens rebuild treks along and some things are becoming more clear, like the defense is probably on the cusp of being exceptional, and they may have a solid young goaltending tandem with Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau.

Another thing that has also become quite obvious is that this team needs an infusion of talent up front.

The newly formed top line of Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield has been dominant and could be kept together for many years into the future. Kirby Dach will be a kep part of the second line when he returns from his injury next season.

But there is not much else when it comes to scoring. Alex Newhook might become a decent second line player, but is probably best served as a two-way threat on the third line. Maybe that is just me being a little greedy, but a third line with Newhook and Joshua Roy sounds like it has the makings of a terrific third line that can shut down the opposition and add plenty of depth scoring as well.

That leaves a big vacancy on the second line if this team is going to be a contender anytime soon. Apparently the Canadiens are working the phone lines in order to try and fill that big organizational need.

According to TSN's hockey insider Pierre LeBrun, the Canadiens are one of the teams that have already called the Anaheim Ducks to inquire on Trevor Zegras. The skilled, playmaking forward had a productive past two seasons, scoring 23 goals and 61 points in 75 games in 2021-22, and followed that up with 23 goals and 65 points in 82 games last season.

He has only played 20 games this season, and had just seven points, as he has dealt with two separate injuries. He also had a contentious contract negotiation last summer which was the reason Jamie Drysdale was already traded from the Ducks, and it appears Zegras could be next.

LeBrun reports the Ducks are not out there actively shopping Zegras, but are not turning other teams away when they pick up the phone and call them. He also said the Canaidens were among the handful of teams that have already asked the Ducks about Zegras, though he doesn't say exactly how far along any trade talks have gone.

An elite playmaker like Zegras, who can play center or left wing, and has familiarity with Caufield as the two were linemates in the United States Development Program and played extremely well together.

Obviously this doesn't mean a trade is in the works, or coming in the next few days, but it does signal that Zegras is a target of the Canadiens.

The Canadiens are loaded with prospects and future draft picks. The chances any of their future draft picks will have two 60 point seasons during their entry-level contract like Zegras just did is minimal.

I say offer the moon for Zegras and add that piece that is missing. The Canadiens have four first round picks in the next two years and a plethora of okay but not fantastic forward prospects like Owen Beck, Filip Mesar and Sean Farrell. Put a package together and bring in a player with the skill to score a point per game next season.