The Montreal Canadiens offseason is chugging along and Kent Hughes is yet to make any moves.
But it feels it’s more of a matter of when and not if he swings a deal. Heading into the 2024-25 season without doing anything would signal that management would settle with mediocrity. Sure there were injuries, but the Canadiens need reinforcements up front.
So, that is where players on expiring contracts draw a lot of attention. Especially those who are set to become free agents at season's end. Hughes has the assets to bring in an impactful forward, and the chops to negotiate a trade to shore up his forward core.
A name that has been tossed around the rumour board is Martin Necas of the Carolina Hurricanes. Necas fits the Canadiens timeline - the 25-year-old was drafted in the 2017 NHL Draft, the same as Nick Suzuki. Necas is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of next year and the Hurricanes have a laundry list of players to re-sign.
Necas would need to agree to an extension, should the Hurricanes be enticed to move him. But if he does commit to a pact with the Canadiens, Hughes is a resourceful guy with great trade assets in the fold. He has been transparent about his unwillingness to leverage the future for help, but there are other options.
Mike Matheson would be an impactful addition to the Hurricanes blueline, who is ready to compete now. With an established forward group, Matheson would complement them well and he is under contract for one more season after the 2024-25 campaign. A package built around him might be just enough to entice the Hurricanes.
The additional pieces will be most interesting of course, but there are many to choose from. I can’t see a world where Carolina doesn’t ask for the pick acquired from the Winnipeg Jets (26th overall). In addition to that, a prospect like Filip Mesar makes sense and perhaps a Jonathan Kovacevic or William Trudeau.
Montreal would get a top-six talent while shoring up space for Adam Engstrom. It won’t be easy giving up pick 26 and Mesar’s ceiling is relatively unknown. But Necas could become a 75-90 point player for the next 6-8 years.
While the trade package might be significant, Necas would certainly add and enhance the Canadiens forward group.