The importance of having two top-six centres

The Montreal Canadiens are still in search of a bona fide second-line centre that can be inserted into the lineup for the 2025-26 season.

Kent Hughes knows that his biggest offseason homework is to sign, trade for or draft his way into adding a top-six centre into the lineup.

Montreal dramatically needs somebody who can play with Patrik Laine and Ivan Demidov. It’s not a secret, and I’d be surprised if Hughes hasn’t already compiled a list.

Take a look at these two teams, as examples of what having two top-six centres in the lineup, who are under 30 years old can do for the roster, and the organization’s playoff aspirations.

St. Louis Blues - Jordan Kyrou (26 years old - 7 seasons - 412 games, 147 goals, 180 assists - 327 points) and Robert Thomas (25 years old - 7 seasons - 462 games, 107 goals, 283 assists - 390 points) serve as a great example of how big of a compliment having a number one and number two centre is. They also have Dylan Holloway, Zachary Bolduc, Pavel Buchnevich and a couple of other options for centre, but the top two are obvious.

Minnesota Wild - Joel Eriksson-Ek (28 years old - 9 seasons - 541 games, 135 goals, 163 assists - 298 points) and Marco Rossi (23 years old - 4 seasons - 182 games, 45 goals, 56 assists, 101 points). The Wild can put out two lines and have no worries about faceoff wins, smart defensive play, and a guy who can work magic with the wingers. Minnesota has that, and Kirill Karpizov and Matt Boldy are very happy because of that.

My point is the talented teams that are making hard pushes up their division rankings, en route to walking into the Stanley Cup playoffs often have a formidle top-six group down the middle.

The key to unlocking the Habs offence completely is a big right shot on the blue line and a second-line centre.

If I’m putting together the attributes of a potential centre offseason addition, they would be - 28 years old or younger, left-shot, strong in the faceoff dot, and two-way presence would be ideal.

I have two names in mind that would be great additions to the Habs centre corps. If going older, it's a testament to the potential the veteran centre adds - and brings to the dressing room for the young forwards.

If that is the case, I will go no older than 32, unless somehow Montreal pries No. 87 out of Pittsburgh.

1. Mason McTavish - $8-$10 million x 6

Mason McTavish would demand a pretty penny, and it would be seismic , should Hughes be successful in prying him out of Anaheim.

In my opinion, the Ducks are loaded up front, and they have tremendous blueline depth, but their best active right-shot defender is Radko Gudas and the best in their pipeline are Drew Helleson and Tristan Luneau. Adding a Logan Mailloux plus would be incredible for them.

2. Sam Bennett - $7-$9 x 4

I'm not sure how the Habs convince Sam Bennett to leave Florida, I expect it would be very expensive, and his contract would be a lucrative one.

But imagine Bennett between Laine and Demidov, yeah that is what I thought - ridiculous. It wouldn't be cheap, but Montreal has drafted high, and frequently, while the Panthers have had late-round picks for many years - that sounds like leverage for Hughes.

These two players come to my mind instantly when thinking about who Hughes should trade for at the draft, if not take a big run at on July 1.

You have to pay to play, that is the truth in cards - there is a buy-in - in hockey, to get a valuable asset you have to give up a valuable asset(s).

Any trade package will have to include Adam Engstrom or Logan Mailloux, one of the Habs’ two first round picks in 2025, or both, dependant upon the player, extension agreement and all that fun stuff. I also feel like a young center - Owen Beck or Oliver Kapanen and Sean Farrell/Joshua Roy could make an enticing package.

It could be a combination, one of each option or whatever the potential trade suitor is most interested in.

I won’t trade David Reinbacher, Michael Hage or Ivan Demidov - I’m hanging the phone up right away if asked about them - and Jacob Fowler is staying put.

With the cap rising by $7.5-million to $95.5, Hughes could sign a player to a three or four-year deal deal with a higher average annual value, with Hage soon coming down the line.

Adding one of the two I listed would be incredible for the CH, and their hopes for the 2025-26 season and beyond.