The Montreal Canadiens are coming off a surprisingly successful 2024-25 season, making the playoffs for the first time since 2021. General Manager Kent Hughes has already made significant moves this offseason, but hints that more changes could be on the horizon.

Offseason Moves So Far

Hughes has been active in the trade market, most notably acquiring defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. The Canadiens sent their two 2025 first-round picks and forward Emil Heineman to the Islanders in exchange for Dobson, who is viewed as a top-pairing, right-handed defenseman with size and offensive skill. Hughes then signed Dobson to an eight-year, $76 million contract. To further bolster the forward ranks, Hughes also acquired Zachary Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues. In this trade, Montreal sent Logan Mailloux to St. Louis in exchange for the promising young forward.

In addition to these trades, the Canadiens have also been active in free agency, signing forward Sammy Blais to a one-year contract. Blais is expected to bring size, energy, and a physical edge to the bottom six. The Canadiens also signed goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen to a one-year deal to provide veteran competition in net.

What's Next?

With the major acquisitions of Dobson and Bolduc, the Canadiens have signaled their intention to compete. However, Hughes may not be done tweaking the roster.

• Potential Trades: Veteran winger Josh Anderson is rumored to be available via trade. Anderson, 31, has two seasons remaining on his contract with a $5.5 million AAV. While Anderson had a down year in 2024-25, he could be a valuable asset for a team looking to add size and scoring to their forward group.
• Addressing Roster Holes: There is speculation that Hughes is looking to add a left-shot center to the roster, especially after losing Christian Dvorak. The Canadiens have also reportedly shown interest in Evgeny Kuznetsov.
• Internal Development: Even with potential additions, the Canadiens will rely heavily on the continued development of their young players. Juraj Slafkovsky is entering his fourth NHL season, and expectations are high for the former first-overall pick. Ivan Demidov, is also expected to make an impact. On defense, Lane Hutson and David Reinbacher are expected to play key roles.
• Goaltending Competition: With the addition of Kahkonen, there will be a battle for the backup goaltender position behind Samuel Montembeault. Jakub Dobes, who impressed in the AHL last season, will also be in the mix.

Overall Outlook

The Canadiens' front office, led by Kent Hughes and Executive Vice President Jeff Gorton, are aiming to build a team that can contend for the Stanley Cup. The acquisition of Noah Dobson addresses a major need on defense, and the addition of Zachary Bolduc provides more offensive firepower. With a strong core of young players and a few key veterans, the Canadiens appear to be on the right track.

While the Canadiens made the playoffs in 2024-25, they were eliminated in the first round by the Washington Capitals. To take the next step, the Canadiens will need to continue to improve their overall team play and rely on their young players to develop into stars. The Canadiens have a wealth of draft picks and prospects, giving them the flexibility to make more moves in the future. It remains to be seen what other moves Hughes has up his sleeve, but it's clear that he is committed to building a winning team in Montreal.