October 24, 2025 | 11:17am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

CANADIENS MAY BE POSITIONED TO ADD THIS SEASON

Nick Suzuki, centre

The Montreal Canadiens sit atop the Atlantic Division with a 6-3-0 record and remain confident despite a tough 6-5 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.

While it’s still very early in the season, the Habs entered the 2025-26 campaign with the mindset of improving upon last season’s playoff berth.

With just over $4.4 million in current salary cap space, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes will be exploring the trade market this season and the club may be poised to add to its roster later in the season, according to TFP’s David Pagnotta.

During this week’s DFO Rundown Insider Edition with Irfaan Gaffar and Pagnotta, the duo discussed what Montreal may look to do this season, while also being engaged in contract negotiations with veteran defenceman Mike Matheson.

“I think they expect to be in a position to add at some point this season and closer to the trade deadline,” Pagnotta said. “You make the playoffs last year, you squeeze in with the final wildcard spot. I think the expectation now is ‘let's fight for third, or let's fight for one of the three spots in the Atlantic.’ So with the way that they’re playing, (if) they keep it up, without a doubt I think that that Kent Hughes is going to look to add to this group.”

Speculation has run wild over the possibility of Montreal being a landing spot for superstar Sidney Crosby if the Pittsburgh Penguins look to move him, but with the unlikeliness that Crosby is moved this season at all, Pagnotta noted the Habs may not want to mess with the chemistry the team has built too aggressively.

“It might be more on the complimentary side. I don’t think they’re going to have to go out there big fish hunting like Ottawa, for example. I don’t think that’s the case,” Pagnotta said. “I think this is more of ‘let's find some complimentary pieces that work with some of these young guys.’”

It is too early to suggest whom the Canadiens may want to pursue, and it is no secret the team continues to weigh what to do at the second-line centre role – Kirby Dach did return from injury and played Thursday – but it is clear the Habs want to continue to take strides this season.