As the season progresses and the standings begin to crystallize, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves in an interesting position. Competitive, structured, and clearly ahead of schedule, the Habs are still not a true win-now team, but they are no longer in pure asset-accumulation mode either. That makes identifying the right trade partners just as important as the right players. Several teams around the league are trending in the opposite direction, and three in particular stand out as logical fits for Montreal: the Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets, and Vancouver Canucks.
Calgary Flames
The Flames are one of the more intriguing potential trade partners for Montreal. With close to $29 million in cap space and a roster that sits near the bottom of the NHL standings, Calgary is in a position to be flexible, perhaps more flexible than they’d like to admit publicly. The Flames are not a contender this season, and while they may not be ready for a full teardown, their roster construction leaves the door open for creative deals.
Montreal has been loosely connected to Calgary for some time now, particularly around names like Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman. Kadri, with his long-term contract and significant cap hit, feels increasingly unlikely for the Canadiens at this stage of their rebuild. However, Coleman remains a more realistic option. He brings playoff experience, versatility, and an edge that fits what Martin St. Louis values, without completely blocking younger players long term.
Another angle that makes Calgary especially interesting is their ability to absorb contracts. The Flames have enough cap space to take on a deal like Patrik Laine’s if they see value in doing so, either as a bounce-back project or as part of a larger asset-driven transaction. For Montreal, that flexibility matters. Any trade involving money going out becomes much easier when the other team doesn’t need to juggle salaries just to make the math work. Even if the Flames aren’t buyers in the traditional sense, their cap situation alone makes them a team to watch closely.
Winnipeg Jets
If Calgary offers cap flexibility, Winnipeg offers inventory. The Jets currently have eight pending unrestricted free agents and sit 28th in the NHL standings, a dangerous place to be for a team that risks losing players for nothing in the summer. At some point, Winnipeg may be forced to pivot from chasing short-term results to protecting long-term value.
That’s where Montreal comes in. The Canadiens are well-positioned to act as opportunistic buyers, especially for depth players who wouldn’t disrupt the team’s long-term structure. Names like Logan Stanley, Luke Schenn, and Gustav Nyquist all stand out as realistic trade candidates.
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For Winnipeg, moving a few pending UFAs for picks, even mid- or late-round selections, may simply be good asset management. For Montreal, this is the kind of low-risk market that smart rebuilding teams should always explore.
Vancouver Canucks
The most extreme scenario may belong to the Canucks, who currently sit last in the NHL. With the season slipping away quickly, Vancouver could become one of the league’s most aggressive sellers. Unlike Calgary or Winnipeg, the Canucks may not be looking for tweaks; they may be staring down a structural reset.
If Vancouver commits to a true sell-off, the list of available players could be long. Veterans, middle-six forwards, and even established contributors could all be on the table, depending on contract status and long-term fit. For Montreal, this creates an opportunity to be selective. The Canadiens don’t need to save Vancouver; they just need to identify undervalued pieces that fit their identity and timeline.
Whether it’s adding experience, filling specific lineup holes, or leveraging cap space creatively, Vancouver could offer multiple paths for a deal. The key for Montreal would be patience. A desperate seller often improves the leverage of a disciplined buyer, and the Canadiens are in no rush to force a move.
The Canadiens don’t need a blockbuster to justify their season. What they do need is smart alignment, trading with teams whose incentives naturally match Montreal’s goals. Calgary’s cap space, Winnipeg’s pending UFAs, and Vancouver’s potential fire sale all present different, but equally compelling, opportunities. If Kent Hughes plays this right, Montreal could quietly strengthen its roster without sacrificing the future it has worked so hard to build.
