August 1, 2025
The silence is deafening in the NHL right now. Deep in the off-season, management groups are enjoying the last weeks of a break before getting back to refining their team.
Fans of the Montreal Canadiens are acutely aware of two things. The first is that following the early days of free agency, Jeff Gorton told us that he and Kent Hughes know they are an incomplete team and they will keep working the phones. The second is that Hughes has been active every August since becoming the Habs GM.
August 2022: Weaponizing Cap Space
On August 18, 2022, the Montreal Canadiens acquired Sean Monahan and a first round pick from the Calgary Flames for future considerations. In short, they got a first to take the Monahan contract off Calgary’s hands.
The Flames wanted to sign Nazem Kadri but couldn’t do it without moving out Monahan, and the Habs had the cap space to make it happen. Monahan served them well for parts of two seasons, and then the pick that accompanied him in that trade was part of the package used this summer to land Noah Dobson.
August 2022 was a master class from GM Kent Hughes in weaponing cap space.
August 2023: Moving Out Misfits
On August 6, 2023, the Montreal Canadiens traded Mike Hoffman and Rem Pitlick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Jeff Petry, Casey DeSmith, Nathan Legare and a second round pick. The Hoffman contract had been one of Marc Bergevin’s more bizarre signings, and Pitlick was looking for a chance elsewhere.
So the deal was made, and it was immediately clear that the returning parts would be dealt. Petry had been traded out of Montreal in the previous off-season and the Habs didn’t need a goalie.
On August 15th, Petry was traded by the Habs a second time, this time to the Detroit Red Wings for Gustav Lindstrom and a fourth round pick. Then on September 19th, DeSmith was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Tanner Pearson and a third round pick.
When the dealing was done, the Habs had moved two players that didn’t fit, and acquired depth players and picks in return. It was savvy, if not sexy.
August 2024: Capitalizing on a Buy Low Opportunity
On August 19, 2024, the Montreal Canadiens acquired Patrik Laine and a second round pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Jordan Harris.
Laine, who has been somewhat of an enigma through his NHL career, had worn out his welcome in Columbus. The Habs were looking for a low risk boost for their second line. Hughes was patient until the price was right, and then he pulled the trigger.
An injury threw a wrench into what might have been a high reward deal. Nonetheless, Laine was an effective power play weapon and contributed to the Canadiens making the playoffs.
What can we expect in August 2025?
The Habs are in a different stage of the rebuild. They don’t have a ton of cap space to sell, they’re not trying to move on from ill -fitting parts, and low risk high reward moves won’t take them to the next level.
So what does August 2025 have in store? What kinds of deals make sense for the Montreal Canadiens.
Creating Cap Space
The Canadiens are over the cap, and need to become cap compliant before the new season begins. They have the option to place Carey Price’s contract on LTIR, but they’d prefer to avoid that route and they have options to do so.
They can trade Price’s contract, and several pundits have indicated they expect this to be the path. There are downsides. They will have to offer a sweetener to the team taking the contract, and reducing the value of that sweetener will likely mean waiting until September 1st when the bonus in the contract is paid out. While not ideal, this is a completely workable option.
Hughes could also choose to move an active player to address the cap. Puckpedia is currently showing the Canadiens as being just under $6 million over the cap. But that hit also assumes 14 forwards on the roster and Kaapo Kahkonen backing up Sam Montembeault. An Oliver Kapanen demotion to Laval and a Mike Matheson trade for futures could equal cap compliance.
What if Hughes is successful in landing another top six forward? What would that mean for Patrik Laine? The Habs could conceivably retain a healthy portion on Laine and still be cap compliant.
An Offer They Can’t Refuse
In my view, this is the only way Mike Matheson is traded before training camp. I believe the Habs want to see how their D group looks before moving the veteran. I also believe there is world where they re-sign Matheson, depending on how other chips fall.
But Hughes is no fool. As much as they value Matheson, they also know he is entering the last year of a team-friendly contract and the next deal will be challenging. If a team surfaces with the right offer for Matheson, we could see him dealt in August.
What could that offer be? I don’t believe Matheson can fetch the second line centreman or top six play driver the Habs want. But perhaps he can fetch pieces that can be packaged with assets they already have to land that player.
If there is any chance that Sidney Crosby is ever coming to Montreal, for example, young players and picks will have to go back. Matheson could fetch some of those.
The Habs Become a Player for a Top-6 Talent
We heard from HuGo that they went into the off-season without any intention to pursue a right shot defenseman. But then Noah Dobson became available and they entered the sweepstakes because they saw him as a player who could fit their core for a contention window.
We know they covet another top six forward, preferably a play driver, and ideally a left shot centreman. There are rumours of forwards being on the market. If they are truly available, there is no doubt Hughes is doing his due diligence. I can’t see a world where Hughes has not checked in on the Mason McTavish situation, for example. If the moving parts make sense for the Habs, on McTavish or any other player, a deal could get done.
Just like Hughes won’t move Matheson unless it makes sense in the big picture, they also won’t deal for a forward unless the player is a fit for today and for the contention window.
My prediction
I am expecting another trade in Montreal this August, and I expect it to be roster transforming. In other words, I expect a legitimate addition, and not just addition by subtraction to address the cap. As action picks up again, I expect Hughes to be dead centre.
Isn’t it fun to expect smart things from your favourite team?
Hab At Her 