The 2025-26 NHL season for the Montreal Canadiens led to disappointing fashion by the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, who eliminated them in five games within the Eastern Conference Final and at the moment are battling the Vegas Golden Knights for hockey’s ultimate prize — the Stanley Cup.
It almost gave the look of destiny for the Canadiens to succeed in the Cup Final for what would have been their first appearance since their improbable run in 2021. Not only did they return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive season after spending three straight years on the surface looking in, but in addition they won back-to-back Game 7s on the road against each the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres, making believers out of Habs fans in all places.
Nevertheless, despite a convincing 6-2 victory within the opening game of the Conference Final against Carolina, their offense began to sputter, they usually struggled to consistently generate quality scoring opportunities and put pucks on net. Actually, the Canadiens recorded 18 or fewer shots on goal in three consecutive playoff games for the primary time in franchise history – a mark they actually didn’t want to realize.
Within the meantime, the work is now starting for Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes as he navigates a pivotal offseason. He must determine which players will and won’t return next season while also identifying potential additions who can strengthen the roster and help make sure the club makes a 3rd consecutive trip to the postseason.
Who’re the players on the present Canadiens roster who may very well be considered trade candidates?
Longtime Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher will likely be moved
Originally chosen within the fifth round (147th overall) by the Canadiens within the 2010 NHL Draft, Gallagher has played his entire profession in a Habs sweater. Nevertheless, that run appears to be reaching a conclusion within the near future.
Gallagher, who has one yr left on his current contract with a modest $6.5 million salary cap hit, became emotional when discussing his future likely being elsewhere during Montreal’s season-ending media availability session.
“It is clearly my decision, but you’re sort of forced into it,” Gallagher said via NHL.com. “I might love to remain here and like to be an element of this group. But for me, you may have to provide yourself a possibility as a player to contribute and the situation now, it’s not going to alter. You simply sort of accept it for what it’s and also you cope with it.
“I’ve been around here long enough that I’ve seen it occur to other players, and guys go on and go finish their careers elsewhere. But for me, Montreal is all the time going to be home and I don’t want it to be lost on anyone how fortunate I feel to have the chance to play here for so long as I actually have.”
It should be an odd sight to see Gallagher wear the jersey of one other NHL team aside from Montreal, nevertheless it appears as if the writing is on the wall for a departure, especially after news broke that his agent has been given permission to hunt a trade. Gallagher could easily fetch the Canadiens a mid to late-round draft selection together with a roster player in return.
Gallagher, who has reached the 30-goal plateau twice in his profession, has scored 246 goals with 241 assists for 487 points in 911 regular-season games played, while also adding 14 goals and 20 assists in 79 profession Stanley Cup Playoff games. Nevertheless, his 2025-26 season stats were disappointing, with only 7 goals and 16 assists in 77 games.
The Canadiens have to move on from Sam Montembeault
Not way back, Sam Montembeault was viewed because the Canadiens’ long-term answer in goal. Nevertheless, that role has since shifted to Jakub Dobes, who built on his first taste of Stanley Cup Playoff motion last spring by earning Montreal’s starting job for this yr’s postseason.
Dobes rewarded the club’s faith in him by backstopping the Canadiens to a surprising seven-game upset of the Tampa Bay Lightning within the opening round, followed by one other series win over the Sabres before eventually falling to Carolina. During this time, Montembeault had to observe from the bench.
He has a single yr left on his contract with an inexpensive $3.15 million salary cap hit. He went 10-8-4 with a 3.83 goals-against average and a .872 save percentage this season.
Kirby Dach may not fit into Montreal’s long-term plans
A former third overall pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, Dach’s numbers haven’t been what is often expected from a player drafted so high. During his time with the Canadiens after being acquired via trade, he’s reached double digits in goals only twice, and managed eight goals this past season while being limited to lower than 40 games played.
He’s a pending restricted free agent, and if he is not within the long-term vision of Hughes and the Canadiens, they may trade his rights to a different club for assets in return.
It may be an interesting offseason for the Canadiens, who aim to maintain their newfound success moving forward with the goal of eventually bringing the Stanley Cup back to Canada for the primary time since they last won in 1993.
The 2025-26 NHL season for the Montreal Canadiens led to disappointing fashion by the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, who eliminated them in five games within the Eastern Conference Final and at the moment are battling the Vegas Golden Knights for hockey’s ultimate prize — the Stanley Cup.