Montreal pursues a left-handed center who can win big faceoffs and shore up the middle, especially on the penalty kill, as the Atlantic tightens into an arms race. Dach appears as a long-term fit, but injuries and fit complicate the fit alongside Suzuki, Newhook, and Evans. With Dvorak gone, Montreal needs a trusted 2C who can relieve Suzuki and lift the lineup toward consistent playoff contention.

The market is thin; Vancouver and Winnipeg are natural buyers, yet the cost will be steep. Kent Hughes will be calculated, timing moves with season-start results, so a trade could come before Montreal truly stalls but only if the price aligns with the return required to be a playoff team.

Carey Price’s contract exit clears Montreal’s cap runway and sets the Canadiens up to chase a true second-line center this season. With about 4.6M in cap space to start and as much as ~20M accrued by the trade deadline, Kent Hughes can pursue upgrades without early financial constraints.

The move pivots around Kirby Dach’s health and the pairing with Demidov and Laine, while Montreal weighs options on Mike Matheson and Patrik Laine. A quiet summer turns into a calculated cap strategy, with Price’s departure underpinning future roster moves and development paths for Hutson, Dobson, and the emerging wings.

Montreal targets a true 2C by proposing Nick Schmaltz to the Canadiens, with Kirby Dach heading to Utah and a couple of picks swapping hands. Schmaltz would anchor Montreal’s second line beside Ivan Demidov, offering elite playmaking and a plausible 63-point pace. Dach would land in Utah, adding a high-upside center behind a young core. The deal would immediately reshape the Canadiens’ offense and inject fresh fantasy angles for 25-26.

For fantasy managers, Schmaltz in Montreal signals a dramatic upgrade to the top-six playmaking, with Demidov likely benefiting from bulked secondary scoring. Utah’s side creates a compelling young-centers pipeline with Dach, while the 2026 picks provide future flexibility. The storyline fuels anticipation as both clubs chase a playoff push and a brighter fantasy season.

The Montreal Canadiens have made significant strides this past season, pulling off a playoff appearance against the odds. With a young core led by 25-year-old Nick Suzuki, the team is filled with optimism, especially following standout performances from rookies like Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov. Looking ahead, General Manager Ken Hughes is focused on adding physicality to the roster, particularly seeking a center to fill the 2C position, which has been a gap since Kirby Dach's injury. The Canadiens boast ample cap space and are willing to leverage their draft capital to secure immediate upgrades. This strategic approach has previously netted them valuable players like Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook. As the offseason unfolds, expect the Canadiens to target players in their early to mid-20s to reinforce their promising roster.