Connor McDavid to the Canadiens? A major statement just confirmed everything Montreal's hoped for
Connor McDavid is suddenly back in trade chatter, and Kris Knoblauch's club has real pressure building in Edmonton.
Georges Laraque said Monday on BPM Sports that if the Oilers stall again next season, McDavid could ask management for a trade.
That's the part that grabbed attention. The other part hit even harder in Montreal.
Laraque said the Canadiens are one destination that makes sense if Edmonton ever reaches that point with its captain.
The idea sounds huge, but the timing is what gives it weight. Edmonton just bowed out in the first round against the Ducks.
That made it 2 straight first-round exits for the Oilers, right after 2 straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final.
McDavid and Leon Draisaitl didn't hide their frustration after the loss. When your top 2 players air that kind of discomfort, it follows the team all summer.
Montreal suddenly fits the conversation
McDavid still has 2 years left on a deal carrying a $12.5 million cap hit. That gives Stan Bowman a narrow window to change the direction.
If next season ends with another early exit, Edmonton would have to think about value before leverage starts slipping.
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That's where Montreal gets interesting. The Canadiens are no longer selling a long rebuild or a distant plan.
They finished 48-24-10 and pushed into the second round against Buffalo. That changes how the rest of the league looks at their roster.
Nick Suzuki just put up 101 points, and he has already shown he can handle top-line pressure in a playoff market.
But McDavid is a different level of swing. He would change the top six, the power play, and the entire pace of the franchise overnight.
The real question is whether Kent Hughes would tear into a young core to make that kind of move.
Montreal has the kind of assets Edmonton would want: rising players, future value, and a team trending up instead of hanging on.
That doesn't mean it happens. It means the fit is easy to see, and that alone makes this worth watching.
For the Oilers, next season now feels bigger than standings points. It feels like a test of whether they can still convince Connor McDavid that Edmonton is the place to stay.
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YESTERDAY
MAY 16, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Rasmus Dahlin | 1 | 4 | 5 | |
| Tage Thompson | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Jack Quinn | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Zach Benson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jake Evans | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jason Zucker | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ivan Demidov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Konsta Helenius | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Zach Metsa | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Arber Xhekaj | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Bowen Byram | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Cole Caufield | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Lane Hutson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Michael Matheson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ryan McLeod | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Norris | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mattias Samuelsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Anderson | - | - | - | |
| Zachary Bolduc | - | - | - | |
| Alexandre Carrier | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||