The Canadiens are still working a Mason McTavish deal with the Ducks, with the price the holdup, while Jason Robertson lingers as a bigger swing.
The word is Montreal and Anaheim are still discussing McTavish, the cost is higher than the Habs like, and the Flyers and Senators are involved.
The McTavish link itself isn't new, though. Darren Dreger previously tied Montreal to him, while questioning whether the styles mesh.
Here's the player. McTavish is a 23-year-old center on a $7M deal, coming off 41 points. Young, controllable, and right on Montreal's timeline.
That's the appeal. The Canadiens sit 6th overall and are rising fast, and a center behind Nick Suzuki and his 101 points is exactly the kind of piece a young core needs.
If Philadelphia and Ottawa are truly in, the math gets harder. Montreal would have to outbid other suitors for a young pivot, which fits the "price too high" read perfectly.
Why McTavish is the realistic one of the two
Now the Robertson part, because it needs a reality check. The same chatter says stay alert, Montreal, but that cuts against the better reporting.
Dreger said Jim Nill is purely listening, not shopping, and expects Robertson to get an extension done in Dallas.
The dream is obvious, though. A 96-point winger slotted next to Suzuki and Cole Caufield's 88 would be a nightmare top six for the rest of the league. On paper, it's spectacular.
But Dallas finished 3rd and wants to keep him, and prying him loose would mean a massive price plus a new contract.
Here's my read: McTavish is the move that could actually happen, and he'd be a sharp, on-timeline add for this Montreal group. Robertson is the fantasy, and there's nothing wrong with dreaming.
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So the realistic prize is McTavish, if Kent Hughes is willing to meet the number.
The Robertson talk is the lottery ticket. With the draft Friday, Montreal's next swing is the one to watch, and it's far likelier to land on the younger name.
Which target should Montreal go all-in on?
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