Alex Laferriere and Martin St-Louis look like a real fit if Montreal wants a younger NHL winger instead of another short-term patch.
This is the kind of move that makes more sense the longer you stare at Montreal's roster. The Canadiens do not need another fading veteran. They need a forward who is already useful, still young, and built for harder Atlantic games.
Laferriere checks that box fast. He is 24, right-shot, 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, and he just finished 2025-26 with 21 goals, 23 assists, and 44 points in 82 games for Los Angeles.
That is not empty production either. The Kings' own season review said he ranked 3rd on the team in 5-on-5 goals and 5-on-5 points, behind only Adrian Kempe and Artemi Panarin.
That detail matters for Montreal. The Canadiens already have enough skill to create looks. What they still need is another winger who can finish at even strength without living off first-unit power-play touches.
And Laferriere plays with some edge. The raw hit total in the post you shared looks overstated from the public stats I could verify, but his profile still reads like a competitive, middle-six winger who gets inside rather than staying on the outside.
He also gave the Kings their best playoff push on offense. Los Angeles scored only 5 goals in 4 playoff games, and Laferriere had a point on 4 of them.
" Alex Laferriere should be a target for the Habs. A true power forward who has put up good numbers with very little power play time. 20 goals and 250+ hits.
The interesting part is he played a good amount of centre for LA last season. "
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The Canadiens could have just solved their top-six problem
Put Laferriere next to Ivan Demidov and the fit starts to look obvious. Demidov can carry skill and deception. Laferriere can win pucks, get to the net, and finish plays without needing the puck on his stick every second.
That is why the center wrinkle matters too. The post says he spent a good amount of time at center for LA. Even if Montreal views him as a winger first, any extra flexibility in the top 9 has value.
The harder part is price. Los Angeles is not likely to toss away a 24-year-old winger coming off a 44-point season and a strong 5-on-5 profile for nothing.
Still, this is exactly the sort of player Montreal should be targeting if it wants to trade picks for help. Not an older name on decline. Not a rental. A younger NHL forward whose game already translates.
And that is what makes Alex Laferriere interesting for the Canadiens. He is young enough for the timeline, productive enough for the present, and rugged enough to help Martin St-Louis build a line that does not get pushed around.
Should the Canadiens try to acquire Alex Laferriere?
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