Canadiens continued to be linked to multiple centers
Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period was on TSN Radio in Montreal on Tuesday and was asked about the New Jersey Devils and Nico Hischier. Could he be a target for the Montreal Canadiens as they continue to scour the market for center help?
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
NHL Rumors: Nico Hischier’s Agent on a Contract Extension
Host: “As far as Montreal is concerned, who do you think their targets would be in the offseason? And do you think there’s any fire to the smoke around Nico Hischier, in the last year of his contract with New Jersey?”
Dave Pagnotta: “Yeah, that’s what I was going to bring up right away. I think Kent Hughes is monitoring that situation and wants to understand where that’s going to go if, and he’s got one more year left on his contract. He can’t officially sign an extension until July 1. But they’ve started the conversation with Sunny Metta and Hischer’s agent with respect to what an extension may look like, so if that hits a wall, then you know I could certainly see them exploring the possibility of moving him, and I think Kent Hughes would be first in line to try to make it happen.
I’m not sure what they would have to give up. I think that it would be premature to speculate right now, because we don’t know definitively if this falls off the rails for the Devils. What direction they want to go, and do they want young assets? Do they want a hockey-type trade, because they want to remain competitive?
Because that’s the other thing in all of this. The Devils, their goal is to be competitive next season, playoffs plus, plus, plus. So you know certainly Hischier’s future is going to impact that one way or another. But we’re kind of in wait and see mode, and I think that’s where the Habs are as well.
NHL Rumors: Montreal Canadiens Have Begun Offseason Plans
I think they’re doing their work in exploring the market having as many conversations as they possibly can to see what’s out there. They’re, I mean, Kent Hughes is active as anybody in scouring the market, making sure he’s on top of things. He’s one of the best right now at trying to pull that off, to collect all that information and see if there’s an opportunity to pounce.
That’s kind of been the Canadiens’ MO since Hughes kind of came in. Him and Gorton just evaluating the market, always being on top of things, and sticking to their guns for this group. I think that’s what they’re going to continue to do.
Scour the market, see what the options are outside of Hischier, and if they can get in on some guys, young players that we kind of understand where their mindset is at with early to mid 20s, being the preference, they’re gonna, that those are the kind of pieces they want, and that fits their mold, right now.”
NHLRumors.com Note: This will not be the first time Nico Hischier and the Montreal Canadiens will be connected. We know the Canadiens need a second line; they have since last offseason. Hischier fits that role perfectly behind Nick Suzuki. However, the Devils and Hischier want to finalize an extension.
Teams Will be Interested in Anaheim Ducks Center Mason McTavish
But he is not the only option out there. Even with Robert Thomas off the board for now, the Canadiens have been linked to Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks. McTavish might be falling out of favor in Anaheim and is no longer a Pat Verbeek despite signing a new extension last year. Do they look at Vincent Trocheck? How likely is that, given the history between Jeff Gorton and the New York Rangers?
Does Kent Hughes try to trade Dylan Larkin despite his trade list request? The Canadiens know their needs, and management will look to swing this offseason again.
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