Kent Hughes is clearly focusing on addressing the Montreal Canadiens’ center position this summer. With Ivan Demidoff still in North America and Patrick Lane unable to replicate his past performance, the Canadiens are in need of a strong top-six center who can effectively complement two skilled wingers. The Minnesota Wild might be a valuable partner in this pursuit.
The Wild have previously explored trading Marco Rossi, a 23-year-old center who is now a restricted free agent needing a new contract. Rossi has shown steady improvement throughout his entry-level contract, putting up 60 points in 82 games this past season—a notable 20-point jump from the prior year.
However, as noted by Chris Johnston on the NHL offseason trade board, Rossi only averaged 11 minutes of ice time per game during the playoffs, playing on the Wild’s fourth line as they lost in six games to the Vegas Golden Knights. Leadership in Minnesota remains unchanged, which may keep trade discussions on the table, especially a sign-and-trade deal involving Rossi.
One drawback for Rossi is his size; at 5 feet 9 inches and 182 pounds, he isn’t imposing physically. Yet, the Canadiens have previously shown less concern about size, having drafted Lane Hutson, who is similar in stature. Unlike the previous Hughes trades involving players like Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook—who had down years before being traded—Rossi’s recent performance is solid, suggesting he would command a significant price.
The Wild lack a first-round pick in the upcoming draft, while Montreal has only four total picks. Conversely, Minnesota holds two first-round picks and 12 in total, creating a potentially advantageous situation for both teams to negotiate. According to Johnston, Montreal might consider trading one of its two first-round selections.
Additionally, the Canadiens are reportedly open to moving Logan Mailloux. The Wild have several aging right-side defenders, including Jared Spurgeon (35) and Zach Bogosian (34). Mailloux, the sixth overall pick in 2022, has yet to impress after being traded for other draft picks, including Minnesota’s first-rounder this year.
If size is an issue for Minnesota regarding Rossi, could Kirby Dach draw some interest? Although not central to any deal, he could be a valuable add-on if the Wild see potential in him.
As the draft approaches, speculation is building about player movements, especially since Kent Hughes has been quite active over recent draft weekends. While he failed to trade a roster player at the last draft, he did exchange three picks with the Los Angeles Kings to select Michael Hurge 21st overall.
Fan Take: This potential shuffle of centers and picks is significant for hockey fans because it highlights the strategic risk-taking needed to build a competitive roster in today’s NHL. For the Canadiens and Wild, these moves could be game-changers that shift their fortunes and add exciting new dynamics to the league.
