NHL Rumors: Canadiens & Flames Emerging As Trade Partners

Monday, November 24, 2025 ,
Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman reacts during 2025 game.

The Montreal Canadiens are back in the rumor mill, and this time it's about Blake Coleman of the Calgary Flames. 

Long pegged as a team hunting for a true second line center, Montreal has broadened its scope as injuries and inconsistency have thinned out the forward group. As Pierre LeBrun reported, management is now open to upgrades on the wing as well, and Coleman checks a lot of the boxes the Habs value. 

He is a proven playoff performer and a versatile two way winger who can help in all situations. With the Canadiens still sitting in the Atlantic Division race despite a recent slide, that type of veteran stability is what they seem to be monitoring.

Why Blake Coleman fits Montreal’s forward wish list

Behind Nick Suzuki, injuries to players like Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook have exposed how fragile Montreal’s forward depth can be. The front office of Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes has been making calls for months, even before the lineup took these hits, looking for a forward who can help now and still make sense in the medium term. 

Coleman, 33, is on a seven year, 29.4 million dollar deal that carries a 4.9 million dollar cap hit through the 2026 27 season. For a still developing team that does not want to rent a pure scorer for a few months, that type of controllable, known quantity has real appeal. 

On top of his championship pedigree from his Tampa Bay Lightning days, Coleman brings penalty killing, defensive reliability, and enough offense to comfortably play in a top nine role.

LeBrun has mentioned other names tied to Montreal’s search, including Nazem Kadri in Calgary and Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues, along with bigger swings like Jonathan Marchessault of the Nashville Predators. 

Each comes with complications. 

Ownership in Calgary is not eager to move Kadri, Kyrou now has full trade protection and reportedly has no interest in leaving St. Louis at the moment, and Marchessault’s remaining term at 5.5 million per season makes more sense for a ready made contender than for a Habs team that still views itself as building. 

Coleman sits in a middle lane. His cap hit is significant but not crippling, and his game is built on details and work ethic more than raw offense, which meshes well with Martin St. Louis’ structure and the identity Montreal is trying to cement.

Flames’ reluctance and Habs’ patient approach

LeBrun has been clear that the Flames are in no hurry to move Coleman, if they entertain that possibility at all. Calgary and St. Louis are among the few clubs even loosely listening on established roster players right now, which lets them set a high price. 

That leaves Montreal in a familiar position. The Canadiens are making calls, but the market is thin on true sellers and even thinner on players who fit both their cap structure and long term plan. 

They already kicked tires on cheaper options such as free agent center David Kampf, who chose the Vancouver Canucks.

Phot Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images 

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