Report: Canadiens Still Hunting For Another Blockbuster

The Montreal Canadiens wanted Kirill Marchenko badly enough to make him their top priority all offseason. 

Missing out on that hasn't changed what they're looking for next.

Pierre LeBrun spoke on how hard Montreal pushed during TSN's Insider Trading. "While the Leafs were on Marchenko the entire off-season in terms of trying to get him out of Columbus, I can assure you they were not the team that phoned Columbus the most often," LeBrun said. "That would be the Montreal Canadiens. From the moment Marchenko announced he wanted out, Kent Hughes had Don Waddell on speed dial."

Why Montreal Came Up Short Anyway

LeBrun reported Marchenko wanted to play alongside Ivan Demidov, since the two share the same agent, and Montreal reportedly believed it could have signed him below the $12.5 million he ultimately got from Toronto.

What Montreal didn't have was the kind of young NHL roster player Columbus wanted in return. 

Toronto won the bidding by including Matthew Knies, something the Canadiens weren't willing to match given their own reluctance to part with their young core.

Martin St. Louis knows that if the Canadiens want to reach the ultimate goal, he must lead the way in both process and attitude. @EricEngels sits down with the Montreal coach to set up the season. https://t.co/xlZyAJYzli

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 28, 2026

That's twice now Montreal has come up short chasing a big name this way. 

LeBrun noted the Canadiens tried to land Knies himself at the deadline before later watching Toronto use him as the centerpiece to land Marchenko instead.

What Comes Next

LeBrun doesn't think either loss changes Montreal's approach going forward. "They will still be big-game hunting, I think, especially next summer where they have salary cap flexibility," he said. "Hey, if a guy like Connor McDavid decides he wants out of Edmonton, I can assure you the Canadiens will be all over that."

Montreal is projected to have close to $30 million in space next offseason, giving Hughes a lot of financial muscle to work with whenever the next opportunity comes along.

Missing on Marchenko clearly stung. Based on LeBrun's reporting, it hasn't slowed Montreal down at all.