Montreal Canadiens & Nashville Predators Linked To Interesting Trade
Keep an eye on the Montreal Canadiens, as it feels like this could be a season where they go all in to try and win the Stanley Cup. And, from the sounds of it, there's a veteran center they've been linked to on the trade market, once again this season.
According to The Score's Josh Wegman, he feels the Canadiens should be targeting Ryan O'Reilly from the Nashville Predators as a perfect number-two center to pair up with Nick Suzuki. ROR is on the dismal Predators, who have been making some interesting and head-scratching moves of late, and could very well end up on the trade market this season.
'The Factor' has just one season left on his contract at $4.5 million AAV, and even though he doesn't have any trade protection, last year, O'Reilly was given the word of the management team that he'd be allowed to veto any trade they proposed to him, and essentially gave him a full no-movement clause out of respect.
This season, will it be the same set up? What if the Predators get off to a horrible start and then Chris MacFarland has no choice but to unload some of his veterans, especially those with just one season left on their contracts.
The Canadiens just landed Chris Kreider, but that doesn't mean they won't be looking for help down the middle of the ice. ROR makes complete sense, as Wegman points out in his piece:
Montreal hasn't made a single notable addition during an underwhelming offseason (besides recently Krieder), but there's still time to change that before the season starts. A second-line center is without question the team's biggest need, and O'Reilly would be the perfect fit. The 35-year-old produced 74 points with the Predators last campaign, and he remains a strong defensive player. Clearly, the Predators won't be contending in 2026-27, or any season in the near future, for that matter. O'Reilly is in the last year of his contract and seems unlikely to re-sign. Trading him now could produce a better return than waiting until the deadline.