The Montreal Canadiens have strengthened their defense ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season with the additions of Noah Dobson and Zach Bolduc, and now see the St. Louis Blues as a potential source for an offensive partner to pair with star forward Patrik Laine. This situation has set off alarms for other interested teams like the New York Islanders and the Chicago Blackhawks.
Laine leads the Canadiens’ offense, which showed signs of improvement last season. The Montreal right wing made a significant impact with his goal-scoring ability, becoming a key piece in the team’s offensive push. Now, expectations are high heading into the upcoming campaign.
However, the Canadiens remain interested in further strengthening their attack by adding a top-tier forward who is also on the radar of the Blackhawks, looking to accelerate their rebuild, and the Islanders, who are hoping to add scoring depth.
Who is the player Montreal is negotiating for with St. Louis?
According to Frank Seravalli and Chris Johnston, the Canadiens have entered discussions with the St. Louis Blues to explore a potential trade for standout winger Jordan Kyrou, who is currently under an eight-year, $65 million contract, as part of their plan to bolster their second scoring line.
Kyrou would be an ideal complement to Montreal’s attack, especially if Laine maintains his level of play. The main obstacle is Kyrou’s no-trade clause, which became active on July 1. Nevertheless, the front office is confident they can convince Kyrou to accept the move and join the Canadiens.
Advantage over the Blackhawks and Islanders
Several teams, including the Blackhawks and Islanders, have shown interest in Kyrou in recent days. In this context, the Canadiens hold a slight advantage and are willing to make another major splash this summer, leading the talks for the Blues’ star forward.