Six Reasons Behind the Current Rumor Frenzy in Montreal

Today is June 17, nine days before the amateur draft and exactly two weeks before the free-agent market opens. I don't recall a year, however, when trade rumors were as numerous as they are this year. Especially in Montreal…

Why are we hearing so many names in the Quebec media these days? Knies, Hischier, Ristolainen, Stolarz, McTavish, Larkin, Trocheck, Whitecloud, Lafrnière, and so on.

There are several reasons for this.

1. The Canadiens have completed their rebuild, and over the past two springs, we've seen that the team has reached the stage where it needs to add the key pieces that will make it a true contender.

We can all agree that it's more interesting to follow these kinds of rumors than to wonder where Tyler Toffoli will be traded to kick off a rebuild. Or where Jeff Petry will end up after being traded and then reacquired.

2. The Canadiens traded four assets to acquire Matthew Knies just a few weeks ago, but the fax came in a few seconds too late. They also held lengthy discussions with the Devils regarding Nico Hischier.

We know that Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton are starting to seriously evaluate the option of sacrificing the future for short- and medium-term success. It's exciting.

3. The Habs have plenty of prospects—including Bryce Pickford, Michael Hage, and Alexander Zharovsky—and draft picks they could eventually trade to improve more quickly.

That, too, is a departure from the past.

The blind spot in this new reality in Montreal is that we're paying a lot less attention to mock drafts and analyses of this year's draft-eligible prospects. The Canadiens are drafting too far down for us to dwell on it as much as we used to.

4. The salary cap, which will rise by $8.5 million this summer and then by nearly $10 million in a year, presents an opportunity for many teams to make moves
.

Since the pandemic, teams have often been strapped for cash, with their backs against the wall, and unable to make the moves they wanted during the offseason.

More teams with budget room means more teams that can make moves. And more rumors, indirectly!

5. It has become more difficult to complete trades by the deadline because the salary cap now applies on a series-by-series basis.

More than ever, teams are built in the summer—especially in the second half of June and the first week of July!

6. Knowing that Brendan Gallagher and Samuel Montembeault will be leaving in the coming days heightens our interest in trade rumors involving the Canadiens. We KNOW something is going to happen.

As Wilfried Nancy told Laurent Courtois before the latter accepted the offer from CF Montréal (that was two head coaches ago already): buckle up for the ride.

The next few days are going to be VERY exciting.