3 players Canadiens must trade after disappointing East Final loss

The 2025-26 NHL season for the Montreal Canadiens ended in disappointing fashion at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, who eliminated them in five games in the Eastern Conference Final and are now battling the Vegas Golden Knights for hockey’s ultimate prize — the Stanley Cup.

It almost seemed like destiny for the Canadiens to reach the Cup Final for what would have been their first appearance since their improbable run in 2021. Not only did they return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive season after spending three straight years on the outside looking in, but they also won back-to-back Game 7s on the road against both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres, making believers out of Habs fans everywhere.

However, despite a convincing 6-2 victory in the opening game of the Conference Final against Carolina, their offense began to sputter, and they struggled to consistently generate quality scoring opportunities and put pucks on net. In fact, the Canadiens recorded 18 or fewer shots on goal in three consecutive playoff games for the first time in franchise history – a mark they certainly did not want to achieve.

In the meantime, the work is now beginning for Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes as he navigates a pivotal offseason. He must determine which players will and will not return next season while also identifying potential additions who can strengthen the roster and help ensure the club makes a third consecutive trip to the postseason.

Who are the players on the current Canadiens roster who could be considered trade candidates?

Longtime Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher will likely be moved

Originally selected in the fifth round (147th overall) by the Canadiens in the 2010 NHL Draft, Gallagher has played his entire career in a Habs sweater. However, that run appears to be reaching a conclusion in the near future.

Gallagher, who has one year left on his current contract with a modest $6.5 million salary cap hit, became emotional when discussing his future likely being elsewhere during Montreal’s season-ending media availability session.

“It is obviously my decision, but you’re kind of forced into it,” Gallagher said via NHL.com. “I would love to stay here and love to be a part of this group. But for me, you have to give yourself an opportunity as a player to contribute and the situation now, it’s not going to change. You just kind of accept it for what it is and you deal with it.

“I’ve been around here long enough that I’ve seen it happen to other players, and guys go on and go finish their careers elsewhere. But for me, Montreal is always going to be home and I don’t want it to be lost on anyone how fortunate I feel to have the opportunity to play here for as long as I have.”

It will be a strange sight to see Gallagher wear the jersey of another NHL team other than Montreal, but it appears as though the writing is on the wall for a departure, especially after news broke that his agent has been given permission to seek a trade. Gallagher could easily fetch the Canadiens a mid to late-round draft selection along with a roster player in return.

Gallagher, who has reached the 30-goal plateau twice in his career, has scored 246 goals with 241 assists for 487 points in 911 regular-season games played, while also adding 14 goals and 20 assists in 79 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. However, his 2025-26 season stats were disappointing, with only 7 goals and 16 assists in 77 games.

The Canadiens need to move on from Sam Montembeault 

Not long ago, Sam Montembeault was viewed as the Canadiens’ long-term answer in goal. However, that role has since shifted to Jakub Dobes, who built on his first taste of Stanley Cup Playoff action last spring by earning Montreal’s starting job for this year’s postseason.

Dobes rewarded the club’s faith in him by backstopping the Canadiens to a stunning seven-game upset of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round, followed by another series win over the Sabres before eventually falling to Carolina. During this time, Montembeault had to watch from the bench.

He has a single year left on his contract with a reasonable $3.15 million salary cap hit. He went 10-8-4 with a 3.83 goals-against average and a .872 save percentage this season.

Kirby Dach may not fit into Montreal’s long-term plans

A former third overall pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, Dach’s numbers have not been what is typically expected from a player drafted so high. During his time with the Canadiens after being acquired via trade, he’s reached double digits in goals only twice, and managed eight goals this past season while being limited to less than 40 games played.

He’s a pending restricted free agent, and if he’s not in the long-term vision of Hughes and the Canadiens, they could trade his rights to another club for assets in return.

It’s going to be an interesting offseason for the Canadiens, who aim to keep their newfound success moving forward with the goal of eventually bringing the Stanley Cup back to Canada for the first time since they last won in 1993.

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