Canadiens Trade Rumours: Forward Marchessault Is In Play

It’s no secret that the overall perception of playing for the Montreal Canadiens has improved in recent years, nor is the fact that Nashville Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault is interested in playing Quebec.

The Habs had discussed a potential contract with Marchessault, but the two parties could not come to an agreement on the terms. Montreal’s interest came with an important caveat; they weren’t willing to offer the 34-year-old winger a contract that lasted more than three years.

Consequently, Marchessault opted for more job security, leading to a five-year contract with the Predators that carries an annual average value (AAV) of $5.5 million.

How The Turntables…

After scoring 56 points in 78 games in the first year of his contract, Marchessault appears ready to move on, with his preferred destination being Montreal.

Frank Seravalli on Jonathan Marchessault being open to moving on from the Nashville Predators:

“I think in a perfect world, he would love to go to the Montreal Canadiens & go home. I don’t know how open they are to that, given the term on his deal. But you can see him helping a… pic.twitter.com/lGrN9ukRFb

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) May 28, 2025

It’s always flattering to hear a former Conn Smythe winner is interested in playing for your team, but at this point in the Canadiens’ rebuild, Kent Hughes can afford to be a little more selective when it comes to using his precious salary cap space. Flattery alone won’t get anything done in the modern sports landscape.

Marchessault has done an admirable job bucking the usual downtick in production that comes once an NHL player is on the wrong side of 30. However, the only thing money can’t buy is more time, connoting that Marchessault’s best years are clearly in the rearview mirror.

Additionally, at just 5’9″, Marchessault falls well below the desired player size Hughes and Co. have mentioned ad nauseam throughout most of their press conferences. If Montreal didn’t already have players such as Lane Hutson, Cole Caufield, and Brendan Gallagher in the lineup, trading for Marchessault would be less of a risk, but the current roster construction mitigates the chances the Habs will once again show interest in the speedy winger.

Besides, if the Habs weren’t willing to offer him more than three years, it’s highly doubtful that they’d be willing to spend assets to acquire him now that he’s signed the exact type of deal Hughes wisely avoided.

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The Montreal Canadiens must focus on acquiring elite talent if they want to maintain their upward trend, and with all due respect to Marchessault, he’s not quite at that level anymore.