Montreal Canadiens
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.
MUST READ: Canadiens Summer Shopping List – Team Needs
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.
With GMs of the past I would be worried about them going after Marchesault but the odds of Hughes doing that now are slim to none. Not only would he have to give up assets but then he would have to shell out for four more years of a contract. The only way this deal would happen is if Nashville were paying to get rid of Marchesault and I don’t think that is in the cards.
They would have to take at least 25% retention and they will only get back seventh round pick.
Hell nah! He rightly chased the money last summer, but now he has to live with those consequences. He’s Nashville’s problem. Not ours. Hard pass, thank you very much!
I don’t see this being a good fit! As much as I like seeing Quebec players on the team I still believe that the team dimension is first and foremost. Unless Gallagher or another smaller player goes the other way its just not a fit.
There is a bstter fit in vegas.. Karlsson..
If Hughes and Gorton are even considering trading for this guy it should be a terminable offence. We want a 5’9″ 34 year old on the back end of a career? Why? Because he’s French? Sorry, but no thanks. Oh, and whatever happened to the argument that “we don’t want older guys getting in the way of the young prospects’ development”? This story is pure fiction. There are way better options for the Habs.
Should the Canadiens trade for former first round draft pick Center Nathan Gaucher age 21. He is a very big center. His offensive numbers are very modest, but he is excellent on faceoffs and very good defensively.
Dont see the point. We have kapp, beck for the role gaucher would have… Both seem more offensively gifted
No thanks too old. Get busy Sweeney we need players good ones not retreads
And in completely unrelated news, Gallagher and Anderson are updating their no trade lists to include Nashville.
That one made me chuckle. And they definitely might have!
This only makes sense to me if Gallagher is part of the return.
As much as I like the guy —when they built the fella, they forgot to put in the quit— there’s only so many spots for small forwards on a hockey team, regardless of talent.