As the new NHL season approaches, anticipation is reaching a fever pitch in Montreal. The Canadiens are under immense pressure to break into the playoffs, and fans are watching every move with bated breath.

Rumors have swirled for weeks about possible trades, especially those that could strengthen the team’s center position—a critical need if the Habs hope to make a deep playoff run. Whispers from insiders suggested two major deals were in the works, but only one has materialized so far, leaving supporters and experts alike hungry for answers.

Now, a subtle but intriguing hint from Canadiens President Jeff Gorton has thrown fresh fuel on the fire. In a recent interview, Gorton suggested that the team isn’t ruling out making a significant trade during the regular season, even if the roster isn’t set by opening night.

This revelation has sparked a wave of speculation: could Montreal be planning a surprise move to acquire a second center after the season begins? With the front office playing its cards close to the vest, the possibilities are endless—and the stakes couldn’t be higher. What exactly does Gorton have up his sleeve, and how might it transform the fate of the Canadiens this year? The full story awaits.

Photo of Canadiens President Jeff Gorton

Photo credit: NHL

The majority of fans and experts expect the Montreal Canadiens to complete a new trade soon.

The team absolutely wants to make the playoffs this year, but to get there-and to hope to win in the playoffs-they need reinforcements at center.

Several sources had already indicated that we could expect two trades from the Habs in September.. one involving Carey Price and one to acquire a second center.

The first one is done, but the second is taking longer..

Well, on that topic, the Montreal Canadiens’ Vice President of Hockey Operations, Jeff Gorton, just made a very interesting statement.

Jeff Gorton confirms that the Canadiens could announce an offensive trade during the regular season!

So, it’s not a big deal if the Habs don’t manage to acquire a second center before the start of the season.

A quote from our interview with Habs EVP Jeff Gorton last month:

“I have mentioned before that we don’t look at it like opening day as the end of when you can change your roster,” said Gorton. “There are a lot of teams around the league that add players after that and all the way up to the deadline, so we’re comfortable with where we’re at and the moves we’ve made.”

– Jeff Gorton, via Marco D’Amico

We also highly recommend the full interview with Jeff Gorton on RG Media.

I love hearing that!

Gorton drops a little hint to tell us that the Canadiens could very well make a trade-specifically to acquire a second center-during the season!

On a smaller scale, that’s exactly what happened with Alexandre Carrier last December.

Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton could even take advantage of such a move to give the team a little spark if they hit a rough patch.