The Montreal Canadiens’ bench looks more like a triage ward than a hockey lineup, the empty seats and taped ankles telling a silent story of a season suddenly thrown into chaos. The Bell Centre’s bright lights shine down on a forward group battered and bruised, their top-six formation riddled with absences that have left fans and management alike searching for answers. On the ice, the void is palpable; the energy that once pulsed through the Canadiens’ attack now flickers, interrupted by the glaring absence of three key names—Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, and Patrik Laine. Each injury, more devastating than the last, has carved deep holes into Montreal’s plans, transforming a promising campaign into a desperate scramble for reinforcements.

Kirby Dach, the former Blackhawks forward who was supposed to anchor the Canadiens’ offense, is now sidelined for up to six weeks with a fractured foot—a cruel twist for a player on the brink of a breakout. Alex Newhook, whose speed and creativity were expected to light up the top lines, faces a four-month recovery after ankle surgery. Patrik Laine, the marquee addition with a sniper’s touch, is lost for three to four months following core muscle surgery. The trio’s absence isn’t just a setback; it’s a crisis, one that has forced Montreal to confront the fragility of their lineup and the urgency of finding help before the season slips away.

Enter the Chicago Blackhawks, a team in the midst of a rebuild but suddenly linked to Montreal by necessity and opportunity. The whispers began quietly, but now the connection seems inevitable. TSN’s Travis Yost, in a recent podcast, shone a spotlight on Jason Dickinson as the center who could plug Montreal’s gaping holes. Dickinson, a 30-year-old veteran on the cusp of unrestricted free agency, brings not just experience but a rare blend of two-way reliability and offensive upside. With 22 goals and 35 points last season, he’s proven he can contribute on both sides of the puck—a quality Montreal desperately needs as they weather this injury storm.

The fit is almost too perfect. Dickinson’s defensive awareness and penalty-kill prowess would add immediate structure to a Canadiens forward group thrown into flux. Slotting him into Montreal’s middle six could stabilize the lineup, giving the team a fighting chance while Dach, Newhook, and Laine work their way back to health. For Chicago, the timing is right; with the Blackhawks focused on the future, moving Dickinson for assets makes sense, especially given his contract status and the team’s long-term vision.

But for Montreal, the stakes are even higher. General manager Kent Hughes faces mounting pressure to act—does he pursue Dickinson as a short-term rental, protecting prospects and future flexibility, or does he hold out for a bigger, more permanent solution? The clock is ticking, and every game lost to injury makes the need for dependable forward help more acute. The city waits, the fans speculate, and the front office weighs its options, knowing that the next move could define the Canadiens’ season.

As the trade deadline looms and the injury list grows longer, Montreal’s search for stability has become a race against time. Whether Dickinson is the answer or simply the next chapter in a season full of twists, one thing is certain: the Canadiens can’t afford to stand still. The pressure is on, and the hockey world is watching to see who will step up when it matters most.

Injuries have battered the forward group of the Montreal Canadiens, and suddenly a potential link to the Chicago Blackhawks makes more sense than ever.

With several top-six forwards now sidelined, Montreal might circle back to a trade target from Chicago to plug the gap at center and wing.

The Canadiens are currently without former Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach due to a gruesome injury, as well as Alex Newhook and Patrik Laine-all of whom were projected as key contributors for this season.

Dach is expected to miss four to six weeks with a fractured foot.

Newhook requires four months to recover from ankle surgery.

Laine is out for three to four months after core muscle surgery. That trio of absences leaves major holes in Montreal’s top-six structure and creates an urgent need for dependable forward help.

That’s where Jason Dickinson enters the picture. During a recent episode of a podcast, TSN analyst Travis Yost singled out Dickinson as a viable center target for Montreal.

“This group has real juice in the top six,” Yost said about the Blackhawks’ center group. “This is not going to be a playoff team. Does Jason Dickinson make a ton of sense for the Blackhawks long-term? I think that’s an interesting question. He’s definitely a capable third-line center. He immediately improves Montreal if he comes into Montreal.”

At 30 years old and nearing unrestricted free agency, Dickinson offers experience and two-way value; in 2023-24 he posted 22 goals, 35 points and logged

Why Dickinson fits Montreal’s pressing needs

If acquired, Dickinson could slot into the Canadiens’ middle six and stabilize the lineup while Dach, Newhook, and Laine recover.

His defensive awareness and penalty-kill credentials would also add structure to a Montreal forward group that’s been pushed into flux.

Chicago may be open to moving Dickinson given their current rebuild mode and his contract status.

For Montreal, a rental or short-term solution makes sense with an eye toward protecting prospects and future flexibility. At a minimum, bringing in a veteran forward could keep the team afloat while top-six players return.

Time will tell whether general manager Kent Hughes pulls the trigger on a move for Dickinson or holds off for longer-term reinforcements.

With the Canadiens already facing a deep injury hole up front, the pressure is mounting on management to find capable fillers.