As the Montreal Canadiens look to return to the playoffs in this upcoming 25-26 season after a promising campaign last year that saw the club return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021, the club is still looking for that coveted 2C they desire.
Cole Shelton of Heavy Sports has unveiled a spicy trade pitch that would land the Habs a talented top 6 forward from the Utah Mammoth that would solve their 2nd line center woes.
Montreal acquires: Nick Schmaltz, 2026 fifth round pick
Utah acquires: Kirby Dach, 2026 second round pick
Why does this trade benefit Montreal?
The Canadiens are currently lacking a clear 2C in their offensive rotation. This trade would give the Habs a 63 point forward to add in their top 6. Schmaltz is one of the premier playmakers in the NHL and would be a lethal option to pair with the Habs rising star Ivan Demidov on the second line.
For Utah, they get in return a promising 24 year old center in Kirby Dach. He is a player who has the potential to become a Nick Schmaltz like player down the road, if not better. The former 3rd overall pick by Chicago has struggled to find a home, Utah could be a nice fit for him with their plethora of young offensive talent.
We’ll see what, if anything, Montreal does to address their need of adding another piece in their top 6 group. Whatever happens, this should be a fun squad to watch this upcoming campaign as their rising team looks to take another step forward as one of the most exciting future’s in the NHL.
