Montreal Canadiens' second-line center hunt may extend into 2026 free agency
As the summer passes, it's looking more and more probable the Montreal Canadiens will start the 2025–26 season with Kirby Dach as their second-line center. While there remains some ambiguity with regards to his consistency and health, Dach is still the fallback option, not because he's the optimum choice, but because no one else has proven to be an upgrade.
Will Montreal search for second-line center to move to free agency in 2026?
John Tavares remained true to Toronto. Jonathan Toews returned home sentimentally to Winnipeg. Mikael Granlund went west to Anaheim, and Pius Suter went to St. Louis. Even Christian Dvorak, who wasn't kept by Montreal, was able to secure an unexpected $5.4 million AAV deal with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Peeking ahead, the 2026 UFA class at center could be deep—at least on paper.
Connor McDavid
, Jack Eichel, and Anze Kopitar top the list.
Can one of them end up in Montreal? Connor McDavid departing the Edmonton Oilers seems unlikely unless the team experiences a catastrophic collapse.
The Search for a 2nd Line Center..
Even with consecutive Cup Final losses, allowing the world's best player to leave would be franchise-defining. Eichel is more interesting. If Vegas disappoints and McDavid becomes an option, the Golden Knights could retool. They're not afraid of big gambles—they've taken them before.
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The RFA market is always tempting but never rewarding. Martin Necas, Logan Cooley, Leo Carlsson, and even Connor Bedard might theoretically be available—if not signed. But let's be real: offer sheets are toxic in the NHL today. Not many GMs are eager for the heat that accompanies them, and Montreal's Kent Hughes has demonstrated no willingness to do it. That leaves trades—and those aren't easy.
Also read:
NHL trade buzz: Montreal Canadiens targeting $50M Tampa Bay Lightning star Anthony Cirelli to strengthen
Ultimately, the Canadiens might just have to do things the hard way: draft, develop, and wait. It's not flashy, and it sure as heck won't placate a fanbase famished for progress. But the reality is, there's no magic pill for a second-line center. Until Hage, Beck, or someone else in-house takes the leap—or the 2026 market produces an unexpected card—the Dach Plan is the most viable option on the table. It's a risk, but it may be the only one remaining to play—at the moment.
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