A few weeks after acquiring star forward Patrik Laine, the Montreal Canadiens appear to have halted their pursuit of other high-priced forwards. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, this includes their interest in Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras. On the September 6 episode of the “32 Thoughts” podcast, Friedman confirmed that the Canadiens’ chase for Zegras is now “closed.” He stated, “I think the Canadiens were keen to add a major offensive piece this year. We heard a lot about Zegras, but I don’t believe that’s in the cards anymore.”
Throughout the offseason, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes explored various options to enhance the team’s offense. The Canadiens came close to signing free-agent forward Jonathan Marchessault but missed out, depleting the pool of top-tier free agents. They then focused on potential trade options, such as Zegras and Laine.
However, with the acquisition of Laine, there was no longer a need to pursue Zegras. Hughes likely saw Laine as a more cost-effective solution and the final piece to bolster the offense. While Zegras, who is three years younger than Laine and lacks a substantial contract, might have been an appealing option, the decision likely came down to balancing costs and potential. The Canadiens traded Jordan Harris to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Laine, with a second-round pick included to offset Laine’s $8.7 million salary.
