The Montreal Canadiens still haven't addressed their need for a top-six forward. Meanwhile, some observers wonder if Vladimir Tarasenko would be a good addition for the Edmonton Oilers.
It's no secret that the Montreal Canadiens are in the market for a top-six forward to play on their second line alongside budding star Ivan Demidov.
Since the trade deadline, the Canadiens have been linked to Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Matthew Knies in the rumor mill. With the Maple Leafs under new management retooling their roster, it's doubtful the 23-year-old power forward is available.
During the NHL draft weekend, there was speculation claiming the Canadiens were interested in Kirill Marchenko of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 25-year-old right winger is in the final season of his contract and will be an RFA with arbitration rights next July.
On Monday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Canadiens made numerous calls to the Blue Jackets about Marchenko. However, the Jackets aren't willing to move him right now. Friedman also dismissed speculation suggesting the Habs made an almost embarrassingly large trade proposal for Marchenko.
Friedman thought the Canadiens might attempt to acquire Pavel Zacha from the Boston Bruins, but two sources told him that wasn't the case. The versatile 29-year-old center is a year away from UFA eligibility, but the Bruins are trying to re-sign him.
Nick Lariviere of The Sick Podcast suggested Shane Wright as an affordable trade target. The 22-year-old Seattle Kraken center is in the final season of his entry-level contract, and the Kraken are attempting to trade him this summer, though they want what they consider a fair price in return.
The Canadiens passed on Wright in favor of Juraj Slafkovsky with the first overall pick in the 2022 draft. He's since struggled to become a reliable two-way, top-six center. While Wright would be affordable, the Habs' efforts to acquire Knies and Marchenko indicate they're pursuing more established young talent.
Turning to the Edmonton Oilers, they could use another top-six winger for their second line.
One option could be Vladimir Tarasenko. The 34-year-old right winger is still available in the UFA market. He's coming off a solid season with the Minnesota Wild, with 23 goals and 47 points in 75 regular-season games and five points in 11 playoff contests.
Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal believes Tarasenko could be a good fit with the Oilers. However, his colleague Jim Matheson disagreed, citing the winger's lack of footspeed and likely unwillingness to accept a low-cost $2 million offer.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
