It has been an excellent off-season for the Montreal Canadiens. They most notably acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson and promising young winger Zack Bolduc in separate trades. They also improved their depth by bringing in Joe Veleno, Sammy Blais, and Kaapo Kahkonen through free agency.

The Canadiens' strong moves this off-season led to them getting the top spot on The Hockey News' Adam Proteau's summer splash rankings. Yet, despite having had a great off-season, the Canadiens could still make two more moves to make it even better. Let's discuss them now. 

Move No. 1: Canadiens Should Sign Lane Hutson To Contract Extension

Lane Hutson is entering the final season of his entry-level deal in 2025-26, so he is officially eligible for a contract extension. Given the fantastic rookie season that Hutson just put together, it would be excellent if the Canadiens could get him locked up to a contract extension this summer. In 82 games this past season, the Calder Memorial Trophy winner posted six goals, 60 assists, and 66 points. 

Hutson is one of the top youngsters that the Canadiens are building around, so it would be massive if they got him locked up on a long-term extension. It would undoubtedly make the Canadiens' great off-season even better. 

Move No. 2: Canadiens Should Trade For Second-Line Center

When looking at the Canadiens' roster, it is apparent that their biggest need is a legitimate second-line center. Thus, it would be significant if they were to acquire one before the 2025-26 season is here. 

A few centers that have been floating around the rumor mill include Mason McTavish, Marco Rossi, and Pavel Zacha. If the Canadiens were to acquire one of these three or another notable center, it would only help their chances of taking another step forward in 2025-26 even more. 

Big Changes Have Canadiens Topping Summer Splash Rankings It’s been a busy offseason for the<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens"> Montreal Canadiens</a>, and GM Kent Hughes has been very active. After his team made the playoffs last season, Hughes decided it was the right time to give it a big boost by acquiring a first-rate right-shot defenseman in Noah Dobson. His arrival allowed the GM to move Logan Mailloux to get some much-needed help up front in Zachary Bolduc. Montreal will also be able to rely on rookie Ivan Demidov from the start of the season, and he could be a game-changer. s