The Montreal Canadiens have some parts of their roster that they should look to address leading up to the 2026 NHL trade deadline. When looking at their current group, it is fair to argue that they could use another impactful right-shot defenseman. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, one player who could be a strong fit on the Canadiens' roster is Calgary Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud. With the Flames being in a rebuild, Whitecloud has been a very popular name in the rumor mill. This has been the case since Calgary acquired him as part of the deal that sent Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights earlier this season. There appears to be a real chance that Whitecloud could get moved, and the Habs should consider pursuing him because of it. If the Canadiens added Whitecloud, he would give them another solid defenseman for the right side of their blueline. He could also work well on their penalty kill because of his steady defensive play. In addition, Whitecloud would be more than a rental if brought in by the Canadiens, as he has a $2.75 million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season. This adds to his appeal as a potential trade target. Nevertheless, with the Habs in need of another blueliner, Whitecloud is one player who could make sense for them to add. This is especially so when noting that he has a good amount of playoff experience and a Stanley Cup on his resume.
