It has been an excellent off-season for the Montreal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens], as they notably brought in star defenseman Noah Dobson and young forward Zack Bolduc in two separate trades. Yet, they might not be done yet, as there has been plenty of talk about the Canadiens wanting to find an upgrade for their second-line center spot. Now, the Canadiens are being connected to a very notable center - Nazem Kadri. In his latest Off-Season Trade Board for Sportsnet [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/real-kypers-off-season-trade-board-3-0-who-were-watching-this-summer/], NHL insider Nick Kypreos reported that the Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs are linked to Kadri and that the veteran center "appears to be willing" to waive his no-movement clause to join either club. Kypreos writes: "Two teams that Kadri continues to be linked to and appear to be willing to lift his no-move clause for are the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs." If the Canadiens were to bring in Kadri, he would certainly give them a major boost at the center position. The 34-year-old forward is coming off another strong season with the Flames, as he scored a career-high 35 goals and recorded 67 points in 82 games. This was after he had 29 goals and 75 points in 82 games with the Flames during the 2023-24 campaign. Besides still being an impactful top-six forward at this stage of his career, Kadri would also provide value for the Canadiens because of his experience. He could be a good mentor for the Canadiens' young players as they look to continue to head in the right direction. This is especially so when noting that he has won the Stanley Cup before. Kadri would also be a long-term investment for the Canadiens if acquired, as he has a $7 million cap hit until the completion of the 2028-29 season. Thus, there would be some risk in acquiring Kadri, as he will be 38 years old once his deal expires. However, with Kadri still being a star at this point in his career, it could very well be a gamble worth taking for a Canadiens team on the rise. However, with Kadri previously playing for the Maple Leafs, it would also be understandable if he is open to returning to Toronto. The 2009 seventh-overall pick spent the first 10 years of his career as a Maple Leaf, posting 161 goals and 357 points in 561 games. With this, it would certainly take some time to get used to seeing Kadri on the Canadiens if they acquired him. Ex-Canadiens Goalie Signed NHL's Most Unique Off-Season Deal [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0f1fb706-5469-484e-a374-283b1660d6ec.webp] Ex-Canadiens Goalie Signed NHL's Most Unique Off-Season Deal Heading into July 1, former <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens">Montreal Canadien</a> Jake Allen was the clear top pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) goalie who could hit the market. Due to this, there was expected to be a ton of interest in the 34-year-old, and he was in a position to land a high average annual value (AAV) had he tested the market. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/ex-canadiens-goalie-signed-nhl-s-most-unique-off-season-deal] Photo Credit: © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
