The Montreal Canadiens were one of the more aggressive teams in the NHL this offseason.
Given how quiet things have been over the last several months, that might not be saying much, but it still shows that Kent Hughes and company are ready to win now.
The rebuild is over in Montreal, and expectations are high after the acquisitions of Noah Dobson and Zack Bolduc to go with their budding young core. It feels like a team that doesn't have many holes, though if you were to point out a weakness, it's the lack of a true second-line center.
Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach are the current candidates to fill that role, though, according to Rob Ellis of NHL Trade Rumors, Hughes continues to kick tires on an upgrade. Ellis' latest article connects the Canadiens to Panthers center Anton Lundell and would see top prospect Michael Hage sent to Florida in return.
Canadiens receive: Anton Lundell
Panthers receive: Michael Hage
"The search for a legitimate second-line center for the Montreal Canadiens is heating up, and the latest rumor swirling has some real teeth. While names like Mason McTavish have been rumored, the focus has now shifted to Florida’s Anton Lundell, and frankly, this is the kind of move that signals a franchise is ready to turn a corner. This isn’t just tire-kicking; it’s a potential sign that GM Kent Hughes feels the competitive window is starting to crack open, and he’s ready to push it wide open," Ellis wrote.
"Here’s the rub. The proposed trade sends top prospect Michael Hage to Florida. This is where the “win now” versus “build for the future” debate explodes. Hage projects to be a fantastic second-line center himself, but he’s still a few years away from making that impact. The Montreal Canadiens are signaling they don’t want to wait a few more years. They want to make a playoff push this season. Trading Hage would be a bold declaration that the painful part of the rebuild is over," Ellis added.
RUMOR: The Habs are linked to Panthers C Anton Lundell. The cost? Possibly top prospect Michael Hage.
— NHL Trade Rumors (@nhltraderumours) September 6, 2025
Is accelerating the rebuild by trading a future piece for a 'win-now' center the right call for the Montreal Canadiens? #GoHabsGo #NHL https://t.co/XQbxN6Lys3
Lundell produced a career-high 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) in 79 regular-season games in 2024-25, along with an impressive 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 23 playoff games.
Would Florida move Lundell?
While Ellis' trade proposal is very intriguing, the Florida Panthers have no reason to trade Anton Lundell.
The 23-year-old is locked in for five more years at $5 million per season, a contract that will be an absolute bargain as the salary cap increases.
An argument could be made that Lundell will want more opportunity at some point in the future, given that he's stuck behind Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett on the depth chart in Florida. However, he's had tremendous success as a Panther, and there's no better place to play and compete for championships in the league right now.
Lundell would be an amazing get for the Canadiens, but unless he asks to be traded out of Florida, which seems unlikely at this point, it's hard to see Bill Zito and company having any thoughts of letting him go.