The Next Candidates to Be Acquired by the Canadiens: Four Interesting Names Emerge
In a recent press conference, Montreal Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes shared his thoughts on the first half of the season and disclosed his plan for the next stages of the team's rebuild. One key revelation was his intention to leverage the team's surplus of defensemen to address the lack of offensive punch in the top two lines.
With a talented young defensive group already in place, Hughes is now focusing on enhancing the team's offensive capabilities. He aims to add high-potential forwards to complement players like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Kirby Dach, and Alex Newhook.
Hughes expressed interest in making a trade similar to the Kirby Dach deal, targeting a high-quality player who just needs a new opportunity to flourish.
In light of this, BPM Sports suggested four young forwards who could benefit from a change of scenery and reach their potential. These players include Anton Lundell, Alexander Holtz, Kaapo Kakko, and Vasili Podkolzin, all promising NHL talents who haven't yet established themselves as top-line players in their current teams.
"Inspired by Kent Hughes's press conference, we present four forwards, 22 years and younger, who could benefit from a change of scenario to reach their potential." - BPM Sports
Here's a brief overview of the four forwards:
ˇ Anton Lundell: Drafted 12th overall in 2020, Lundell had an impressive rookie season with 44 points in 65 games. However, he's scored only 47 points in 113 games over the last two years with the Florida Panthers.
ˇ Alexander Holtz: The 7th overall pick in 2020 by the New Jersey Devils, Holtz had a tough start (6 points in 28 games) but seems to be finding his footing this season with 21 points in 42 games.
ˇ Kaapo Kakko: Selected 2nd overall in 2019, just before Kirby Dach, Kakko's progress has been hindered by injuries. Following an encouraging 2022-2023 season (40 points in 82 games), he's struggling this season with just 4 points in 23 games. A change of scenery could benefit him.
ˇ Vasili Podkolzin: Drafted 10th overall in 2019, Podkolzin has 33 points in 118 NHL games. He has spent much of the last two years in the AHL, scoring 38 points in 56 games with the Abbotsford Canucks.
Both Anton Lundell and Alexander Holtz stand out as particularly interesting options for Montreal. They have demonstrated impact-player potential in the NHL and, at just 21 and 22 years old, their best years are likely ahead of them.
| POLL |
19 JANVIER | 285 ANSWERS The Next Candidates to Be Acquired by the Canadiens: Four Interesting Names Emerge Who would you like to see most in Montreal? |
| Anton Lundell | 47 | 16.5 % |
| Vasili Podkolzin | 19 | 6.7 % |
| Alexander Holtz | 120 | 42.1 % |
| Kaapo Kakko | 99 | 34.7 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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