The Montreal Canadiens stunned the hockey world by reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2026. On paper, they shouldn’t have been there. A young roster, a rookie goalie, and a front office still reshaping the core. Yet there they were, one round away from the Stanley Cup Final. But if you watched closely, the real story wasn’t their heart — it was their glaring weakness.
Montreal finished the 2026 postseason dead last in shots for per 60 minutes, according to HockeyStats.com. They became the first team in NHL history to win a Game 7 with fewer than 10 shots on goal. Against the eventual champion Carolina Hurricanes, the Habs were routinely held under 20 shots — some games under 15. That’s not a recipe for sustainable success, even with Jakub Dobes standing on his head in net.
The Canadiens have star power. Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky can make defenders look silly. But when those guys have an off night — and in a long playoff run, they will — Montreal has no secondary scoring to lean on. That needs to change this summer.
Why Jaden Schwartz Makes Sense
Enter Jaden Schwartz. At first glance, the soon-to-be 34-year-old winger doesn’t scream “difference-maker.” He scored just 11 goals in 50 games during the 2025-26 season. But look past the raw numbers, and Schwartz is exactly the kind of depth piece Montreal needs — and could afford.
Schwartz has recorded 100 or more shots in a season all but three times in his career. This past year, he managed 82 shots in 50 games. Project that over an 82-game pace, and it’s roughly 134 shots — a number that would have ranked near the top of Montreal’s entire roster. The Canadiens don’t just need someone to score; they need someone to create volume, to keep the pressure on, to fire pucks and create chaos.
He also knows how to finish. Schwartz has six 20-goal seasons under his belt, including a 26-goal campaign just two years ago. That track record suggests he’s not done yet — especially if he lands in a system that rewards quick releases and net-front presence.
A Short-Term Fix with Long-Term Value
Montreal is set to lose some veteran depth this summer. Patrik Laine is expected to walk as an unrestricted free agent after another injury-plagued stint. Brendan Gallagher has been given permission to seek a trade, signaling the end of an era. That leaves the Habs with a real hole on the wing — and a need for someone who can provide steady, reliable minutes without breaking the bank.
Schwartz won the Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019. He knows what it takes to win in June. For a young Canadiens group still learning to close out series, that kind of experience is invaluable. A short-term deal — two years, maybe three — would keep the cap hit manageable and give Montreal flexibility as its young core develops.
The Canadiens don’t need a superstar. They need a professional who can generate chances, stabilize a line, and step up when the stars struggle. Jaden Schwartz fits that description better than most names on the open market. If the front office wants to build on this year’s surprise run, signing him should be a priority.
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