Montreal’s Center Search Won’t Include This $39 Million Ranger — Here’s Why

The Montreal Canadiens surprised plenty of people in 2026 by reaching the Eastern Conference Finals. For a franchise with 24 Stanley Cups, that deep playoff run felt like a step back toward relevance. But the roster isn’t complete. There’s a clear hole down the middle, and general manager Kent Hughes knows it.

For months, the rumor mill has spun Vincent Trocheck’s name toward Montreal. The 32-year-old Rangers center has a track record of two-way reliability and offensive pop — 53 points last season on a dreadful New York team that finished dead last in the East. He’s under contract for three more years at a $5.6 million cap hit. On paper, he fits. But according to a league source cited by Rangers beat writer Vincent Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic, the Canadiens are not in the mix. There has been zero contact between the two clubs regarding Trocheck.

That might raise eyebrows around the league. The Rangers have openly said they’re rebuilding. Trocheck was a hot name around the 2026 trade deadline and stayed put. Now, with New York ready to reshuffle, moving a veteran center makes obvious sense. But Montreal appears to be looking elsewhere.

What’s driving the decision? It could be age. Trocheck turns 33 this summer, and while he’s still effective, the Canadiens may prefer a younger catalyst for their top six. It could be cost — both acquisition price and cap structure. Or it could simply be that Hughes has his eyes on a different target entirely.

Fans online have pointed to several possibilities. Could Montreal make a serious push for a restricted free agent like Kirby Dach, who’s yet to sign long-term? Or perhaps they’d rather develop from within — Owen Beck and Oliver Kapanen are both knocking on the door. The Canadiens also hold draft capital and a deep prospect pool, giving them flexibility to chase a bigger name on the trade market.

What’s clear is that Montreal won’t be Trocheck’s next team. That leaves the Rangers to find another trade partner — maybe a contender looking for secondary scoring or a playoff-tested faceoff man. As for the Canadiens, their center search continues, and whatever move they make this summer will shape expectations for 2027.