A few weeks after acquiring star forward Patrik Laine, the Montreal Canadiens appear to have shifted their focus away from pursuing other high-priced forwards. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Canadiens have ended their pursuit of Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras.
On the September 6 episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman stated that the possibility of Zegras joining the Canadiens is now “closed.” He added, “I think the Canadiens really wanted to add a big offensive player this year. We heard all the Zegras rumors, but I don’t think that’s happening right now. I’m not expecting that.”
Throughout the offseason, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes had explored various options to enhance the team’s offense. The Habs narrowly missed out on signing free-agent forward Jonathan Marchessault and ran out of elite options in free agency, leading them to consider other targets, including Zegras and Laine.
However, after securing Laine, the need to acquire Zegras diminished, as Hughes seemingly found a more cost-effective option that completed his offensive lineup.
It’s important to note that Zegras, being three years younger than Laine and without an expensive contract, remains an appealing target.
Ultimately, the decision between Laine and Zegras likely came down to balancing cost and potential. To acquire Laine, the Canadiens only had to trade Jordan Harris to the Columbus Blue Jackets, receiving Laine and a second-round pick in return as compensation for taking on the forward’s $8.7 million salary.
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