Canadiens Willing to Pay “Real Price” for Devils Nico Hischier

Expect the Montreal Canadiens to push hard if center Nico Hischier officially becomes available on the trade market. Deemed a “perfect fit” for what Montreal needs, it sounds like an already aggressive team is willing to get extremely aggressive for the right player.

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As per Pierre LeBrun:

“Montreal will keep an eye on how the Larkin situation plays out, but to me, Hischier is the best fit for the Canadiens. And there’s no doubt the Habs are keeping super close tabs on that, too. Hischier is a left-handed Nick Suzuki. The fit is beyond perfect for Montreal if Hischier were ever actually available. I think the Canadiens would be willing to pay a real price and not mess around in that trade scenario.”

From all accounts, the Canadiens are calling everyone. They have several irons in the fire. From reports they had a deal done for Matthew Knies that fell apart one minute after the trade deadline cutoff, to news that they have been in talks with the New York Rangers about Alexis Lafreniere and/or Vincent Trocheck, Hughes is leaving no stone unturned. The Hischier talk is the latest of many rumors.

The Habs would be in line with a long, long list of suitors; the Los Angeles Kings just lost Anze Kopitar to retirement; the Minnesota Wild could use a center upgrade. But, would there be a better fit than the Canadiens, who just went to the Eastern Conference Final and have one of the better young rosters in the NHL?

Hischier holds a 10-team no-trade clause in his contract that would give him some say over where he goes. One would have to imagine that the Canadiens are a team that would appear attractive. Not only would Hughes pay a real price to acquire the center, but likely a hefty salary on a long-term deal to keep him.

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