Insider Suggests Canadiens Could Revisit a Trade for Jordan Kyrou

The Montreal Canadiens sit sixth in the NHL heading into the Olympic break, poised to return to the playoffs and act aggressively as buyers at the trade deadline along the way.

Upgrading their second-line center has long been viewed as the top priority on GM Kent Hughes’ wishlist. However, the strong play of Oliver Kapanen has lessened that need, which, according to insider David Pagnotta, has now shifted the Canadiens’ focus toward adding a top-line winger.

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Pagnotta specifically mentioned finding someone to play alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, and wondered whether Montreal could circle back in an attempt to acquire St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou.

Pagnotta said:

“There was all the talk of center, center, center — needing a 2C. That has dissipated, at least the urgency has, because of the performance of Oliver Kapanen. The need now seems to have shifted to that first-line right side. You have Caufield, you have Suzuki, and they’ve been rotating guys — Dach’s seen time there, Texier’s seen time there. It looks like that’s where they want to go. In a perfect world, that’s where they want to go. I’m wondering if they circle back again, for like the fourth time, to St. Louis about Kyrou,”

The 27-year-old Kyrou is in year three of the eight-year, $65 million extension signed with the Blues back in 2022, which includes a full no-movement clause through 2029-30. He’s recorded 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 47 games played this season. 

Montreal Has Long Had Interest in Jordan Kyrou

As Pagnotta notes, this certainly wouldn’t be the first time Hughes and company have had discussions with GM Doug Armstrong about a trade involving Kyrou.

Rumors have linked Kyrou to the Canadiens in each of the last two offseasons, and while Armstrong has yet to pull the trigger on a deal to move his star winger, it feels like it’s bound to happen sooner rather than later.

St. Louis isn’t about to go on a miraculous second-half run to sneak into the playoffs and smooth everything over this time around. As a result, just about every Blue could be available, with Kyrou at the forefront.

To add even more fuel to the fire, Pagnotta’s latest trade watch board had Kyrou ranked 30th, with Montreal listed among the five teams linked with interest.

A trade won’t come cheap, and there will be plenty of competition to beat out. That said, the Canadiens have been pushing for this for quite some time, and that perseverance could very well pay off when all is said and done.

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