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Canadiens' $18 Million Cushion Sets the Stage for a Potentially Bold Move


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Gabriel Sami
October 27, 2025  (10:03)
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Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes
Photo credit: NHL

Since Patrik Laine's long-term injury, many fans have been wondering if the Montreal Canadiens would take advantage of the situation to free up some cap space.

And more importantly, whether Kent Hughes could use that opportunity to go out and acquire a true impact center before the trade deadline.
According to Raphaël Simard of DansLesCoulisses, the answer is very clear: the Canadiens will have the necessary flexibility to make moves.
And not just a little!

The Montreal Canadiens Will Have Over $18 Million in Cap Space by the Trade Deadline

By not placing Patrik Laine on long-term injured reserve, Kent Hughes is allowing his team to accumulate daily cap space.
The result is that, by the trade deadline, the Canadiens will have approximately $18,338,000 in cap room, according to data from PuckPedia.
"The Canadiens could not only absorb Nazem Kadri's seven-million-dollar contract, but also target several other available centers across the league."

- explained Simard.
That's huge for a team that usually has to juggle every dollar.
If the Habs remain in a playoff position after the Olympics, this flexibility could really change everything!
In his article on The Athletic (NY Times), Pierre LeBrun also mentioned that Nazem Kadri does not want to leave Calgary, but the situation could evolve if the Flames remain near the bottom of the standings.
And if Calgary decided to sell, Kent Hughes would be in a dream position to make a move.
In my opinion, it's the first time in a long while that Montreal can seriously think about "buying" instead of just unloading contracts.
With nearly $18 million available, the Canadiens will finally have the means to match their ambitions.
Now we'll just have to see which player could truly make a difference in Montreal.
Exciting times ahead!
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Canadiens' $18 Million Cushion Sets the Stage for a Potentially Bold Move

Do you think Kent Hughes should take advantage of this cap space to acquire a star center?


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