The Montreal Canadiens have long been searching for a second-line center behind Nick Suzuki, and after this year’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals, it feels like GM Kent Hughes will especially prioritize finding one this offseason.
Nico Hischier, Dylan Larkin, and even the pipe dream Connor McDavid scenario have all come up in recent weeks. However, people around the hockey world are starting to wonder about a different target: Winnipeg Jets star center Mark Scheifele.
With all of the uncertainty around Connor Hellebuyck’s future in Winnipeg, Jeff Marek and Greg Wyshynski of The Sheet recently floated the idea of Scheifele to Montreal, which insider Jimmy Murphy has since endorsed.
“Wyshynski is absolutely correct. Unless 27-year-old New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier becomes available before Scheifele, 33-year-old Mark Scheifele is the center Canadiens President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton and General manager Kent Hughes need to target.
Make no mistake, the asking price from Montreal, or any team, for Scheifele would be steep, and Marek was right in suggesting Fowler as part of a Montreal return. Either Fowler or Canadiens Stanley Cup Playoff hero Jakub Dobes would need to be part of any NHL trade package for Scheifele because the Jets would’ve just traded Hellebuyck. This puck scribe would be stunned if Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff didn’t start by asking for Canadiens’ top prospect center Michael Hage,”
The 33-year-old Scheifele has five years remaining on the seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension he signed with the Jets in 2023. He’s coming off a career-high 103 points (36 goals, 67 assists) produced in 82 games played last season.
Montreal acquiring Scheifele would form a dynamic 1-2 punch with Suzuki down the middle of the ice, as two of the only eight players who hit the 100-point mark in 2025-26.
Such a trade would come with a significant cost, as Murphy mentioned, but Scheifele is durable, productive, and has plenty of playoff experience. He’s the type of player worth paying a premium for if the Canadiens want to take the next step towards becoming true Stanley Cup contenders.
Next: Ex-Manager Sees Another World Series Run in the Blue Jays
