Montreal Canadiens NHL trade rumors intensify around Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek and New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier offseason pursuit

The Montreal Canadiens are back in the NHL trade rumor mill after a remarkable run in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now that the team has completed its Eastern Conference Finals series against the Carolina Hurricanes, all eyes are on the offseason and whether the team can land an elite second-line center before the next NHL season opens up.General Manager Kent Hughes remains aggressive in the hunt for big trade opportunities. Montreal Canadiens NHL trade rumors have swirled around several players as the summer approaches, but none have been bigger names than Minnesota Wild forward Joel Eriksson Ek and New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier.The Canadiens were a surprise in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but didn’t get consistent secondary offensive production behind captain Nick Suzuki. The Minnesota Wild get great two-way play, physicality and penalty-killing ability in Joel Eriksson Ek. The New Jersey Devils get elite leadership and offensive consistency from Nico Hischier.Both centers would immediately bolster Montreal’s top-six forward group, joining stars such as Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky. NHL trade rumors have also suggested the Canadiens might be ready to trade top prospects or draft capital for a blockbuster deal.Earlier, Kent Hughes said Montreal was looking to make significant additions to its roster before the NHL trade deadline. The Canadiens have some of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL with Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky, that depth could help Montreal compete with other teams looking to acquire top-tier centers this summer.Minnesota Wild: Trading Joel Eriksson Ek could free up salary cap space and help change their core. Meanwhile, there is still speculation surrounding Nico Hischier because of long-term roster planning discussions involving the New Jersey Devils.Montreal’s playoff appearance against the Carolina Hurricanes showed the franchise is ahead of schedule. NHL trade rumors involving Kent Hughes, Joel Eriksson Ek and Nico Hischier are expected to continue as one of the league’s biggest offseason storylines.