At the NHL trade deadline, a surprising team made a ridiculous trade offer for Canadiens star forward Cole Caufield, sending shockwaves through the hockey world. The offer, reportedly made by a contender desperate for scoring depth, included multiple high-end prospects, a first-round pick, and an established NHL player, a package that far exceeded most expectations for a player of Caufield’s age.

While the Canadiens ultimately rejected the deal, the offer underscored just how highly Caufield is regarded around the league. The young forward has been a revelation for Montreal, quickly becoming one of the most electrifying offensive players in the NHL. Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes firmly stated that Caufield is “not for sale,” emphasizing his long-term value to the franchise.

Fans were divided—some were outraged that any team would dare offer such a deal, while others saw it as proof of Caufield’s immense potential. With Caufield poised to take the next step in his career, the Canadiens may soon find themselves fielding even more outrageous offers in future trade discussions.

At the trade deadline, the Ottawa Senators made a big move by acquiring Dylan Cozens. They managed to get him for just Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker, and so far, it looks like a great deal for them.

Cozens is producing, and the Senators are winning since his arrival.

However, many Montreal Canadiens fans had hoped that Cozens would land in Montreal, especially after Kirby Dach’s injury.

He would have been an excellent second-line center behind Nick Suzuki.

But according to Mathias Brunet (BPM Sports), Kent Hughes inquired, but the price demanded by the Buffalo Sabres was outrageous.

Buffalo’s asking price was Cole Caufield or Juraj Slafkovsky.

Kent Hughes rightfully refused to trade Cole Caufield or Juraj Slafkovsky in exchange for young center Dylan Cozens

The Sabres didn’t want picks or prospects, they wanted an established player, just like the Sens gave up Norris.

And even though Cozens was struggling in Buffalo, that didn’t change his price.

Honestly, I’m glad the Canadiens refused.

Yes, Cozens would have brought great balance to the top six, but trading Caufield or Slafkovsky is too risky.

They are two of the most beloved players in the city and, more importantly, the team’s top offensive contributors.

What this shows is that if the Canadiens want to add a real second-line center this summer, it’s going to cost a lot.

This won’t happen with a B-level prospect and a second-round pick.

A significant piece will have to be sacrificed.