As the Montreal Canadiens look to shape their roster for the future, the spotlight is turning to a new wave of promising young talent within the organization. With the NHL trade market heating up, whispers are growing louder about several top prospects who could soon find themselves at the center of high-stakes negotiations. Among them, a few unexpected names have emerged, drawing the attention of rival scouts and general managers eager to bolster their own blue lines and forward groups.

While the Canadiens have long been known for their commitment to developing homegrown stars, the sheer depth of their prospect pool has created a unique dilemma for the front office. With tough decisions looming and the potential for franchise-altering trades on the horizon, fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see which young players will remain part of Montreal’s future—and which might be on the move. As rumors swirl and speculation intensifies, the fate of several rising stars hangs in the balance, promising a dramatic offseason for the storied franchise.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Adam Engstrom joined the Laval Rocket at the beginning of last season, without making much noise among the Montreal Canadiens’ management.

However, throughout the season, he earned his place with the club and became an important defenseman for Pascal Vincent’s squad.

The head coach of the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate recently had very good things to say about the young Swedish defenseman.

“We call him The Beast.
He doesn’t put on a show, but in big moments, he’s totally locked in.
He’s not intimidated by pressure.
He wants the puck, he wants to make plays, he wants to contribute to the team’s success.
That’s what gets you to the NHL!”
– Pascal Vincent

Adam Engstrom, a defenseman drawing trade interest in the coming weeks?

It’s not just Vincent who sees potential in the 21-year-old prospect-other NHL teams are taking notice too.

According to the excellent Marco D’Amico, interest in Engstrom is growing significantly around the league.

“There’s a player NHL scouts are starting to watch closely: Adam Engstrom.”
– Marco D’Amico

It’s interesting to see that a young Canadiens defenseman-not named Logan Mailloux-is starting to generate trade chatter.

Engstrom had a rough start to the season, making several defensive mistakes, but he learned from them.

Throughout the campaign, he elevated his play and became an important part of the organization.

D’Amico even suggests Engstrom could very well become a solid third-pair defenseman in the NHL.

It’ll be interesting to see what the organization decides to do with the young man, especially considering how many young left-shot defensemen they have.

With Lane Hutson, Mike Matheson, and Kaiden Guhle likely staying put, Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes may soon have to choose between Arber Xhekaj, Jayden Struble, and Engstrom for the future.

David Reinbacher and Joshua Roy also drawing interest

Beyond Engstrom, two other Canadiens players are reportedly generating league-wide interest: David Reinbacher and Joshua Roy.

As surprising as it may seem, league executives still appear to have faith in the young Quebec forward.

Even though Roy has lost some momentum in Montreal over the past few months, many teams would love to acquire him and try to revive his potential.

As for Reinbacher, it seems teams are keeping a close eye on him in case he becomes available in a trade.

However, I’d be very surprised to see the 5th overall pick from the 2023 Draft leave the organization, especially as he’s starting to find his footing.

If I had to predict someone who might be moved, I’d actually say Logan Mailloux would be a more likely candidate-it’s a bit surprising he’s not on this list.