The winds of change are blowing through Montreal, and the hockey world is watching with bated breath. As the Canadiens continue their relentless pursuit of a second-line center, new possibilities are emerging—some more surprising than others.

With the recent trade freeing up valuable salary cap space, General Manager Kent Hughes now has the flexibility to orchestrate a move that could reshape the team’s future. But who will be the next piece of the puzzle?

Rumors are swirling and speculation is mounting, as respected TSN analyst Travis Yost weighs in with his expert perspective.

Yost, known for his sharp insights and deep statistical analysis, has identified two teams that could be ideal trade partners for the Canadiens in their quest to strengthen the center position. But the names he mentions—and the scenarios he envisions—are anything but predictable.

Could Montreal’s next big move come from an unexpected source? Are the Boston Bruins or Columbus Blue Jackets poised to play a pivotal role in the Canadiens’ plans?

And which players might be on the move as Kent Hughes prepares to make his next bold decision? The answers are closer than you think, but the full story is just beginning to unfold.

Montreal Canadiens Logo (left) Columbus Blue Jackets logo (right)«Blue Jackets Emerge as Potential Trade Partner in Canadiens' Search for Center»

Photo credit: NHL

Travis Yost, journalist at the TSN network, identifies two teams that could be the ideal dance partners for the Montreal Canadiens in a trade for a second-line center.

The Boston Bruins and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Travis Yost has been a seasoned hockey analyst at TSN for over 10 years and is a specialist in advanced stats.

He breaks down NHL player performances better than anyone, offering a unique perspective on the game.

Recently invited to Tony Marinaro’s podcast, he was asked about realistic targets the Canadiens could pursue in the coming weeks or months.

Here’s what he had to say.

Montreal Canadiens could find their second-line center from Columbus or Boston

Although the Canadiens managed to free up some salary cap space with the Carey Price trade we can guess that Kent Hughes won’t want to touch his promising young players like Michael Hage or David Reinbacher, nor his first-round picks.

With that in mind, Travis Yost believes the Montreal Canadiens will try to find a player in the final year of his contract who can “get the job done” this season.

In Boston,Yost highlights the names Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt.

Zacha, versatile and reliable, brings offensive consistency (20 goals, 59 points in 2022-2023) while also being defensively responsible, with an affordable contract until 2027 ($4.75M).

Mittelstadt, acquired last year, has defensive shortcomings but has had productive stretches in the big league (18 goals, 67 points in 2024-2025).

In Columbus, it’s Charlie Coyle who catches Travis Yost’s attention. A complete veteran, combining toughness, leadership, and efficiency (25 goals in 2023-2024) for $5.25M until 2026. Although he just joined the Jackets, there seems to be congestion at center in Columbus.

These options, without requiring major assets in return, would allow Montreal to add depth at center while respecting salary cap constraints, thus strengthening their chances of performing as early as 2026.