Notable French hockey commentator David Ettedgui has called on the Montreal Canadiens to pursue a trade for Trevor Zegras without delay. While fans are typically advised to be patient during a complete rebuild, that patience appears to be waning in Montreal. After acquiring Patrik Laine, welcoming back Kirby Dach from a significant injury, and introducing Lane Hutson, many had high hopes for the season. Unfortunately, the team’s performance has not aligned with those expectations.
Currently at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a record of 4-7-1, the Canadiens have lost seven of their last ten games, despite Cole Caufield leading the NHL in goals with ten. This highlights that one player alone cannot secure victories, especially with Laine sidelined due to injury until the New Year, indicating a need for additional support.
Ettedgui, who works for the French station BPM Sports, publicly proposed that Canadiens’ management should target Caufield’s friend and former teammate Trevor Zegras on the trade market. He believes that the Canadiens would be an ideal fit for Zegras, who could thrive with a fresh start, and would enhance the team’s offensive strength.
He acknowledged that while the Canadiens are primarily seeking a right-handed defenseman, opportunities for acquiring talented players like Zegras at a lower price are rare.
In his social media comments, he wrote: “This is the perfect moment for the Canadiens to pursue Trevor Zegras. He needs a fresh start, and the Canadiens could be the ideal team to reinvigorate him. Given the offensive uncertainty, inconsistent play from some forwards, and Laine’s injury, I’d recommend bringing him in to balance the two forward lines. Otherwise, keep an eye on Nashville in this situation. Although the Canadiens are mainly focused on acquiring a #3 or #4 right-handed defenseman, 23-year-old talents like Zegras at a low price are hard to come by.”
Zegras has struggled with injuries this season, appearing in just 31 games, and has managed only three points, including one goal, in ten games with the Ducks. Nevertheless, he has been impactful when healthy, recording 23 goals and 38 assists in the 2021-2022 season, followed by a similar performance in 2022-2023 with 23 goals and 42 assists. Pairing him with Caufield could re-energize Zegras’s game.
Despite this potential, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek is unwilling to trade him unless the right offer comes along. The Canadiens have the necessary resources to meet that demand but may hesitate to part with their assets, especially with rumors surrounding Arber Xhekaj. If GM Kent Hughes is serious about acquiring a significant player, he should seriously consider Zegras.
