On Tuesday, Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes announced a major roster move. The team has traded defenseman Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues in return for promising young forward Zachary Bolduc.

Bolduc, 22, is a right winger from Trois-Rivières, Quebec. He had an impressive 2024–25 season with the Blues, playing in 72 games. He scored 19 goals and added 17 assists for a total of 36 points. Among NHL rookies, he finished fourth in total goals and led all newcomers with a +20 rating, showing his strong two-way play and value on the ice. Bolduc was originally selected by St. Louis in the first round (17th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.

On the other side of the trade, Logan Mailloux heads to the Blues after a solid season in the AHL with the Laval Rocket, Montreal’s affiliate team. The 22-year-old defenseman appeared in 63 games, recording 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points. Mailloux was a first-round pick (31st overall) by the Canadiens in the 2021 Draft.

The trade adds speed and scoring depth to Montreal’s forward group as they continue rebuilding around their young core. Bolduc is expected to make an immediate impact and could slot into the middle-six forward lines.

In other Canadiens news, the team recently signed Swedish goaltender Jacob Fowler to a three-year entry-level contract. They are also continuing development work with young stars like Juraj Slafkovský and David Reinbacher during the offseason. Training camp is set to open in mid-September, with several prospects expected to compete for roster spots.

This trade marks another strategic move as Montreal builds for the future while staying competitive in the present.

Canadiens Trade for Defenseman Noah Dobson and Sign Him to Long-Term Deal

On Friday, Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes announced a major trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens have acquired defenseman Noah Dobson in exchange for two 2025 first-round draft picks (16th and 17th overall) and forward Emil Heineman.

As part of the deal, Dobson also signed a new eight-year contract worth $76 million, which will begin in the 2025–26 season and run through 2032–33. The contract pays him an average of $9.5 million per year.

Dobson, 25, is a strong and skilled defenseman who played 71 games for the Islanders last season. He scored 10 goals and added 29 assists, totaling 39 points. He also averaged over 23 minutes of ice time per game, showing he can play big minutes. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 200 pounds, Dobson brings size and experience to Montreal’s blue line. Since starting his NHL career in the 2019–20 season, he has collected 230 points (50 goals and 180 assists) in 388 games. He also played in 31 playoff games, recording 10 assists.

In return, the Islanders receive Emil Heineman, a 23-year-old forward who played 62 games with the Canadiens this season. Heineman scored 10 goals and had 8 assists. He also scored 1 goal in the playoffs against the Washington Capitals.

This move shows Montreal’s commitment to strengthening its defense for the long term, adding a top defenseman to play alongside young talent like Kaiden Guhle and David Reinbacher.

On other side :

The Canadiens signed goalie Jacob Fowler to a three-year entry-level contract earlier this week.

Montreal is also focused on the development of rising stars Juraj Slafkovský, Owen Beck, and Lane Hutson, who could have bigger roles next season.

The team will host its development camp next month, where top prospects will compete for spots on the 2025–26 roster.

With the addition of Dobson, the Canadiens continue to build a competitive young core for the future.