Are the Nashville Predators and Montreal Canadiens planning a trade? We analyze why scouts were in attendance and debunk the Ryan O’Reilly rumors.
When two pro scouts from the Nashville Predators appear in the press box for a Montreal Canadiens game against Washington—knowing neither team plays Nashville soon—it sends the rumor mill into overdrive. Immediate speculation has linked the Habs to veteran center Ryan O’Reilly to plug the hole down the middle.
Here is the reality check: If you think Kent Hughes is about to trade assets for a 34-year-old center, you haven’t been paying attention to the blueprint. The Predators might be looking to deal, but Montreal’s management has a strict “mid-20s with term” philosophy. Here is my personal insight on why this trade rumor doesn’t fit the rebuild and what is actually happening.
The Ryan O’Reilly Speculation: Why It Misses the Mark
Let’s look at the facts. The Predators had eyes on the Habs this Thursday. Naturally, pundits started connecting dots to Ryan O’Reilly. On paper, the fit seems obvious: Montreal needs a reliable second-line center to insulate the young core, and O’Reilly is a culture-setter with a reasonable $4.5 million AAV through 2026-27.
However, from my perspective as someone tracking the Habs daily, this move screams “old regime.” The current Canadiens management, led by Hughes and Gorton, has explicitly avoided aging stars with expensive contracts. We saw them pass on players like Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Marchessault for a reason. Their target demographic is precise: players entering their prime (23–27 years old) who can grow with the Suzuki-Caufield core, not players whose best statistical seasons are in the rearview mirror.
While O’Reilly is a fantastic leader, he is 34. By the time Montreal is ready to seriously contend for a Cup, O’Reilly will be pushing 37. Does that sound like a Kent Hughes trade? Absolutely not.
So, why were the scouts there? It is far more likely Nashville is doing due diligence on Montreal’s surplus of defensemen or perhaps a depth forward who fits a specific role. Or, conversely, Montreal is scouting Nashville for a younger, disgruntled asset that fits their long-term timeline. Don’t buy the O’Reilly hype just yet; the timeline simply doesn’t align with the methodical approach we’ve seen from Montreal’s front office.
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