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The Montreal Canadiens may have to move on to plan B in their pursuit of a top-six forward. Montreal has been widely linked with a trade for additional offense ahead of the March 6 deadline. This is despite the fact that the team currently has the fifth-best goals per game average (3.34) in the entire NHL.

One particular player that the Canadiens have been heavily linked with recently is Blake Coleman. It was reported on January 9 that Montreal was showing real interest in the forward. While the Calgary Flames star is dealing with a minor injury, he has played fairly well for the struggling team. So far in 2025-26, Coleman has racked up 21 points in 44 games.

Because the Flames are struggling, they are expected to be sellers in the market. Although Calgary will likely trade some of its stars, NHL insider Darren Dreger does not believe Coleman will be one of them. “I’m curious to see the name of Coleman out there – I know that teams are calling [GM Craig] Conroy and asking about Coleman, it’s because of his winning resume,” Dreger said on January 15, as reported by TSN.

“This guy’s won Stanley Cups, but it’s also the type of player he is and the type of man he is. But those are characteristics and attributes that the Flames need. You can’t trade everybody. You’ve got to have a backbone on the culture side of your team, and Coleman is definitely that.”

“So, I would downplay the speculation around Coleman. Anything is possible, but I would say his place on that trade list – in terms of how high he is – is a little misplaced at this point. It’s unlikely he gets dealt.”

Montreal Canadiens Likely to Shift Focus Away From Blake Coleman

GettyBlake Coleman leads the Calgary Flames in goals despite currently being injured.

Instead of letting go of Coleman, Dreger has suggested that the Flames are much more willing to trade Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri. Andersson is undoubtedly the most likely of the duo to leave Calgary. The defenseman is set to be out of contract in the summer and seems increasingly unlikely to re-sign with his current club.

Montreal has been linked with Andersson in the past. While the Habs are actively looking for a quality forward, it is their defense that has let them down at times this season. In fact, only ten NHL teams have allowed more goals per game than Montreal in 2025-26. It remains to be seen, however, if the Canadiens will reignite interest in Andersson ahead of the March 6 deadline.

Montreal May Have to Wait Until After Olympics to Acquire Forward

Nevertheless, Kadri would be an interesting target for Montreal. The team has been heavily linked with a center throughout the campaign, and the veteran would be a solid fit. Kadri, 34, is under contract until the summer of 2029, though. Because of this, he would likely fetch a substantial return if he were dealt.

With Coleman seemingly tough to acquire, the Canadiens will now have to get creative in their trade targets. Besides the real trade deadline on March 6, there is another roster freeze during the upcoming Olympics. Montreal may have to be patient and wait until after the games in Italy to pursue a star forward.

Christopher Moore Christopher Moore has been a Heavy.com contributor since 2025. With over a decade of experience in the industry, he has published thousands of articles reporting on multiple professional sports. He was previously a sports writer for World Soccer Talk, the Yahoo! Contributor Network, and the Maryland Sports Blog. More about Christopher Moore

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