We're quickly approaching the middle of August and the National Hockey League's offseason is in a bit of a lull at the moment. There haven't been many signings, or trades, over the last few weeks as General Managers around the league take some well deserved vacation time after a slog of a year.
There are several NHL teams are still in need of specific pieces entering the 2026-27 season, which is just 48 days away. Among them is the Montreal Canadiens, who have been looking for a second line centerman for well over a year now, but are also reportedly open to adding a winger to their top-six, if one became available.
Acquiring a top-six forward is never easy, nor does it come cheap, and with who the Montreal Canadiens have in their pipeline, Kent Hughes needs to consider three options on who could slide into that role in the short-term, medium-term and long-term.
Here are three potential players that can not only into those timelines above, but also be impact players for the Canadiens as they chase their third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Three Second Line Options for the Montreal Canadiens
Short-Term: Vladimir Tarasenko (RW)
34-year-old winger Vladimir Tarasenko is one of many notable players that remain unrestricted free agents as of August 12th. Given where he is at this stage of his career, the Yaroslavl, Russia native may be looking at a one-year around $3.3 million USD, according to AFP Analytics.
After a down year with the Detroit Red Wings in 2024-25 where he had just 11 goals in 80 games, Tarasenko bounced back with the Minnesota Wild. In 75 games with the Wild, Tarasenko registered 23 goals and 47 points, adding five points in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff contests. It marked the nine season in his National Hockey League career that he reached the 20-goal plateau.
In Montreal, Tarasenko would likely have to switch to the left side if he were to become a top-six option for Martin St. Louis, but it would give him the opportunity to play alongside his fellow countryman in Ivan Demidov.
With Tarasenko set to turn 35 in December, his time with the Canadiens likely wouldn't last too long. To start the year, he could slot into that top-six role, potentially getting some time on the second power play unit too, but by the time mid-April rolls around, when the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, Montreal may have both Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky at their disposal.
Medium-Term: Eeli Tolvanen (RW)
Like Vladimir Tarasenko, Eeli Tolvanen is still available on the unrestricted free agent market and would have to move to the left side in order to fit into Montreal's top-six. The 27-year-old had a down year in the goal scoring department with the Seattle Kraken, but reached the 30-point mark for a third consecutive season.
The potential is there with Eeli Tolvanen. While he's only hit 20+ goals in his career once, playing on a line with Ivan Demidov, and likely Oliver Kapanen down the middle, there's no question he'd reach that mark again. However whereas Tarasenko would be just a one-year option for Montreal, Tolvanen is likely looking at a multi-year deal and the Canadiens would need to take into account the eventual arrivals of Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky.
For his hypothetical first year in Montreal, Tolvanen would assume that top-six role before taking a step back and moving to the third line upon Hage and/or Zharovsky's arrival in April. For the rest of his contract with the Canadiens, whether that be a two or three-year deal, the Vihti, Finland native would remain in that third line role and if he's able to produce, could be used as a trade chip at the deadline in 2028.
Tolvanen is someone that I've been high on personally going back to his draft year in 2016-17. He went onto have a solid D+1 season with Jokerit in the KHL before making the jump to the professional ranks in North America at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.
Without question he would work in Montreal, but with the logjam coming at the forward position once Hage and Zharovsky sign their respective entry-level deals, Tolvanen might look for an opportunity elsewhere, somewhere he could get consistent top-six minutes for the entirety of his eventual contract.
Long-Term: Robert Thomas (C)
After listing a pair of wingers as short and medium-term options for the Montreal Canadiens, we finally arrive at a centerman, something the Canadiens have had their sights on for a while.
Robert Thomas is no stranger to seeing his name mentioned in the rumour mill and he's even been connected to the Montreal Canadiens on numerous occasions. While the Blues might not have Thomas available for trade at the moment, the Canadiens certainly have the pieces necessary in order to acquire him, but it would come down to how comfortable Kent Hughes is to parting with those assets.
The 27-year-old is under contract through the 2030-31 season and comes with a cap hit of $8.125 million USD, so he'd be with the Canadiens as they take that next step towards competing for a Stanley Cup year in, year out.
As for what it'll cost to acquire Robert Thomas, there's no doubt that the St. Louis Blues would love to get their hands on Michael Hage or Alexander Zharovsky, but the ask probably doesn't stop there. My guess is the Canadiens would likely have to throw in a first round pick, as well, along with another prospect.
For Canadiens fans reading this, yes, it's a very, very high price, but you have to give to get in this league and a player like Robert Thomas would instantly make them better. The Aurora, Ontario native has put up 60 or more points in each of the last five seasons and has four 20+ goal campaigns under his belt.
As we inch closer to training camp, we'll have to wait and see what Kent Hughes is able to accomplish and if he can bring a top-six forward to Montreal by the time the 2026-27 season begins on Tuesday, September 29th.