‘CENTRE’-VILLE A TOPIC FOR LES CANADIENS?

NEW YORK, NY — Nick Suzuki owns the top centre position in Montreal. That won’t change any time soon, but depth at the dot is always a topic that surrounds the Canadiens and some wonder what direction they’ll go in this summer after acquiring two centremen ahead of each of the last to NHL Drafts.

Armed with a very deep prospect pool, led by what seems to be 50 highly touted defencemen (I jest), Habs GM Kent Hughes plans on cooking once again this June and is likely to use some of that defensive depth to add up front.

Will that come in the form of another centre or a top-six scoring winger?

Some teams are being told by Hughes that the Canadiens are not in the market for help up the middle. The message appears to be that Kirby Dach will be given the opportunity to own the team’s second-line centre spot next season, while Alex Newhook may either move to the wing or take over the third-line centre role.

Other teams aren’t buying that mindset just yet and seem to think a lot of Montreal’s decisions this summer will be determined around or during the NHL Draft, specifically if Cayden Lindstrom is or isn’t available at No.5.

Lindstrom is ranked third among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting after projected first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini and defenceman Artyom Levshunov. On the international side, the top three is led by defenceman Anton Silayev, followed by right wing Ivan Demidov at No.2 and centre Konsta Helenius at No.3. There is growing belief Lindstrom is high on Montreal’s draft board, but if he’s not available at the fifth-overall slot, Hughes could move the pick.

It is still premature to determine what direction any team in the top-12 wants to go in, considering the Conference Finals don’t get underway until Wednesday, but it will be interesting to see what certain clubs, like the Canadiens, do with their selection. Utah (sixth-overall), Ottawa (seventh-overall), New Jersey (10th-overall), Buffalo (11th-overall) and Philadelphia (12th-overall) are also going to weigh their options – for example, the Senators and Sabres could move their picks for immediate help, while the Flyers may try to move up.

For the Habs, we know Arber Xhekaj is pretty much off the table. As I reported last week, teams have continued to ask about him – including the Calgary Flames – but Hughes isn’t interested in moving him. I’m sure he’ll change his mind if someone is willing to really overpay, but for now, Xhekaj is part of Montreal’s plans moving forward.

I do not imagine the Canadiens have much of an appetite to move the likes of Kaiden Guhle, Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux or David Reinbacher, barring a blockbuster, but I wonder about the likes of Jordan Harris, Jayden Struble, Justin Barron, Mattias Norlinder and Adam Engstrom. The Habs are telling teams like prefer to keep them, but a) they can’t keep everybody, b) it’s called negotiating, and c) you have to give to get. I’m curious what Hughes has up his sleeve.

The Habs have cap space to play with and that could help them this summer. They have been linked to Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras, who prefers the spotlight and a long-term play in Orange County seems unlikely. Ottawa has been willing to listen on Josh Norris, who has been dealt multiple injuries of late, but I can’t see the Sens and Habs completing a major trade. Minnesota’s Marco Rossi is on the trade block and aligns with Montreal’s past Draft-time moves. Will the eventual new GM in Columbus consider moving Cole Sillinger or Kent Johnson?

Montreal will explore its options, both at centre and the wing. They want to add another goal-scorer somehow and they have the asset pool to make it happen. Hughes will also dangle the likes of Christian Dvorak, David Savard and Joel Armia this summer – all three are entering expiring contracts.

Talk is starting to slowly pick up around the League, and it will only intensify as the weeks inch closer to the June 28-29 NHL Draft at The Sphere in Las Vegas. I’m betting the Habs do something, again. How big? We’ll have to wait and see.

HERE AND THERE

• As we reported last week, it’s sounding more and more like Jim Hiller will be elevated to the full-time head coach position in Los Angeles. Marco Sturm could join him as an assistant coach.

• Nothing is done until it’s done, but if things remain on track and Hiller stays, expect D.J. Smith to also return to LA. If Hiller isn’t brought back, Smith is likely to join Craig Berube’s bench in Toronto. He’s the former head coach I referred to last week.

• Calgary’s majority owner Murray Edwards publicly denied my report last week indicating the Flames have been talking to prospective investors to take on a minority stake in the franchise. Not surprised but considering those engaged in those discussions confirmed that intel to me, I’m not concerned about it. The Flames aren’t exclusive in their search, as a few other clubs have been doing the same and one organization is in the process of finalizing a minority sale of around 15 percent.

• As I reported on Friday, add Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Timothy Liljegren to the list of names tossed around the trade market this summer.

• Also on Friday, on NHL Network, I mentioned the Carolina Hurricanes let Jake Guentzel know when they acquired him they’d like to keep him long-term. We’ll see how those discussions go, but they have others to worry about, too. Teuvo Teravainen, Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei lead the list in Raleigh and none had meaningful contract negotiations mid-season. Pesce and Skjei will be highly coveted if they hit the open market July 1.

• Colorado will have some work to do this summer, but one player I think sticks around is Jonathan Drouin. The fit makes too much sense.

• Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s name has made the rounds going back to the middle of the season, but I also wonder about Anders Lee’s future on Long Island. He has two more years left on his contract and comes with a $7 million cap hit – the Islanders could use the cap space. His 15-team no-trade list kicks on July 1.

• The Tampa Bay Lightning plan on talking to Victor Hedman’s camp this summer about a long-term extension, but they’ve prioritized captain Steven Stamkos. Bolts GM Julien BriseBois wants to deal with Stamkos first, and those conversations are expected to really get going around the start of June.

• When will Jeremy Swayman sign an eight-year deal in the $64 million to $68 million range? That seems to be the neighbourhood he ends up in once he and the Boston Bruins ink an extension.