The Never-Ending Search: Canadiens’ Second-Line Center Hole Is Holding the Team Hostage
It’s been years—years—since the Montreal Canadiens have had a legitimate second-line center. Not a Band-Aid, not a temporary fill-in, not a “maybe if everything breaks right” experiment. A real, consistent, top-six pivot. And frankly, the lack of one is becoming more than just a problem—it’s an organizational crisis.
How many different ways can management try to solve this and still come up empty? Kirby Dach was supposed to be the solution. He had the size, the skill, the upside. All he needed was a fresh start. Instead, he’s spent more time in the press box and on IR than on the ice. At this point, counting on him to stay healthy for an entire season is like buying a lottery ticket and expecting to retire.
Alex Newhook? Nice player. Lots of speed. But he hasn’t shown the offensive consistency or center-ice responsibility to lock down that second-line role. He’s bounced between wing and center and hasn’t firmly planted his flag anywhere. Not exactly the cornerstone you want behind Nick Suzuki.
Then there’s the Sean Monahan saga—possibly the greatest buy-low, sell-high move in recent Habs memory. He played well, they flipped him for another first-round pick, and that’s great… except they still don’t have a second-line center. Asset management is one thing, but eventually, this team needs to manage roster needs, too.
The internal pipeline? Jake Evans is a solid bottom-six guy but isn’t moving up the lineup. Prospects Oliver Kapanen and Owen Beck are exciting, sure, but banking on either to leap into a key NHL role in 2025 is not just optimistic—it’s reckless.
So here we are, yet again. Another offseason, another cry for help. This summer’s free agent class could offer some short-term relief. Maybe Matt Duchene, Mikael Granlund, or even Claude Giroux or John Tavares if they don’t re-sign with their current clubs. But let’s be real: none of those guys are long-term solutions, and some may not even be interested in signing with a team still on the upswing of a rebuild.
Sam Bennett would be a dream target if he hits the open market—exactly the kind of edge, tenacity, and playoff experience the Habs could use down the middle. But if free agency doesn’t pan out (and it rarely does for Montreal), then Martin St-Louis will need to get bold on the trade front. No more half-measures. No more reclamation projects. It’s time to swing big.
Because this isn’t just a hole on the depth chart. It’s a gaping wound in the lineup that’s slowing down the rebuild, stalling progress, and keeping Montreal from taking that next step. Until the Canadiens find a second-line center, everything else is just window dressing.
This has to be the summer they get it done.
Canadiens Still Searching for a True Second-Line Center
Despite progress in other areas of their rebuild, the Montreal Canadiens remain without a clear answer at second-line center—an issue that has persisted through multiple management regimes and several roster overhauls. For Martin St-Louis, finding a reliable No. 2 pivot remains one of the team’s most pressing needs heading into the 2025 offseason.
The Canadiens have experimented with various options over the past few years, but consistency and health have both proven elusive. Kirby Dach, acquired from Chicago in 2022, was seen as a potential long-term solution. The former third-overall pick brought size, skill, and playmaking ability, but his time in Montreal has been marred by injuries. Over three seasons, Dach has played fewer games than he’s missed, making it impossible to rely on him as a centerpiece of the team’s future plans—at least for now.
Alex Newhook, brought in from Colorado, has spent time both at center and on the wing. While he offers speed and some offensive potential, he hasn’t shown enough to secure a permanent role in the top six or down the middle. Meanwhile, Sean Monahan briefly filled the role effectively but was never viewed as a long-term piece. Instead, the Canadiens used him strategically—first acquiring him alongside a first-round pick and later trading him for another first-rounder.
Internally, the team has some intriguing prospects, but none are ready to fill a top-six center role in the immediate future. Jake Evans remains a solid depth option, but his value lies more in defensive matchups than offensive production. Oliver Kapanen and Owen Beck have shown promise at lower levels, but asking either to step into a second-line role in 2025–26 would be premature.
That leaves the Canadiens with two options: free agency or the trade market.
This summer’s free agent pool includes a few experienced centers who could serve as short-term stopgaps. Veterans such as Matt Duchene, Mikael Granlund, and potentially Claude Giroux or John Tavares (if they reach the market) could bring stability and experience to the middle six. Sam Bennett, if he hits free agency, would be a particularly interesting target given his edge and playoff pedigree.
If those options prove too costly or choose to sign elsewhere, Hughes may need to revisit the trade route. Montreal has amassed a strong collection of draft picks and prospects—currency that could be used to acquire a younger center under team control or with room to grow into the role.
For a team aiming to take a step forward in 2025–26, solidifying the second-line center spot is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether through free agency or trade, the Canadiens need to find a dependable pivot to support Nick Suzuki and help push the rebuild to the next stage.
