🔥 Montreal Canadiens Eye $50M Lightning Star Anthony Cirelli in Game-Changing Offseason Pursuit

The Montreal Canadiens have made one thing crystal clear this summer: they’re done waiting. The rebuild is shifting into overdrive, and the Habs have set their sights on a name that could shake up their top six in a big way—Tampa Bay’s Anthony Cirelli, a player widely respected as one of the NHL’s most complete two-way centers.

According to inside sources, Montreal is in active trade talks to bring the 27-year-old Cirelli to Quebec. The deal wouldn’t come cheap—Cirelli is playing under a lucrative $50 million contract—but if completed, it would send a clear message to the rest of the Atlantic Division: the Canadiens are ready to win.

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🎯 Why Cirelli? Why Now?

The Canadiens have been looking for a reliable second-line center to complement captain Nick Suzuki for over two seasons. While internal options have rotated in and out—some promising, others underwhelming—none have brought the full package Cirelli offers.

Let’s break it down:

• Defensive Prowess: Cirelli is known as a shutdown center, having earned Selke Trophy votes multiple times throughout his career. He kills penalties, takes defensive-zone draws, and routinely stifles top lines.

• Offensive Breakout: Last season, Cirelli set a career high with 27 goals and 59 points, thriving in key moments and providing consistent secondary scoring for the Bolts.

• Stanley Cup Experience: He’s a two-time champion with the Lightning and has logged over 100 playoff games. That kind of championship pedigree would be invaluable in a locker room filled with promising but untested talent.

• Perfect Age Fit: At 27, Cirelli slots perfectly into Montreal’s developing core. He’s not a short-term rental—he’s someone the team can build around for years to come.

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💸 The $50 Million Question

Of course, every blockbuster move comes with a price.

Cirelli’s contract—eight years, $50 million—is no small investment. He carries a cap hit of $6.25 million per year, and while he’s worth every penny for a contender, Montreal must navigate the salary cap wisely.

The Canadiens still have big decisions looming:

• Will they extend Mike Matheson or trade him?

• How do they balance the books with Carey Price’s contract still on the books, even in LTIR?

• And how do they plan to manage future extensions for young stars like Lane Hutson?

The front office will need to be sharp to pull off a deal like this without creating a cap logjam down the line.

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🤝 What Would the Habs Give Up?

So far, no details have emerged on what Tampa Bay is asking for in return. But we can guess what a package might include:

• A top prospect (possibly a young forward or blue-liner like Joshua Roy or Logan Mailloux)

• A mid-round draft pick

• A potential roster player to match salary

Tampa Bay’s needs are evolving, especially with key players aging. If the Lightning feel they can remain competitive while gaining youth and flexibility, a deal could materialize quickly.

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🧩 Cirelli’s Role in Montreal

If the trade goes through, Cirelli would slot in immediately as the Canadiens’ second-line center, giving the team one of the most balanced top-six groups in the East. A projected forward lineup might look like this:

• 1st Line: Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Kirby Dach

• 2nd Line: Juraj Slafkovsky – Anthony Cirelli – Josh Anderson

The ripple effects would be significant. Players like Alex Newhook or Sean Monahan could move to the third line, instantly deepening Montreal’s center depth. It would also relieve pressure from Suzuki, who has often carried too much of the offensive and defensive burden.

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🕵️‍♂️ A Shift in Strategy?

This move would signal a major shift in Montreal’s rebuild timeline. General Manager Kent Hughes and VP Jeff Gorton have emphasized patience and development—but pursuing a player like Cirelli suggests they believe the window is opening now.

Montreal already made a splash by acquiring Noah Dobson, signed to a $9.5M contract to anchor the blue line. That deal was the first domino. Now, the pursuit of Cirelli shows they’re not done—not even close.

And with names like Jordan Kyrou and Sidney Crosby also floated in rumors, Montreal’s front office seems ready to pounce on any opportunity that accelerates their rise.

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🏁 Final Word

Anthony Cirelli may not be the flashiest name in the league, but he might be exactly what the Canadiens need—a responsible, playoff-tested center who makes his teammates better and shows up when it matters most.

If the Habs can close the deal, they’ll be getting much more than a second-line pivot. They’ll be bringing in a winner, a worker, and a leader. And just maybe, they’ll be taking the next step toward becoming a playoff threat once again.

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Bottom line: If you’re a Canadiens fan, buckle up. This offseason isn’t slowing down—and neither is your hockey team.