Why pursuing Mikael Granlund could be a high-risk gamble for the Montreal Canadiens?

For the Montreal Canadiens, second-line centre has long been their glaring weak spot, haunting them season after season. General manager Kent Hughes tried to fix it with the bold Kirby Dach trade in 2022, but last season told a harsher story.

Dach’s staggering -29 goal differential at centre was among the NHL’s worst, underlining the depth crisis behind Nick Suzuki. Now, with NHL free agency offering few reliable options and a roster built to grow around young stars, the Canadiens are forced to weigh their next move carefully. Mikael Granlund offers undeniable production—but carries the kind of defensive risk that could backfire spectacularly.

High reward, even higher risk: Offensive production can’t hide Mikael Granlund’s defensive flaws—and the Montreal Canadiens know it

Mikael Granlund is coming off his fifth career 60-point season, split between the struggling San Jose Sharks and the contending Dallas Stars.

He delivered 66 points over 83 games in 2024–25, then added 10 more in the playoffs as Dallas reached its second consecutive Western Conference Final. His offensive skill is beyond question, especially given he’s still producing well into his 30s.

Yet those numbers don’t tell the whole story about how teams deploy him. In Dallas, he was given 63% offensive-zone starts. When asked about that deployment after the trade deadline, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer told reporters in Dallas, “We wanted to put him in spots where he could produce.

It worked for us, but it was a specific fit.”That “specific fit” is precisely what Montreal can’t replicate. The Canadiens don’t have the luxury of elite two-way forwards to shelter Granlund. Their defense is already a problem: they allowed 261 goals last season, ranking among the worst in the league despite a late surge to make the playoffs. Even Kirby Dach, for all his struggles, rated better defensively in 2024–25 by Evolving Hockey’s RAPM metrics.

Crucial call: Should the Montreal Canadiens gamble on Mikael Granlund at centre?

Granlund is projected to command around $5 million annually on a two-year deal, according to AFPAnalytics—a reasonable price on paper for a consistent 60-point centre. But for the Canadiens, it’s a risky investment at precisely the wrong moment. They need a second-line pivot who can help secure their own zone, balance the lines, and support young stars like Ivan Demidov without giving up endless scoring chances the other way.Signing Granlund might add goals. But it won’t solve Montreal’s real problem—and could wind up as their biggest offseason gamble yet. Is it a risk the Canadiens can really afford to take?Also Read: Nashville Predators complete blockbuster trade for Nicolas Hague, sending Jeremy Lauzon and Colton Sissons to Vegas Golden Knights