NHL trade rumors: Insider says Canadiens & $1.75B franchise are "hot on the trail" of Golden Knights' Nicolas Hague

According to NHL insider Nick Kypreos, the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins are actively pursuing Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicholas Hague.

The 26-year-old defenseman is reportedly drawing significant interest from multiple NHL teams, with offers coming in for the Golden Knights player. In his latest column for the Toronto Star, Kypreos noted that the lack of quality unrestricted free agent defensemen makes Hague a highly valuable trade asset.

He suggested that if the Golden Knights opt to move him due to limited salary-cap space, the Canadiens and Penguins, currently valued at $1.75 billion by Forbes, are among the teams keenly positioned to acquire him through a trade, potentially.

"There aren’t many quality UFA defencemen out there, so that makes Nicolas Hague of the Golden Knights a very attractive trade chip if and when Vegas decides to move him because of limited salary-cap space. I’m hearing the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins are hot on the trail to potentially trade for him," Kypreos wrote.

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According to insider Elliotte Friedman, the Philadelphia Flyers have also expressed interest in Hague. Both the Penguins and Flyers, division rivals, are seeking left-shot defensemen and may compete directly to acquire Hague.

Nicholas Hague was drafted with the 34th overall pick by the Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL draft. The 26-year-old, Kitchener, Ontario, native has been with the club for the last six seasons. He notched up two points in the playoffs and finished the season with 12 points through five goals and seven assists.

Hague's three-year, $6.8 million contract expired at the end of this season, making him a restricted free agent.

Montreal Canadiens coach finishes third in Jack Adams Trophy voting

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St. Louis played a key role in guiding his young team through the challenges of playing meaningful hockey in April, securing their berth in the playoffs. The Canadiens were eliminated by the Capitals in five games during the first round of the Eastern Conference series.

Also Read: 5 Montreal Canadiens players and personnel detrimental to retool roster after quick playoff exit ft. Patrik Laine

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta