Sergei Bobrovsky linked to the Montreal Canadiens in an intriguing trade proposal

The rumors are screaming. Kent Hughes is reportedly looking at the two-time Cup champ to solve the mess in the Montreal crease. It isn't cheap. Florida wants a haul, starting with a first-round pick and a high-end prospect like Michael Hage just to pick up the phone.

Bobrovsky is a mountain in the net, but his $10 million cap hit is a massive anchor for anyone to move. The math only works if Florida eats half that ticket. Even at $5 million, Montreal has to ship out a contract like Patrik Laine (UFA in 2026) plus Alex Newhook to make the numbers flush before the deadline.

Why do it? Because Montreal is tired of the basement. They have allowed 121 goals already this season, and the current rotation is a disaster. Sam Montembeault has been fighting it, and Jakub Dobes is still just a kid. Bringing in a veteran with 450 career wins changes the entire vibe of the locker room.

He's a premium price tag player, but he's also a goalie who can steal a series. The Panthers might be ready to move on with their own playoff hopes sliding, and Montreal is desperate for a savior. It's a high-stakes gamble that could either spark a playoff run or burn the rebuild to the ground.

The cost is astronomical because Florida is being asked to swallow dead money. You don't get a Vezina winner for a bag of pucks and a mid-round pick. Bill Zito is going to squeeze every ounce of value out of this trade, likely demanding that 2026 first-rounder as the foundational piece.

Does Montreal pull the trigger? They have the cap space and the prospect pool to survive the hit. If Bobrovsky can recapture that playoff magic, the Bell Centre will be electric. If not, it's a very expensive mistake for a team that's supposed to be building for the future.