![\"NHL](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758758711_177_carter-hart-and-michael-mcleod.jpg\" "\\"Carter")
Carter Hart and Michael McLeod (Getty Images) The Montreal Canadiens appear to be positioning themselves for key signings as the 2025-26 NHL season approaches. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Canadiens have shown strong interest in goaltender Carter Hart and forward Michael McLeod, both of whom recently became eligible to return to professional play.<\/p>\n
Carter Hart could address Montreal\u2019s long-term goaltending concerns<\/p>\n
Seravalli revealed on B\/R Open Ice that Hart is drawing serious attention from multiple teams, with Montreal among those in the mix. \u201cSounds like it\u2019s going to be a multi-year deal, probably a two year deal for Carter Hart,\u201d Seravalli explained. \u201cNot saying it definitely gets done with Carolina, but I think Carolina is one of maybe three or four teams that are on the list that the Hart camp is focusing on.\u201dThe Canadiens\u2019 potential pursuit of Hart makes sense given their search for stability in the crease. While veteran Jake Allen has provided depth, the team has lacked a clear long-term option. Hart, who once carried the weight of Philadelphia\u2019s expectations, could be an opportunity for Montreal to reset its goaltending future.Seravalli emphasized Hart\u2019s value as a younger netminder capable of carrying a heavy workload, especially as injuries have raised doubts around other starters across the league.<\/p>\n
Michael McLeod could bring speed and depth to Montreal\u2019s forward group<\/p>\n
Alongside Hart, the Canadiens are also considering Michael McLeod. Drafted 12th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2016, McLeod is recognized for his skating ability and versatility. Seravalli noted, \u201cWhen it comes to McLeod, he\u2019s someone that I think would add some significant speed to Carolina\u2019s lineup, and someone that they have looked at for a little while now as someone who could come in and be one of those pieces.\u201dMontreal, a team still shaping its rebuild under general manager Kent Hughes, could benefit from McLeod\u2019s ability to slot into middle-six roles while providing both energy and secondary scoring.<\/p>\n
NHL discipline and a return to play<\/p>\n
Both Hart and McLeod were part of the 2018 Hockey Canada scandal and were acquitted in June 2025. While the NHL imposed formal discipline, it cleared them for return beginning December 1. The league noted, \u201cWhile found not to have been criminal, the conduct of the players involved certainly did not meet that standard.\u201dAlso Read: NHL Trade Rumors: Rasmus Andersson\u2019s future in Calgary uncertain as Flames hesitate on long-term extension<\/a>For the Canadiens, pursuing Hart and McLeod carries both potential upside and reputational risk. But as training camps draw closer, the team\u2019s willingness to explore these signings signals a bold move to strengthen its roster in the short term.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Carter Hart and Michael McLeod (Getty Images) The Montreal Canadiens appear to be positioning themselves for key signings…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":166915,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[556],"tags":[58950,64,63,3615,23434,23435,23708,100692,24427,5790,575,78790,10607,85],"class_list":["post-166914","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nhl","tag-2025-26-nhl-season","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-carolina-hurricanes","tag-carter-hart","tag-hart","tag-hockey-canada-scandal","tag-mcleod","tag-michael-mcleod","tag-montreal-canadiens","tag-nhl","tag-nhl-goaltending","tag-nhl-trade-rumors","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166914","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166914"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166914\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/166915"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=166914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=166914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}