Aborted trade in Montreal sparks talk of a potential new move!

Earlier this summer, Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes pulled off a major move by acquiring coveted star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders.

In the end, it cost the Canadiens two first-round picks in the 2025 draft, along with young forward Emil Heineman. But according to recent reports, the deal could have looked very different.

Journalist Marco D’Amico of RG Media, the same reporter who first broke the news of the Dobson-to-Montreal trade, revealed that another name was initially offered by the Habs to the Islanders. He claims that Montreal first put forward young forward Owen Beck as part of the package.

“It could go either way depending on his play,” posted D’Amico on X when answering a variety of questions from fans.

Ultimately, Islanders GM Mathieu Darche opted for Heineman over Beck. Does this mean Beck could be on the table in a future Canadiens deal?

Nothing is certain yet, but one thing is clear: Montreal won’t hesitate to include him if he becomes the key piece to land another top target.

At 21 years old, Beck is a right-handed center, standing 6’0” and weighing 199 pounds. Drafted 33rd overall in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Beck recorded 15 goals and 29 assists for a total of 44 points in 64 AHL games last season.