Canadiens linked to Ducks blueliner Pavel Mintyukov in NHL rumor swirl

Montreal’s approach this offseason has been defined more by what it has handled internally than what it has chased externally, and a new rumor has widened the scope of what could be next. According to Yahoo Sports, the Canadiens have interest league-wide chatter-wise in Pavel Mintyukov, a young blueliner with Anaheim, who is drawing attention as a restricted free agent.

The backdrop to that rumor is Montreal’s willingness, at least recently, to formalize deals with its own developing players rather than waiting for a bigger market swing. The same report points to GM Kent Hughes signing Ivan Demidov and Jakub Dobes, with the key point being timing: both were still under contract for another year, but locking them in now helps simplify future planning and reduces the risk window that can come with later negotiations.

That distinction matters because NHL roster control often hinges on contract timing and the ability to respond to market pressure. Yahoo’s piece frames Anaheim’s current situation as a cautionary tale for what can happen when eligibility and leverage shift at the wrong time. In Montreal’s case, the logic is portrayed as proactive asset management, keeping key pieces from becoming harder to secure later.

The report also connects the dots to offer-sheet risk, citing the case of Anaheim-adjacent trade and contract strategy that has become part of the league conversation. It notes that Leo Carlsson, described as the Canadiens’ budding first-line center, has signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers, carrying an $18 million cap hit. The point is less about Carlsson’s role projection, and more about how quickly a team’s planning can change when an RFA landscape opens new options for other clubs.

In that same context, the Canadiens’ rumored interest in Mintyukov gains additional meaning. Mintyukov is identified as an RFA and, like other young defensemen who become eligible for offer sheets, can create difficult roster math for the team holding the rights. The report underscores that Mintyukov is a left-shot defender, and it argues that the Canadiens do not lack left-handed options on the roster, listing Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson, Jayden Struble, and Arber Xhekaj, along with Adam Engstrom as an emerging name getting AHL action.

At the same time, the rumor does not appear rooted solely in handedness. It references the Canadiens’ use of personnel during the playoffs and suggests that, despite existing left-side depth, Montreal’s coaching staff did not show the same level of trust in every reserve option when the games tightened. That is where a player like Mintyukov becomes relevant in theory: a young defender with upside who could alter the Canadiens’ comfort level in high-leverage minutes, particularly if Montreal is still shaping its ideal pairing structure around its core.

What to watch next is whether the interest remains in the realm of league gossip or turns into confirmed contact. In practical terms, an RFA story usually moves in visible steps, such as negotiations, filings, or direct indications of intent before any formal outcome. If Montreal truly wants Mintyukov, the club’s offseason pattern suggests it could prioritize securing a long-term asset quickly rather than waiting for the late-stage scramble that other teams have already learned can get expensive.