Breaking News: Montreal Canadiens Are Happy With Another Top Star Rising
Acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh last summer, a robust winger is adjusting to the demands of professional hockey in his third season in the AHL. Nathan Légaré has realized that excelling in junior hockey doesn’t always guarantee success at the pro level. This sheds light on why, at 23 years old, he finds himself with his second team, having been traded from Pittsburgh to the Canadiens last August.
“I had a really promising summer and was eager for my third year in the Pittsburgh organization,” Légaré shared with the Montreal Gazette this week. “I was mentally prepared. The trade just happened. It’s not like they swapped me for future considerations. I was excited to be in Montreal. I knew they valued me.”
“A career in hockey can be quite the roller-coaster at times.”
Légaré, playing as a right-winger for the AHL’s Laval Rocket, was involved in a three-team trade last summer. The Canadiens acquired him, along with defenseman Jeff Petry, goalie Casey DeSmith, and Pittsburgh’s second-round pick in 2025, in exchange for Mike Hoffman and Rem Pitlick. Meanwhile, San Jose traded defenseman Erik Karlsson to the Penguins as part of the deal, with Hoffman heading to the Sharks. Shortly after, Petry was traded to Detroit.
Pittsburgh drafted the 6-foot, 205-pound Légaré in the third round (74th overall) in 2019, after he showcased his skills by scoring 45 goals and 87 points in 68 games for Baie-Comeau in his final junior season, where he also served as captain. Légaré’s selection by former general manager Jim Rutherford was seen as a major success, with the organization trading up to secure him based on his offensive prowess.
However, Légaré never got the chance to play for Pittsburgh, being assigned instead to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he faced his fair share of challenges. In his rookie season, he often found himself benched and managed just seven goals and 16 points in 57 games. Although he improved somewhat in the following season, his scoring rate remained low, and he struggled defensively. Despite this, Légaré led the team in penalty minutes, showcasing his aggressive playing style.
Learning about the trade to the team he admired since childhood left him overjoyed. Conveniently, he had already bought a home in Laval, not far from Place Bell.
“I was thrilled, especially to come back home,” he expressed. “Playing in front of friends and family is always special, especially for Francophones. Representing the Montreal Canadiens is massive. Just being part of an NHL team is special. Growing up and idolizing the Montreal Canadiens, it was a big dream. Obviously, the ultimate dream is to play for the Canadiens, but it all starts in Laval. If I can contribute to the team’s success and we win games, it’ll make my path to the top easier.”
With six goals and nine points in 30 games for the Rocket, Légaré missed the entire month of January due to a lower-body injury and has only recently returned to play. He scored twice in Laval’s 7-1 victory over Toronto last Saturday. Known for his physical play and strong skating, he must utilize his size effectively to excel. Additionally, Légaré contributes on the penalty kill.
“He’s a hardworking player who can grind and handle important minutes,” remarked Rocket head coach Jean-François Houle. “We’re not expecting him to score 50 goals, but to occasionally contribute in that area, be physical, and difficult to play against. He needs to understand his role; it’s not primarily about scoring but about grinding, taking crucial minutes, playing on the penalty kill, and blocking shots. These little details matter. He can’t be on the ice when we get scored against.”
“You sometimes need to adapt your style. If you aim to play professionally at a high level, you may need to adjust your approach,” Houle added.
The Rocket (20-19-6) currently sits sixth in the North Division, trailing by two points for a playoff spot. They’re gearing up for three road games over the weekend, starting with Hartford on Friday, followed by matchups in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Bridgeport.