Mavrik Bourque has moved into the center of a cap debate. The Dallas Stars may not have the space to keep the restricted free agent if Jason Robertson stays, which is why Bourque is being discussed as a possible offer-sheet or trade target.
Mavrik Bourque and the Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are still searching for an answer at center behind Nick Suzuki, and Bourque fits the kind of younger option they have shown interest in. He just finished his second full season in the NHL with 41 points and 20 goals, after putting up 25 points and 11 goals in his rookie season.
That jump is the reason his name has entered the conversation. Elliotte Friedman said, "Bourque might be a candidate for an offer sheet this summer."
Jason Robertson and Bourque
The complication sits with Dallas. The Stars are in a holding pattern until there is some resolution with Jason Robertson, and if Robertson stays, they will not have the cap space to sign Bourque.
That is where the offer-sheet math gets tight. The Canadiens do not have their 2027 third-round pick, and they could only extend offer sheets above $11.94 million or under $4.775 million because of the draft-pick compensation rules. A contract with an AAV of $4,775,665 has been described as possible, but it has also been described as one the Dallas Stars would likely match.
The Montreal Canadiens' opening
If Dallas loses Robertson, it would likely want to re-sign Bourque. If Dallas keeps Robertson, a trade with Montreal could make sense, but only if the stars align on price, compensation, and the cap. For Montreal, that leaves Bourque as a name to track because the path to adding him runs through Dallas first.
