The Montreal Canadiens and Marc Bergevin have done well this offseason, securing contracts multiple skaters, including Jeff Petry, Alex Galchenyuk and Nathan Beaulieu.

In addition, Bergevin traded Brandon Prust to the Vancouver Canucks for Zack Kassian and signed Alexander Semin to an inexpensive one-year deal; these are moves which help to solidify the offense to a point where it can theoretically generate more goals and more production in the offensive zone.

On paper, the Habs look primed to build upon their past seasons and have a fully legitimate shot to capture the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1993.

However, I think they have one move left to make, and it’s a move that will send shock waves throughout the NHL.

The Habs need to trade for Alexander Ovechkin.

At first glance, the idea sounds ludicrous and stinks of conversations and debates held in seasons past, when it seemed that he could never lead the Washington Capitals to anything more than a first-round playoff loss.

However, such a move not only would make the Habs the strongest team in the Eastern Conference, but it legitimately makes sense, and for several reasons.

For starters, Ovechkin himself told ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun that, if he had a choice other than Washington, he would play in Montreal for “the culture, the atmosphere, the city…if I wasn’t in Washington? Yes, here.”

Though he later reiterated that he does not plan on playing anywhere else, the statement itself speaks volumes.

In addition, the signing of Semin—his former teammate in Washington for several years—could certainly bring back vintage chemistry and success the two experienced for several seasons. Add that to the fact that countryman Andrei Markov brings both Russian familiarity and the motivation to entice anyone to play for the bleu-blanc-rouge.

Furthermore, Montreal certainly has the pieces to acquire Ovechkin and lead Washington to make a move.

In addition to the first- and second-round draft picks that would undoubtedly follow such a trade, Montreal has several players they could send Washington to bolster their own lineup, including David Desharnais, Lars Eller and Alexei Emelin.

This would not only afford Bergevin the leverage he needs to make a deal, but also opens up roster spots for any of the several young prospects that currently fill the Habs’ minor-league teams.

Above all, Montreal provides Ovi with the one thing he’s been working towards his entire career: a chance to have his name engraved on Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Is it a long shot? Of course, but just remember: the Edmonton Oilers did trade Wayne Gretzky, after all.