After a relatively quiet start to the summer, Kent Hughes has been active on the NHL trade front recently. He successfully brought in Patrik Laine and reportedly declined a trade involving Jacob Fowler and Yaroslav Askarov.
Sources from Marco D’Amico at RG indicate that Hughes isn’t finished yet; he’s aiming to acquire another impactful player, and it sounds like a significant deal is in the works.
The Canadiens are clear about their intentions: they are not pursuing lateral trades but are instead focused on making substantial improvements to their roster.
While it’s still uncertain who might be traded from the Canadiens, David Savard appears to be a likely candidate. With his contract expiring this season, he will become a free agent on July 1. Hughes will likely want to maximize Savard’s value before the trade deadline, especially if the team plans to let him go.
The emergence of defensemen like Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher, and Justin Barron could create a surplus on the blue line. However, trading Savard raises questions, given his role as a leader and mentor for the younger players. With potential new additions like Mailloux and Hutson, Savard’s veteran presence could remain crucial.
Hughes’s commitment to improving the team is noteworthy, especially as rumors swirl about acquiring an offensive forward. To pull this off while keeping Savard, he may need to leverage the team’s prospect pool or their plethora of draft picks. With 12 picks in the upcoming draft, including seven in the first three rounds, the Canadiens are well-positioned to make trades.
Mathieu Paradis from TSLH speculates whether Arthur Kaliyev of the Kings might be on the Canadiens’ radar. This isn’t the first time Kaliyev’s name has come up in connection with Montreal, making this a storyline to watch in the coming weeks!
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