If the infirmary of the Canadian can end up emptying, Kent Hughes will certainly receive phone calls from his counterparts wishing to acquire a veteran. The general manager will be attentive to the proposals, but will avoid emptying his club of its main sources of knowledge.
In this regard, with the presence of Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, Jordan Harris and Justin Barron, backs under 23 who are doing very well in a team in reconstruction, the general manager of the Canadian might be tempted to part with Joel Edmundson or David Savard.
We’re talking regarding two veterans who won the Stanley Cup, a prized commodity for a team that is thinking of having a long run in the playoffs.
While acknowledging the possibility of compromise, Hughes once once more raised the importance of balance.
“If we can make a trade for a draft pick or to bring depth to a position where we’re less well off, we might be looking,” he said.
“We are talking regarding two very important players in the locker room, but also important on the ice to teach our young players. The way they play, they help young people learn,” he added.
Moreover, as a right-hander, Savard is practically untouchable. Of the four right-backs of the Canadian, he is, for the moment, the only real regular. The others are Barron, Johnathan Kovacevic and Chris Wideman.
Watch part one of Kent Hughes’ press briefing in the video above and part two below.
Press briefing by K. Hughes, part 2 –
Le cas Monahan
Sean Monahan, if he manages to fully recover from his foot injury, is another for whom Hughes’ phone is likely to vibrate.
Except that Monahan, whom everyone saw under other skies in the last stretch of the season, offered two excellent months of service to the Habs before falling in combat on December 5 in Vancouver.
We only have to see the impact of this absence on Nick Suzuki’s performance to be convinced. Perhaps Hughes would do well to offer him a new contract?
Of course, with a reduction in salary compared to the $6.37 million he has received for each of the last seven years.
“We’re definitely better with Sean in training,” Hughes said.
Then, he shared the following anecdote.
“After five games, everyone said we were going to trade him. I called him to my office. I told him that he was part of this team, that he would not be traded in the following weeks and to enjoy Montreal.
Photo credit: Getty Images via AFP
Almost a comeback
That said, Hughes still doesn’t know what the future holds for the one he acquired in the company of a 2025 first-round pick for absolutely nothing.
“I told him that three things might happen: he stays here, we just trade him, or we trade him and bring him back over the summer.”
And it likely won’t be fixed until Monahan returns to the game.
“Sean is close to a comeback,” concluded Hughes, on this subject.