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Kent Hughes would rather use the pieces he already has to improve the team this summer
Marc-Olivier Cook
Kent Hughes would rather use the pieces he already has to improve the team this summer
Credit: Getty Images
Kent Hughes is going to have a big summer.

He will have room to maneuver with the salary cap going up for next season and we can expect to see him be aggressive.

The goal, obviously, will be to improve the team. And he will have the resources to do it.

But at this level, we should not believe that Hughes will dive headfirst into the free agent market with the goal of attracting just anyone.

In fact, the Canadiens’ GM – in an interview with Eric Engels – said he would rather pay for a player with the assets he already has (via trade) than offer an eight-year contract to a player at a salary that could hurt at some point.

This makes sense because, right now, in terms of assets, the Canadiens are well-armed.

And by acquiring a player through a trade… It could also allow for more room on the payroll to make other moves.

Let’s recall that the Canadiens have four first-round picks, five second-round picks, and five third-round picks in the next three years.

And we should not forget that the Canadiens also have one of the best prospect pools in the National League.

If Hughes wants to make a big move, he can use what he already has at his disposal to succeed:

(Credit: Puckpedia)
Kent Hughes was interested in adding a player to support Newhook and Laine on the second line at the trade deadline.

We know that Dach’s injury created a relatively significant hole in the lineup, but I still have the impression that this will be his goal this summer.

We will have to find a way to surround Ivan Demidov as he should be, too. And that’s something we’re aware of from the organization’s side.

The good news? Hughes has proven in the past that he is capable of making a big trade to improve the club. And because he has a lot of tools to make moves, it’s really possible to believe he can do something big.


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