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Kent Hughes and the word “overpay” : all young players must be on edge
Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Kent Hughes and the word “overpay” : all young players must be on edge
Credit: Currently, what’s drawing attention in Montreal is the race for the playoffs. With the Sabres and the Devils (Jake Allen is still on the Canadiens’ payroll, and it showed, the more mischievous among us would say) who gave a helping hand to the Canadiens, the Canadiens still have more than a five percent chance of […]
Currently, what’s drawing attention in Montreal is the race for the playoffs.

With the Sabres and the Devils (Jake Allen is still on the Canadiens’ payroll, and it showed, the more mischievous among us would say) who gave a helping hand to the Canadiens, the Canadiens still have more than a five percent chance of making the playoffs this year, mathematically speaking.

If the Montreal Canadiens earn at least one more point than the Rangers tonight, the Canadiens will be in a position to make the playoffs by tomorrow morning. Quite something, isn’t it?

(Credit: NHL.com)
I didn’t have that on my bingo card after the last game before the February break.

To be in a position to make the playoffs tomorrow, the Senators will have to be beaten tonight at the Bell Centre. The Flames will also have to help the Canadiens by beating the Rangers in New York.

In an ideal world, the Red Wings would lose. But if the Canadiens earn at least one point tonight, Detroit won’t be able to surpass Martin St-Louis’ men in the standings tonight.

Will it happen? We don’t know. But even if it does, it doesn’t mean everything, since there’s still a month left in the season.

At this point, apart from minor personnel changes (like recalling someone from Laval, for example) here and there, Kent Hughes can’t do much to help his team this year.

That’s why, as a general manager, his attention is focused on the future, this summer. And the future, as Eric Engels reported yesterday, will likely involve a major trade.

We’re not going to go crazy in the free agent market and give out a big eight-year contract that we’ll regret the moment we give it.

We’re probably more likely to overpay in terms of assets to give to acquire a player. – Kent Hughes

Naturally, it’s interesting to see a general manager talk not about paying, but about overpaying in the market. I know he didn’t say exactly that he wants to overpay, but using that word on his own initiative is certainly a strange choice.

Even if we suspected his mentality, it remains a big confirmation.

It’s clear that to get a major player, it won’t be the Josh Anderson, Brendan Gallagher, or Jayden Struble of the world who will make the difference in discussions.

Yes, the Canadiens have many options, but several young players must be questioning their future with the team.

Obviously, the Nick Suzukis, Lane Hutsons, and Ivan Demidovs of the world (to name just a few) can sleep soundly, but guys like Logan Mailloux, Joshua Roy, or Michael Hage must be wondering, these days.

And the general manager’s words probably didn’t help.


in passing

– Ridiculous.

– Hats off to Travis Green? Yes. [BPM Sports]

– The Bell Centre is a good argument to convince a player to sign with Montreal. But if the general manager acquires a player through a trade and the player doesn’t have a no-trade clause, it doesn’t change anything.

– Indeed.

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