Kent Hughes’ decision to decline a trade for Jesperi Kotkaniemi, including a first-round pick, could well become one of the most controversial management errors of his tenure.
Carolina media said the Hurricanes were willing to do anything to get rid of Kotkaniemi’s hefty contract, even to the point of including significant compensation to lighten their payroll at the latest trade deadline and during the draft.
The Carolina Hurricanes were in a real storm, and at the center of it was Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
With an exorbitant contract of $4.82 million per year until 2030, Kotkaniemi, a former Canadian prospect, was now seen as a heavy burden for the Hurricanes organization.
He had become the team’s 13th forward, and rumors were rife that Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell was willing to include a first-round draft pick to lighten his payroll and take away this hot potato on the final date. transaction limit.
His successor, Erick Tulsky, tried the same thing during the last draft.
In this saga, all eyes are on Kent Hughes, the general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. The idea of bringing Kotkaniemi back to Montreal, as a third center behind Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach, divided fans and ignited discussions.
On the one hand, there are those who saw untapped potential in KK, a player who, with the right coaching, could once again become the talented center we had hoped to see emerge in Montreal.
On the other hand, the fear of a costly and unprofitable return for Canadians, who would have to assume a heavy contract until 2030, created great concern.
Kent Hughes didn’t bite. He should have.
The pressure was on and Don Waddell desperately explored every solution to get rid of this embarrassing contract. His tempting offer included a first-round pick (late first round), and he was even willing to add other pieces to tempt reluctant teams.
For Hughes, the idea of bringing back Kotkaniemi could not be taken lightly. He undoubtedly remembered the acquisition of Sean Monahan, who had cost the Calgary Flames a first round pick to get rid of.
In Kotkaniemi’s case, a simple first-round pick seemed far from enough since Monahan only had one season remaining on his contract.
Waddell’s offer seemed like a real gamble, a bold attempt to convince a team – perhaps even Montreal – to take the gamble.
Hughes judged that even with a first round pick, and possibly a young B prospect as backup, the financial and sporting risks remained too high.
The possibility of Kotkaniemi returning to Montreal excited the imagination of fans. Such a return would have been a unique, almost Hollywood event.
Hughes ruled that Kotkaniemi could not reach the level expected of a player selected third overall in the 2018 draft.
Like several other DGs, he decided to pass his turn. But today, seeing Kotkaniemi perform brilliantly as a productive center in Carolina, one can only question that decision.
With seven points in nine games this season and mature play on both sides of the ice, Kotkaniemi is showing that he is more than just a contractual “hot potato”.
Far from being this player still in search of identity, he has become a solid and productive center, providing exactly the type of offensive and defensive contribution that the Canadian would need at the moment.
In an alignment where CH is struggling to find real depth at center, Kotkaniemi could have been this ideal solution to stabilize the first two trios.
This refusal by Hughes is based on obvious reasons: Kotkaniemi’s contract, considered too heavy for a player whose production and consistency seemed uncertain at the time.
However, by rejecting the Hurricanes’ offer, Hughes not only discarded a player who still had significant development potential, but he also lost the opportunity to add a first-round pick who could have strengthened the rebuilding process. .
The current scenario shows a reality very different from the one Hughes imagined. Kotkaniemi, in full bloom at Carolina, would have offered valuable stability at center for the CH, especially with Kirby Dach taking his life.
His current performance must give Hughes a cold sweat, who seemed to view Kotkaniemi as a burden rather than an opportunity.
It must be admitted that several CEOs refused this offer, but the CH should have taken advantage of it.
At this stage, prudent financial management, although necessary, deprived the Montreal Canadiens of a player who could have played as a 2nd center.
As CH fans watch Kotkaniemi shine from afar, we can’t help but think that Hughes, by choosing to turn his back on this offer, lost much more than he thought.
Kent Hughes is losing feathers. Completely plucked…it begins to roast in the Montreal heat.
