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SPECIAL COLLABORATION
The draft could hardly have gone better for Kent Hughes. He managed to get Ivan Demidov, the prospect he had been eyeing since last year, without having to trade up for a higher selection. The pick was almost unanimously well-received by fans and media, a first for Hughes in three years. The rest of the draft went well as well, including the selections of Michael Hage and Aatos Koivu.
Although he was all smiles at the draft, and rightly so, Hughes knows full well that his work is only just beginning this summer. Demidov brings unmatched potential to the organization, but he won’t be playing for the Canadiens this year. He has a contract with SKA St. Petersburg for next season, after which he reiterated his intention to come play in North America. Hughes must therefore focus on the immediate future for Montreal and he will have very little time to recover from the strong emotions he has certainly experienced in the last few days, with the free agent market already opening Monday.
The organization also finds itself in a very interesting position. The CH has more than $19 million of room to maneuver under the ceiling according to CapFriendly, a number that assumes that Carey Price’s contract will end up on the long-term injured list. They also saved the majority of their ammo for a trade if the opportunity presents itself. In short, Hughes has a ton of flexibility to help his young core and he has already announced his intention to be more aggressive than usual on the free agent market, although he also took the trouble to specify that he wants to maintain a level of caution.
A veteran to help a young group offensively
When we look at the Canadian’s formation, it is easy to see that the needs are found in attack. Montreal already has 8 defenders who played at least 44 games last year who are back this season. That’s not counting Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher, or any other prospects who could impress in training camp. If Hughes brings reinforcement, it is certainly on offense.
Montreal ranked 26th in goals this season. It’s far from ideal, but with 2.83 goals per game, it remains the club’s best offensive season since 2019-2020. This is largely thanks to the trio of Juraj Slafkovsky-Nick Suzuki-Cole Caufield, who was present for 41 goals at 5-on-5, 4th among regular trios in the NHL. Unfortunately, the rest of the club did not follow. Other than the 1st line and Mike Matheson, no player had better than 17 goals or 35 points.
With a young team, you’d obviously expect to see progression through the roster, but a top six made up entirely of players 24 and under is a risky strategy.
They need a player who fills a similar role to Mike Matheson or David Savard, but for the forward group: a veteran who can play good minutes, ideally in the top-6. This would be a big help for Kirby Dach, who should return healthy to play the 2nd center position after a knee injury that cost him almost the entire season.
A quality winger who knows how to take advantage of his vision could do wonders for the former 3rd overall pick. It would also limit the responsibilities of other wingers, like Alex Newhook (if he does not play at center), Joshua Roy, Josh Anderson, and Brendan Gallagher.
Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Tyler Toffoli are the big names that fans are dreaming about, but the fight for their services could be hotly contested and quickly end up outside of what Kent Hughes is comfortable offering. There are several other more reasonable options that could be interesting. Jeff Skinner, David Perron, Anthony Duclair, Viktor Arvidsson, it all depends on their demands, as long as Hughes doesn’t force the issue. If the asking price or term is too high, it’s better to abstain than to offer a bad contract, especially at this point in the rebuild.
A little more depth in the center?
Another position where CH could look for reinforcement is at the center of the 3rd trio. Health permitting, Suzuki and Dach are well established as pivots of the first two lines and Jake Evans should continue to play an important role on the 4th line and on the numerical penalty. That leaves the third center position to be decided. Montreal has in-house options, but they all come with questions.
Newhook could take the role, but he’s had his ups and downs at center and could end up on the wing, especially if Martin St-Louis wants to give him a chance in the top 6. Christian Dvorak has the salary to match the job, but he scored only 9 points in a season shortened by a shoulder injury. His defensive numbers aren’t much more impressive. At 28 years old with only one year remaining on his contract, it is difficult to see him as a short or long term option. Owen Beck had a great Memorial Cup tournament, winning the Most Valuable Player award, but relying on a 20-year-old rookie to pivot your 3rd line is risky. In short, adding another option into the equation wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Sean Monahan was obviously an excellent fit with the Habs, but at 29 years old, he could look to capitalize on his first healthy season in a long time to land one last long-term contract, something that the CH should obviously avoid. Jack Roslovic and Alex Wennberg are other more affordable options, but it all depends on how confident Hughes and St. Louis are with the options at their disposal.
Not a priority, but…
Ultimately, we’re far from the priorities on Hughes’ agenda, but adding an insurance policy in net should definitely be on his list. Even though the organization has confidence in Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau, they are currently the only two goalies under contract with NHL experience. If one of them gets injured, the only options in the organization right now are Jakub Dobes and Connor Hughes. A veteran like Martin Jones or Pheonix Copley would be a solid insurance policy. In short, a goalkeeper who can give you a few emergency matches, but who does not risk stealing playing time from Montembeault or Primeau, if only for peace of mind.
Always trade an option
The free agent market is obviously in the spotlight with a day to go, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Hughes decided to make a splash via trade instead, something he’s done many times before. Many expected a trade during the draft, possibly involving the 21st pick or one of the many young defensemen in the organization. Nothing came to fruition in Vegas, but the Canadiens still have all their cards if the opportunity presents itself. The blue line remains just as congested, with Matheson, Kaiden Guhle, Jayden Struble, Arber Xhekaj, Jordan Harris, and Lane Hutson all battling for a spot on the left. Montreal also still has at least two picks in each of the first four rounds in 2025, including three third-round selections.
The Canadiens have already seen their name circulate in practically every rumor that involves a young player available on the market. Trevor Zegras, Martin Necas, Rutger McGroarty, the options are there, but finding the one that suits both in terms of cost and style of play is easier said than done.
